LaughFest ticket packages on sale

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) - Gilda's LaughFest has announced ticket packages for the 2013 festival are now on sale via online at laughfestgr.org or by calling 616.735.HAHA (4242) through Jan. 4, 2013.

Individual ticket sales will open to the general public on Jan. 11, 2013.

The 10-day festival of laughter will take place in Grand Rapids March 7-17, 2013.

Reserved seats have been added to all headliner (Section 1) LaughFest shows.  Purchasing festival ticket packages early will ensure securing the best seats available before individual tickets go on sale. Ticket package specifics include:
 
-- Build-your-own package: Buyers must select from two different sections; a minimum of one ticket in each of the two sections must be purchased; start at $29.50

-- You-Pick $25 gift certificates: Purchase individually or add to any ticket package order. In $25 increments, gift certificates are good toward any ticket package and must be redeemed by Jan. 4, 2013

-- Premium ticket packages: Range in price from $250 to $750; include a variety of VIP extras, which may include entrance into various LaughFest parties and events.  
-- WHITE DIAMOND: $750 -- includes Wayne Brady Signature Event Dinner/Show ticket and one show per day of your choice plus many VIP extras.
-- PLATINUM: $500 -- includes any single show (excluding the Signature Event) each day of your choice plus VIP extras.
-- SERIOUSLY FUNNY: $250 -- includes one ticket to seven shows of your choice (excluding the Signature Event)

-- Pre-built ticket packages: Range in price from $36.50 to $142.50, allow ticket holders to see three shows for one price
-- FAMILY FRIENDLY PACKAGE: $41.50 (adult), $36.50 (child) -- Strawberry Shortcake: Follow your Berry Own Beat! With special guests, The Doodleboops; Super Saturday Kids Zone; and Secret Agent 23 Skidoo
-- LATE NIGHT PACKAGE: $57.50 -- Garfunkel & Oates, Pete Holmes, and Loni Love
-- COMEDY LOVERS PACKAGE: $82.50 -- Fortune & Friends, Nerdist Podcast Live!, and Bill Burr
-- CLEAN COMEDY PACKAGE: $107.50 -- Brian Regan, Clean Comedy Showcase and Dinner, and Jim Breuer
-- HEADLINERS PACKAGE: $142.50 -- Shaquille O’Neal’s All-Star Comedy Jam, Lewis Black, and Joel McHale

Show guidelines, which are included next to every show name, will give you an overall sense of the content and age-appropriateness of festival events and shows. Beyond family-friendly events, the guidelines are not meant to be a guarantee of strict adherences by the artists, as material is often subjective and open to interpretation by those in the audience.

FAM: family-friendly; suitable for all ages
LRx: Laughter Rx, events with a health and laughter focus; best suited for ages 13 and above
CLN: Clean adult laughs, adult content without vulgarity and/or profanity; best suited for ages 18 and above
RRR: Rated R…Really, Adult content with some vulgarity and/or profanity; best suited for ages 18 and above
MAT: For mature audiences, adult content that contains strong subject matter; best suited for mature audiences
ID: This indicates a venue is only for individuals who are 21 and older; a valid ID will be required for admission
 
Entertainers who have already been announced for next year's LaughFest include: Wayne Brady, Lewis Black, Jim Breuer, Bill Burr, Joel McHale, Brian Regan, Garfunkel and Oates, Gary Valentine, Justin Willman, Eric Andre, Neal Brennan, Loni Love, Pete Holmes, Fortune Feimster, Myq Kaplin, Michael Yo and W. Kamau Bell

Also previously announced was the "$50,000 Challenge" by the Wege Foundation to raise funds for Gilda's Club Grand Rapids Children's Grief Program. The goal of the Foundation's Challenge is to have LaughFest organizers secure $50,000 worth of five dollar gifts from the community. The Foundation will match every $5 gift with $5 of its own, up to $50,000 in matching funds. Individuals interested in giving a "High Five" may do so by purchasing a button at a participating restaurant or business in the greater Grand Rapids area, by texting LAUGH to 20222, or by donating at laughfestgr.org.

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Visit www.laughfestgr.org or call 616-735-HAHA (4242) to learn more about Gilda’s LaughFest