The WSNA will host the family-friendly, dad-centric event just in time for Father's Day weekend.
Naomi Bays, the West Side Neighborhood Association's Executive Director is shown in downtown ÂÒÂ×ÄÚÉä in this undated contributed photo.
Courtesy photo
"We like corny, cheesy things," said Naomi Bays, WSNA's executive director. "We just kind of thought, let's just do like a dad joke comedy battle, and it worked out nice because I saw it straight before Father's Day."
The event will be headlined by Huntington comedian Angie Davis, who has previously been featured at the Huntington Music and Arts Festival’s Comedy Night. Additionally, Davis will perform during show intermissions. Local radio host Robb Reel — from "Up Reel Early" at 96.1 KWS — will act as celebrity emcee to keep the crowd engaged.
This is an undated contributed photo of Huntington-based comedian Angie Davis.
Courtesy photo
"What I’m looking forward to the most about the dad joke competition is getting to see amateurs try their hand at comedy," Davis said. "I hope lots of people come out and participate or just watch; I think people in our area are thirsty for comedy."
Alongside Davis, a series of local participants that were selected for the competition will be performing in front of a panel of judges for "the cheesiest, corniest dad prizes."
The event, hosted by the WSNA, will support the organization's efforts, with previous projects including:
City block beautification programs
Community clean-ups
Community connector projects
Flower plantings
The association has been active in the West Side community since 1996, starting with a few organized cleanups between neighbors and growing from there.
“[The WSNA has been] involved with a lot of different things throughout the past 30 years," Bays said, "to try to make the West Side a better place to live, work and play.â€
Bays encourages participants and attendees to come in their best "dad" outfits for the event. But if fatherly clothing isn't in your wardrobe, the event will have a rack of thrifted clothing that attendees can borrow for the night.
"If you want to be tourist dad, if you want to be tool-time dad, if you want to be tracksuit dad — whatever dad you want to be," Bays said. "We encourage people to dress up for that."
In addition to the borrowed performance outfits, the event will include a silent auction, concessions and grilling tongs for sale to amplify the applause.
The WSNA promises an evening of fun and kid friendly entertainment. A night for families, local businesses, comedy lovers and community members “who love good, clean humor.â€
Need a few dad jokes to keep you smiling until Saturday's performance? Find them at bit.ly/TurkeyJokes.
