Some festivals hand you a schedule.
Skankfest throws you into a comedy riot and tells you to hang on.
What started as a niche experiment in downtown New York has exploded into the most chaotic, inclusive, and fan-obsessed comedy event in North America.
And it didn’t happen by accident.
🧨 The Anti-Festival Formula
Skankfest was born from a simple question:
What if we gave comedians total freedom — and let the audience come to them?
No velvet ropes.
No corporate sponsors.
No “one set per night” rule.
It’s comedy’s version of a house party — where the comedians stay too long, drink too much, and somehow keep killing.
🌍 Why It Drew a Cult Following
- Intimacy – You’re not watching from 300 feet away. You’re shoulder-to-shoulder with comics between sets.
- Access – Headliners hang out in hallways. Podcast tapings bleed into stand-up sets. Surprises are the default.
- Loyalty – Fans come back every year, often with the same crew, forming friendships that last beyond the festival.
It’s not just about watching comedy.
It’s about belonging to it.
🧑🎤 Who Built It
The festival was co-founded by Luis J. Gomez (Legion of Skanks) and a tight-knit circle of NYC comedians who believed in a DIY model.
The early years featured names like Big Jay Oakerson, Dave Smith, Ari Shaffir, and Dan Soder — comics who weren’t getting mainstream shine, but had die-hard fanbases.
Over time, bigger names showed up. But the vibe stayed underground.
Even in 2025, with Patton Oswalt and Shane Gillis on the flyer, the core energy still feels like: “This is ours. Don’t mess it up.”
🎥 Why It Pairs So Well with MintComedy
Skankfest is what MintComedy streams in spirit:
- Unpolished.
- Talent-forward.
- Community-powered.
You’re not watching comedy as content.
You’re watching it happen — with the good, the bad, and the brilliantly unexpected all in one set.