Originating long before the city had anything resembling a sustainable comedy community, Milwaukee Comedy Festival has grown and evolved along with Milwaukee’s stand up scene. In fact, it currently holds the distinction of being the longest-running annual comedy festival in the Midwest and one of the oldest active humor-focused fests in the nation.
Milwaukee Comedy Festival will return for its 20th annual installment this fall, and they’re celebrating the milestone by booking the biggest comedian to perform in the history of the fest. Tuesday, Patton Oswalt was announced as the headliner. The accomplished comedian, actor, and author will take the stage at Pabst Theater on Thursday, October 9. Advance tickets will be available online at 10 a.m. on Friday, March 28.
Oswalt’s appearance will be one of many shows happening during the 2025 Milwaukee Comedy Festival, which will take place October 7-12 at a variety of local venues. Stay tuned for the full lineup in the coming months. Comedians interested in being part of this year’s Milwaukee Comedy Festival can send in their submissions now.