Comedy for a Cause

It’s the dead of winter—by the end of January, most Sioux Falls residents could use a few laughs, right? At least that’s the sentiment behind Sioux Falls Sno Jam Comedy Festival, an event returning to the local comedy scene for its fourth go-around Jan. 23-25.

Originally conceived as a comedy festival “during the worst possible time,” Nathan Hults, a familiar face on the local stand-up comedy scene, co-founded the event with fellow comics Dan Bublitz Jr. and Timmy Williams as a way to locally showcase amazing comedic talent and benefit a cause near and dear to their hearts.

“All of the founders have interacted with (Special Olympics) either through a family member or friend and have found it good for the community,” Hults said of the benefactor of the festival, to which the net proceeds go. “These kinds of organizations just make things happen for people, and I think we need more of that in the world.”

This year’s festival will feature 30-plus local and outstate comics selected based on a five-minute, submitted demo. The 2019 event received more than 200 submissions.

“You’re going to see rising stars from around the country and the great talent we’ve got here in Sioux Falls,” said Luke Johnson, event co-producer. “Come laugh for a good cause. And it ain’t going to cost you a lot of money—it feels like a no-brainer.”

The fundraising aspect of the event is one that Hults said is rare among others around the country. And the fact that Sno Jam is showcase-based, versus competition-based, creates another unique element to what attendees see.

“The comics are here because they want to do comedy—not because they need to win,” he said.

“You get a lot of camaraderie among the comics you don’t necessarily see at the competition festivals,” Johnson added.

The weekend-long event is a multi-venue experience, with two shows per night, including standup showcases and themed events not unlike late-night shows such as Comedy Central’s @midnight. Boss’ Comedy Club, Remedy Brewing Co. and Books N Brewz Pizzeria will play host.

“Comedy festivals are a really special thing,” Hults said. “It’s a great time to showcase a location a lot of people might not normally go to. I’ve had comics ask me about real estate because they want to move here after the festival. It’s showcasing our state, our city—and a lot of our comedians are doing great things outside of the festival circuit.”

“Bringing a festival to South Dakota, we try to showcase our state and say, ‘we’re here too.’”

For more information on the event visit snojamcomedyfest.com to learn more.