It was 1975, and comedian Jose Simon had a dream. Barbra Streisand did it. A number of rock 'n' roll bands had done it, too. Even the symphony gave it a go. Free outdoor concerts were becoming more commonplace in music. So, why not one featuring comedians? A free outdoor performance in The City that is considered the cradle of civilization for comedy would be a great way for local comedians to say thank you to their fans.

It took a few years and a lot of cooperation from a lot of people to make it happen, but since 1981 more than 600 of the world's funniest comedians have performed free-of-charge for over a half-million people at the original outdoor comedy concert, Comedy Day. It started in the Golden Gate Park Music Concourse (affectionately known as the Band Shell), moved to the Polo Fields in 1987 to accommodate larger crowds and, for the past few years, has found a home in Sharon Meadow.

San Francisco's professional comedy community joins together each year to produce the five-hour show. The Punch Line, Cobb's Comedy Club, SF Sketchfest, Rooster T. Feathers and Comedy Day each contribute their favorite comedians to produce a highly entertaining, five-hour set.

The State of California and The City support it, too. The Governor of California, San Francisco's Mayor's Office, the San Francisco Board of Supervisors, the San Francisco Recreation and Parks Department, the Bonnie J. Addario Lung Cancer Foundation, The Examiner, KGO News Radio 810, NBC Bay Area Channel 11, SF Weekly, KFOX 98.5, Gordon-Biersch, Joie de Vivre, U.S. Foodservice, Grants for the Arts (San Francisco Hotel Tax Fund) and other organizations all contribute generously to Comedy Day.

Comedy Day is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization. All contributions are tax deductible.
Comedy Day also conducts an outreach program in which comedy workshops teaching conflict resolution through the use of humor are held in Bay Area public schools throughout the year. We can also arrange for comedians to perform for charitable organizations, hospitals, nursing homes, assisted-living facilities and hospices throughout the Bay Area.

Comedy Day does not have any paid administrative staff and relies solely on the efforts of our volunteers. We derive income from donors, vendors, sponsors and SF Grants for the Arts. Please patronize our benefactors! Thank you.

Please feel free to contact us.