Bellingham’s Laughing Hamster comedy festival returns Oct. 8-17
In my years of doing stand-up comedy in Bellingham, I’ve performed in some truly ridiculous places.
These include: a now-closed barbershop on Meridian Street, where I told jokes without a microphone next to a bathroom entrance; an illegal cannabis dab bar next to the infamous Aloha Motel, where the microphone stand blocked access to the only ATM of an all-cash business; at Fairhaven’s Paws for a Beer, where dogs kept jumping onto the stage, making the focused performance of material impossible but cute distractions never-ending.
Fortunately, Bellingham’s stand-up scene has come a long way from those types of “shows,” especially since the COVID-19 pandemic. In fact, I’d say the scene is doing as well as it ever has, with the days of virtual comedy a weird and, hopefully, unrepeatable time in our history.
Today, the scene has several professionally-run monthly shows in popular Bellingham establishments, along with the continuation of its anchor open mic, Guffawingham. Last year, the city’s first-ever stand-up comedy festival took place, and Oct. 8-17, it returns for a second edition.
In the beginning
The genesis of today’s stand-up comedy scene is Guffawingham — Bellingham’s only weekly comedy open mic.
It began life in the IPA-heavy days of late 2012 to early 2013, at the now-defunct Green Frog Acoustic Tavern on State Street. The exact date is unimportant, because after four or five beers that all taste like pinecones left to ferment in a gutter, who can really remember anything?
The reason it happened, however, was because Bellingham residents Timmy Riney and Dave Schwietz asked Green Frog owner James Hardesty if they could try their hands at a recurring comedy show there, and he immediately green-lit a weekly Monday open mic. Green-lit? See what I did there?
I’m sorry.
Anyway, those early days were often long on time and short on talent, but the Green Frog stage eventually became a popular and successful one, not only for up-and-coming local comics, but for regional talent from bigger cities who actually made a living doing comedy.
After a brief hiatus due to ownership changes in 2018, Guffawingham continued on State Street under The Firefly banner until the pandemic struck in March 2020. It didn’t return until July 2023, outside of downtown, at Boots Bar & Lounge in the Barkley neighborhood.
When Boots closed in the spring of 2024, Guffawingham’s continuation seemed uncertain. Fortunately, the summer 2024 reopening of Uisce Irish Pub in downtown Bellingham led to Guffawingham’s rebirth in February 2025.
It’s been a happy arrangement, with consistently good crowds, strong drinks and the occasional roast of Santa Claus (done last year before Christmas, with a bar regular donning the iconic outfit).
And throughout the show’s history, Riney has remained as both a performer and producer.
“This is my community service,” he said. “Guffawingham, in my mind, still sets the standard as far as sound, lighting and staging is supposed to go, even though it’s an open mic. I believe it sets the mic closest to a comedy club feel.”
That feel includes dim audience lighting, a corded mic and a flat-top stool. Comics get five minutes, which expire at the illumination of Riney’s red light lamp. Guffawingham is, Riney contends, one of the only places in town you can go, by yourself, and still have a great time.
Whether performers kill or bomb, people are usually entertained; I’ve laughed until I cried, but also seen a man “impersonate” a sea turtle by stuffing a large plastic bag into his mouth.
It can go either way, any week.
Return of the Hamster
Still, the overall health of the city’s stand-up scene is something none of us take for granted anymore.
The pandemic took venues from us, and business-related decisions have left the list of former venues much longer than the list of current ones.
Currently, Bellingham’s stand-up scene boasts a handful of monthly shows at venues across the city. In the Cordata neighborhood? Check out the show at Larrabee Lager Company. Near the waterfront? Soak up the recurring laughter at venues like the Granary’s Mercato delle Bontà or Beach Cat Brewing’s South Paw site.
Other locations with recurring shows include Rumor’s Cabaret, home to a queer-based comedy hour, as well as Aslan Depot, Wander Brewing, JUXT Taphouse and Fairhaven’s Firehouse Arts & Events Center.
Many of these shows are produced by Nikki Kilpatrick, the long-time Bellingham resident behind Venus Comedy Productions. Kilpatrick is committed to connecting community through laughter, at venues that people love to frequent.
“There’s this thing at comedy shows where a bunch of strangers are sitting in a room together, and it’s a singular moment of joy,” she said. “That’s really what I’m striving for.”
After beginning her stand-up comedy journey in 2017, Kilpatrick quickly knew she wanted to focus on producing and hosting. Last October, that journey culminated in the Laughing Hamster Comedy Festival — Bellingham’s first-ever stand-up comedy festival.
Initially, the event was conceived in the idea of a common comedy format: a series of festival-centric shows created to host comics from across the country, selected after submitting audition tapes.
But that quickly proved overwhelming, Kilpatrick said. Instead, Laughing Hamster became a celebration of the city’s already-existing shows, but happening in the span of a week’s time and capped off by a grand finale at a larger venue. The performers consistent of solid local talent, along with regional favorites who’ve enjoyed performing in Bellingham over the years.
Last year’s festival featured seven shows in six nights, but this year’s will contain 13 shows in 10 days, as well as three preview shows before October.
The festival finale took place at The Blue Room last year, and I used past connections as a mascot performer to ensure an appearance by the Bellingham Bells mascot, Dinger the Bellinghamster.
Dinger gifted a bouquet of flowers to Kilpatrick on stage at the show’s end, and I’m sure it remains a highlight of her life, alongside marriage, child-rearing and following The Grateful Dead around in her youth.
This year’s festival culminates at the New Prospect Theatre, with performances from Sam Miller and Jaci Terjeson. Kilpatrick said some of her favorite memories as a local producer involve the two comics, who headlined sold out shows at the now-closing Corner Taphouse.
Ultimately, Kilpatrick wants the festival to grow to the point where it can benefit from Bellingham’s Tourism Grant Program, and see a finale show held at the Mount Baker Theatre.
“We’re on track,” she said.
Getting the light
As someone who’s performed everywhere from the dark corners of unbusy bars to the mainstage of the Mount Baker Theatre, I am proud of where the Bellingham stand-up scene is. I’m less proud of all the penis jokes, but that’s not the point.
The point is that the creation of the Laughing Hamster Comedy Festival would likely not be possible in a scene larger or less cohesive than Bellingham’s. In fact, Kilpatrick said that based on her research, Laughing Hamster is the only festival in Washington, and one of only a few nationwide, to use the format it does.
I feel the scene is a more tightly-held group now, smaller but also more respectful of each other, than we may have been prior to the pandemic. Shows feature strong Seattle area features and headliners, and are inclusive spaces for audiences. Likewise, local comics continue to mature as performers.
When I asked Kilpatrick if she’d be surprised that the reticent open-micer of 2017 would now be organizing a full-on festival, she replied with words that also express my feelings on our local comedy scene today.
“I’m very grateful,” she said. “I didn’t think it would grow into this, but I’m very pleased with it.”
—By Matt Benoit