The Great Outdoors Comedy Festival started in Edmonton in 2021 as a COVID-safe comedy event that gave comedians “rockstar” treatment, says Mike Anderson, president of Trixstar, the company producing the festival. “The idea was, let’s make a comedy Coachella,” he says.
Flash forward five years later and the GCOF has hosted over 100 entertainers to crowds as large as 10,000. And it’s not just grown in audience size and star power, but reach. It now tours across five other North American cities, kicking off in Edmonton’s Kinsmen Park from July 18 to 20.
This year’s lineup of touring comedians includes Martin Short, Kumail Nanjiani and Fortune Feimster, as well as one very quirky park ranger personified by comedian Donovan Workun of Edmonton’s Atomic Improv and his raccoon sidekick, Rudy.
Part of the three-day festival since day one, Park Ranger Donovan spoke with us to offer a preview and tips for making the best out of the biggest comedy show in town.
Edify: What do you do as the park ranger?
Donovan: I personally welcome everybody at the gate. Then I go through the park before the event and make sure everybody’s happy and answer questions. After that, I go on stage, make some jokes and do all the housekeeping before the show starts. Then at the end of the night, I pop out at the gates again and I thank every single person for coming to the show and hope to see them next year.
Tell me about your raccoon companion Rudy.
So I’m a really nice guy, but Rudy can say terribly rude things. And he gets away with it! But I apologize instantly for his bad behavior. Rudy is the Great Outdoors Comedy Festival mascot, and I’m his handler, so we’re like Yogi Bear and the park ranger. However, Rudy doesn’t come out all the time, because sometimes when people get a little drunk, they get handsy, and I can take it but Rudy can’t.
What is one of your favourite moments from last year’s festival?
Shane Gillis went on stage and then he was like, “Oh my God I don’t have a belt, my pants are gonna fall off.” And so I whipped off my belt, my shorts fell to the ground and I ran to give Shane Gillis my belt so he could perform. And then at the end of the night, he rolled it up very nicely with a little note that said ‘thank you so much for saving the day.’
For those who don’t know much about comedy, what can they expect?
If you like it dirty, it’s dirty. If you like it clean, it’s clean. Like Martin Short, he works really clean and he doesn’t swear. But then if you want something that’s a little more hard edge, there’s Tony Hinchcliffe and the Killers of Kill Tony. So there’s a little bit of everything for everybody.
What’s some advice you’d give attendees?
First, find out how much it is to upgrade your ticket. Then, bring a comfortable chair, divide and conquer on food and drink, and beware of Rudy the raccoon.
This interview has been edited for brevity and clarity.
The Great Outdoors Comedy Festival runs July 18 to 20 at Kinsmen Park.
