The inaugural Bestie Fest kicks off in September

Toronto based producer Susan Waycik (BFF Variety Hour, The Second City) recently announced Bestie Fest, a brand new three-day comedy festival for friends in Toronto. The inaugural Bestie Fest will take place September 27 - 29, 2024 at The Drake Hotel with headliners including Sabrina Jalees, Tom Hearn, Jackie Pircio, and Anesti Danelis. Bestie Fest will feature panels, parties and comedy shows with top performers in stand-up, sketch, music, drag and more.

“This is unlike any comedy festival you’ve been to before. With an emphasis on women, queerness and friendship, we’re making comedy festivals FUN again,” said Waycik. “Bring your besties, and your besties’ besties – there’s something for everyone.”

Bestie Fest will host a headlining set from Sabrina Jalees (Farming for Love, Roast Battle Canada) and expertly curated showcases such as: fan favourite BFF Variety Hour; The Laughy Hour, an unforgettable variety show that will have you in bed before 10pm; The Clique, a showcase of the new cool kids of comedy; The Weird Friend, a bunch of Toronto’s funniest alt-comedians; 2 FACED, the best sketch comedians bringing their funniest characters; and Laura Live!, a wild and weird variety show by Laura Cilevitz and a parade of special guests like Ben Sosa Wright, Chelsea Larkin, Chris Sandiford & Sarah Bennett, The Boy Fringe, and Mitch Wood.

The 2024 Bestie Fest Line-Up includes:

Sabrina Jalees, Alex Kolanko, Anesti Danelis, Ava Val, Ben Sosa Wright, Bren D'Souza, Brandon Ash-Mohammed, Chris Sandiford, Courtney Gilmour, Erica Gellert, Gavin Pounds, Gillian Bartolucci, Isabel Zaw-Tun, Jackie Pirico, James O'Hara, Kyle Bergstresser, Laura Cilevitz, Luba Magnus, Makayla Couture, Meg MacKay, Melanie Dahling, Nour Hadidi, Paloma Nuñez, Rachel Manson, Rodrigo Fernandez-Stoll, Sarah Hillier, Tall Boyz II Men, Tamara Shevon, Tom Hearn, Tracy Hamilton, Tricia Black and Van Goth.

Bestie Fest will also feature two comedy panels where attendees can divine their future careers. Play The Record will demystify the process of creating and releasing comedy albums with a panel of professional comedians and industry experts from Howl & Roar Records. The Writers Room will feature a roster of top award winning comedians as they reflect on their journeys from live comedy to television writers’ rooms.

Tickets and schedule can be found at www.waycikproductions.com/bestiefest.