When the real world is bringing you down, sometimes you just have to laugh.

With that in mind, HB’s Lounge is starting what they hope will become an annual comedy festival featuring three comics a night throughout the week, Aug. 25-29.

“We like to try new things and thought a  comedy festival would  be a great addition to Lethbridge,” said  Nick Michalenko, HBs assistant manger and  lounge manager, adding all of the comedians performing perform with Yuk Yuks across Canada.

The first night, Aug. 25 features Tony Krolo, who is best known as a recurring mall cop character on the Disney TV show  “ Naturally Sadie.” He is also a regular on the Jon Dore Television show and has been in all three Santa Clause movies as  a clumsy cop. Also  on opening night are magician Donovon Deschner and Dana Alexander.

 The next night features Comedy at Club 54 veteran Stan Thomson, So You think Your Funny’s Karen O’Keefe and impersonator Mark Walker.

 

Lori Gibbs, a Calgary comedian who opened for Nikki Payne a few months ago, Jasen Fredrickson and Scott Dumas perform Aug. 27.

 And Mike Craigdallie, Andrew Iwanyk and musician/comedian Dan Guiry play a “nasty show” on Aug. 28.

“Because it’s in a lounge, it’s for over 18 anyway, but the nasty show  gets pretty filthy,” Michalenko laughed.

 The festival winds up with  a gala featuring Marcus  Beaubier, Kelly Dakus and Chris Nannarone.

HBs lounge hosts live comedy on the third thursday of each month. Paul Kuster was in the city last week, Gilson Lubin has performed here as well .

“They are all Yuk Yuks comedians and they have a pretty big repertoire,” he continued adding they always have an open stage for would be comedians to try their hand at comedy, though he said nobody has taken advantage of it. There will be an open mic before each of these shows as well.

“It should be a great week full of laughter. I’d like to see it become on annual event,” he said.

“I’m really looking forward to Tony Krolo. It should be a blast.”

Tickets cost $10 per show or $25 for three shows, $50 for all five shows.