Buffalo Comedy: Drew Lynch, local comedians and more take over Buffalo this holiday season.

(Above: Drew Lynch and Stella. Photo via drewlynch.com)

By Jason Pomietlasz

Besides gifts of gold, oil and incense, the three wise men also gave Joseph and Mary tickets to the most popular comedy show at the time, which drew people from all over and why Bethlehem had no rooms available. So if you want to celebrate Christmas the right way, go and see live comedy as soon as possible.

Thursday, Dec. 18

Buffalo Improv House, 255 Great Arrow Ave., Suite 207, Buffalo.
Improv Mixer, a relaxed environment to try out improv or just to watch. Sign-ups at 6:45 p.m., 7 p.m. start. $5 suggested or pay what you can. 

Mr. Goodbar, 1110 Elmwood Ave, Buffalo, 8 p.m. Free.
Open mic comedy on the second floor. Sign-ups at 7 p.m, hosted by the above average height Bennett Solowski.

Buffalo Comedy Collective, 155 Chandler Street, Buffalo. 8 p.m., tickets $10.

BCC’s longform house team, “You Are Here,” will perform several longform styles based-off audience suggestions, with of course, every moment and character invented on the spot. 

Thursday – Saturday, Dec. 18 – 20

Helium Comedy Club, 30 Mississippi Street, Buffalo. Times vary, tickets $33.99 – 50.99.

Drew Lynch moved to Los Angeles to become an actor at age 19. Then a softball injury left him with a severe stutter. So Lynch pivoted better than Play-Doh, which started as wallpaper cleaner, to comedy. Skip ahead a few years of open mics and his Golden Buzzer performance on Season 10 of America’s Got Talent catapulted him to fame. Lynch is currently developing a feature film based around his life and comedy.

Friday, Dec. 19 

Buffalo Comedy Collective, 155 Chandler Street, Buffalo. 

Comedy Sportz special holiday match-up. Two teams “competitively” play short form improv games with suggestions from the audience, who also decides the winner. Wear your favorite holiday sweater for free popcorn or candy. 7:30 p.m., tickets $18. 

Sketch and Standup Show. BCC’s writing team will bring to life sketches they’re been putting on paper for the last several months, interspersed with standup sets. 9:30 p.m., tickets $10. 

Buffalo Improv House, 255 Great Arrow Ave., Suite 207, Buffalo. 

Good Neighbors, a monthly show featuring notable Buffalonians, telling stories which the cast use to craft scenes, with proceeds going to charity. December’s guest is actor and local Santa David Marciniak, raising money for Haven House. Pictures with Santa will follow the show. 8 p.m., tickets $20 presale, $25 general admission or pay what you can available at the door.  

The New Friday Mixer, same as Thursday’s mixer, just a later time. 9:30 p.m., tickets $5 or pay what you can. 

Babeville, 341 Delaware Ave., downstairs, Buffalo. 8 p.m., tickets starting $18.54.

“That Comedy Show at Babeville,” a monthly showcase of different comics from Buffalo and surrounding areas, is celebrating its 10 year anniversary. The lineup is Zach Dietsch, Johnny Colombia, Kevin Thomas Jr. , Emily T. and Jake Piskor. Hosted by Jacob Morrison.

Saturday, Dec. 20 

Buffalo Comedy Collective, 155 Chandler Street, Buffalo. 

ComedySportz Saturday “Holiday” match-up. Two teams “competitively” play short form improv games with suggestions from the audience, who also decides the winner. Again, wear your favorite holiday sweater and get a free popcorn or candy. 6 p.m., tickets $18. 

Script Tease will perform a Hallmark-Days improvised movie based on the absurdity of the Hallmark Holiday Classics like when a main character is married to their job and doesn’t have time for love until they meet the impossibly hot gift wrapper, in a very coincidental way. Or something along those lines. 8:30 p.m., tickets $18. 

Buffalo Improv House, 255 Great Arrow Ave., Suite 207, Buffalo. 

A Couple of Nerds Trivia Showdown, where the audience competes to win with the best and funniest answers against a cast of improvised characters and villains. A never-before-seen-again game show which will test your trivia knowledge and sense of humor. 7 p.m., tickets $12 presale or $15 general admission.

“Partners in Crime”, a rotating group of students and improv community members, will perform followed by and “Bedelia” and “Meddling Kids”, BIH’s house teams, who will perform their own brands of long form improv. 8:30 p.m., $10 presale or $15 general admission. 

Babeville, 341 Delaware Ave., downstairs, Buffalo. 7 p.m., tickets starting $24.72.

Kristen Becker, the Godmother of Buffalo comedy, brings “Claus & Affect” to Babeville. The original holiday show features Sandy Claus, Santa’s older, gayer, drunker sister who has unfiltered takes on the 2025’s headlines. Becker was an integral part of bringing Helium Comedy Club to Buffalo, served as its first general manager and helped shape the Buffalo comedy scene. 

Sunday, Dec. 21

Buffalo RiverWorks, 359 Ganson Street, Buffalo. 8 p.m., tickets starting at $7.

A Terre King Christmas is a celebration of Christmas and comedy with local comic Terre King. Experience holiday vibes and comedy with Buffalo’s waterfront as the backdrop. 

Monday, Dec. 22

Tudor Lounge, 335 Franklin Street, Buffalo, 8:30 p.m. 

Comedy Open Mic Comedy. Start your week by hearing new premises and jokes. Once again hosted by the venerable Don Johnson with a bucket draw. Sign-ups at 7 p.m. Free.

Tuesday, Dec. 23

Nietzsche’s, 248 Allen Street, Buffalo, 9 p.m. 

Rust Belt Comedy Showcase, Buffalo’s longest running comedy show hosted by Jake Samson and Jake Piskor also known as the two Jakes. Signups at rustbeltcomedy.weebly.com. Free. 

Matinee, 698 Main St., Buffalo, 7:30 p.m.

Train Stop Comedy, open mic comedy with host Mamudu Kargbo. For all levels of comics and audiences. Signups at 7 p.m., 17 comic limit. Free. 

Third Space Cafe & Entertainment, 777 Main St., Buffalo, 6:30 p.m.

The Early Bird Comedy Open Mic. Still a newish open mic hosted by Brody Walsh and Connor Mink. Signups start at 5:30 p.m. Free.

Have a comedy event you want to add, email lakeeffectcomedy@gmail.com.