We are a non-profit performing arts organization with a mission to celebrate the past, present, & future of Cleveland stand-up comedy. You can check out our GuideStar Profile, our About page or History of the Festival for full details.

Wednesday, October 8 through Saturday, October 11, 2025. There will be multiple shows each night of the festival.

The primary location for the 2025 festival will be at Forest City Brewery in Cleveland’s Duck Island neighborhood between the near-West Side Ohio City and Tremont neighborhoods. Satellite shows throughout the festival in the greater Cleveland area will also be announced at a later date.

Anyone and everyone is welcome to submit. Whether you are from Cleveland, Ohio, or Cleveland, Queensland, Australia, or anywhere in between. We want to celebrate the art of stand-up comedy from its many voices!

It does not matter how long you have been doing comedy, so long as you are serious about performing live & being available the week of the festival. CCF has been around since 2008 and we have a great history of showcasing new & veteran talent to fans in Northeast Ohio.

We ask for a URL link to YouTube or other video player source that can be shared and is accessible of a 5 - 7 minute stand-up performance.

• Please do not exceed 7 minutes, but please make sure video is at least 5 minutes. Videos must be a continuous 5 - 7 minutes.

• Your set should be recorded during the same performance, in front of an audience. It does not matter if it is at an open mic, you performing as an opener, feature, or headliner at a showcase, other festival, or special. Please no highlight reels or compilation from multiple sets.

• Video quality is NOT a factor in the selection process. It can be Super 8 or 8K, so long as we can see you telling the jokes.

• Please try to have the best audio you can of your set. Submissions are based the comedy content. We want to hear more from YOU & not so much of the crowd.

While we believe humor is universal, CCF’s focus is primarily on stand-up comedy. No improv or sketch submissions are requested. Stand-up performances can be considered from multiple genres & formats, including, but not limited to:

• Alternative

• Character

• DIY

• Musical

• Observational

• Satire

If you have a podcast or an active video channel, and are interested in doing a live recording during the festival, please cite that in the "Bio" portion of your submission form for consideration.

Submission fee is $25.

• All submission fees go directly into our annual budget to cover direct festival expenses, secure venues, insurance, & equipment. CCF is a registered non-profit and you can learn more of our mission.

Fill out the submission for then pay the fee. If submitted and selected, CCF, Inc. will contact you directly.

No. Entries are NOT guaranteed. Submissions go through an evaluation panel & selection process of multiple volunteers.

We have a diverse panel of volunteers that consist of comics & non-comics in the community reviewing submissions. Personal Identifying Information (PII) will be hidden from reviewers, unless it is on the video itself.

Oh yeah, it's worth it! Check out our Alumni page to see the current & future stars that have brought the laughs to "The Land".

Even if a comic is not selected, we would still encourage a visit to network with industry professionals and check the many open mics throughout the Cleveland area.

Please email us: ClevelandComedyFestival@Gmail.com