Tampa Bay Will Host Sunshine Comedy Fest

Who doesn't love a good laugh? Every time I go to a comedy club I always ask myself, "Why don't I do this more often?" With the Sunshine Comedy Fest coming to Tampa Bay, there will be plenty of opportunities for laughter coming our way in 2024.

The Sunshine Comedy Fest kicks off on January 11th and runs through January 14th. It's taking place in Tampa and St. Petersburg at various hotspots for comedy shows, including Side Splitters Comedy Club and the Floridan Social Club.

Get ready to laugh your booty off as you watch not only Tampa Bay's hottest local comedians but also some of the country's hottest talent. And there will be some extra side entertainment in addition to the stand-up acts. You'll be able to enjoy podcasts, after-parties, live music, and pool parties.

Side Splitters is a great venue located in Carrollwood off of Dale Mabry. When was the last time you've enjoyed a good night of comedy? We went to Side Splitters not too long ago, and it was a stellar night out. Some of the cool comedians who will be performing include Jeff Dye, Troy Bond, and David Lucas. I saw Jeff Dye perform in West Palm Beach on New Year's Eve night going into 2009. I loved his act!

A lot of hilarious comedians have stopped by Tampa this past year. John Mulaney, Pete Davidson, Dave Chappelle, Matt Riffe. Just to name a few.

You've got various options when it comes to buying tickets. You can either buy for each day or event or buy a ticket for the entire festival. To find out more about this first annual Sunshine Comedy fest coming to Tampa Bay presented by Side Splitters Comedy and Coastal Creative, click here.

While there certainly are great music tours stopping in south Florida this summer, there are also plenty of comedy tours. We've put together a list of some of top upcoming comedy shows in the Tampa area that are not to be missed.

From Coastal Comedy Night to Pride-themed comedy shows in June to a plethora of open mic options, Tampa certainly offers options to catch stand-up. Many comedians are engaging in extensive tours. The previous three years were challenging for comedy shows, given the lack of outdoor venues that are suitable for such shows. Now, there is comedians performing almost every night of the week.

The greater Tampa Bay region of western Florida has a wide range of comedy theater options. Venues such as Tampa Improv and the Gimmick in Ybor City obviously specialize in such stand-up shows. Then, the Seminole Hard Rock Tampa Event Center draws some of the biggest names in the business. Finally, intimate clubs such as the Tampa Theatre and Spitfire Comedy House continuously book creative performances.

If you're interested in taking comedy classes, it's never too late to sharpen your skills. Spitfire Comedy offers that as well. Stand-up and sketch comedy classes are offered for all skill and experience levels. In fact, if you want to test the waters, you can just "drop in" on Sunday afternoons at a small cost.

We could all use a good reason to belly laugh. The Washington Post reported earlier this year that the "contagious nature of laughter means we’re more likely to laugh harder and longer in groups, as at a comedy club or in a movie theater." The study went on to detail that laughing together is a valuable form of direct communication.

So please welcome to the stage five upcoming comedy shows in Tampa that are not to be missed.

Live from the Tampa Improv Comedy Theater, Bellamy will take over this entire weekend in July. On Friday and Saturday nights, he will perform two shows. He became well-known for his regular hosting duties on MTV and has since gone on to star in many TV series. Bellamy also has a podcast entitled "Top Billin' with Bill Bellamy."

Shore takes over the Tampa comedy scene the last weekend of July. He will be performing at Side Splitters Comedy Club. He is touring in support of his “Stick with the Dancing: Funny Stories from my Childhood” one-man show. When he's not touring, Shore can be found on his YouTube channel.

Seminole Hard Rock Tampa has an impressive events calendar all summer. August 10 needs to be circled as "Late Night" host Seth Meyers takes the stage. Meyers is only performing a handful of shows this summer, and this is his last date on the books for Florida.

Also at the Tampa Improv Comedy Theater, Tolev will be performing two dates. Both dates also offer an early and a late show. Originally from Canada, Tolev has a comedy album called I'm Not Well, and a podcast called "Steph Infection." You can find her many sketch characters on her Instagram page.

Last but not least, some guy named Jerry. This comedic legend will also grace the Seminole Hard Rock stage as a lead-in to the last weekend of September. Though Seinfeld is touring major arenas this year, Tampa is his only Florida show.