‘Philly’s Funniest Block’ plans a big party for America’s 250th birthday bash
In honor of America’s 250th birthday bash, four Sansom Street comedy and improv venues and the city of Philadelphia are banding together to celebrate "Philly's Funniest Block."
Looking to celebrate the Semiquincentennial with some gut-splitting guffaws?
Here’s the event for you:
In honor of America’s 250th birthday bash, four Sansom Street comedy and improv venues, and the city of Philadelphia, are banding together to celebrate, what they call, “Philadelphians’ right to pursue happiness through comedy and laughter.”
On June 13, from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m., ComedySportz Philadelphia, Helium Comedy Club, MacGuffin Theater and Film Company, and SideQuest will host “Philly’s Funniest Block” — a patriotic comedy block party on the 2000 block of Sansom, featuring sidewalk comedy performances, improv and theater games for kids and teens, joke scavenger hunts, a multi-headed oracle, giveaways, and discount food specials and theater tickets. And no shortage of patriotic Philly puns.
Free to the public — with discounted theater tickets costing what else, but $17.76 — the event grew from the venues’ joint desire to host a 250th legacy project.
“Just like every Philadelphian thinks of Jewelers’ Row when they want a diamond, we want them to think of Philly’s Funniest Block when they want a laugh,” says Bobbi Block, co-founder and project director of ComedySportz Philadelphia. “Our four venues just happen to be all within feet of each other, so we wanted to celebrate that fact, plus elevate the other eclectic businesses and awesome restaurants on this block.”
Businesses and restaurants up and down the block plan to display family-friendly jokes and puns in their windows. Each business gets their own joke.
“We love the idea of people stumbling upon the puns organically or seeking them out on purpose,” said co-planner Olivia Roth. “It adds an interactive, hidden in plan sight experience, and quite literally makes it the funniest block in Philadelphia.”
A ribbon-cutting ceremony, featuring a rubber chicken and remarks from Councilmember Rue Landau and other planners, will kick things off. All dignitaries plan on wearing Groucho glasses.
