Tampa Bay’s comedy scene can finally say that it hosted a successful, weekend-long, multi-venue festival on both sides of the Bay. For the inaugural Sunshine Comedy Festival that wrapped last weekend, more than 100 comics staged more than 75 events featuring stand-up, podcast recordings, workshops, networking and even movie screenings in front of what organizers said were approximately 1,500 attendees each day.

Highlights, according to Creative Loafing Tampa Bay photographer Ryan Kern, included legacy comedian Jeffrey Gurian, rising star Kam Patterson, David Spade-opener Katherine Blanford, Troy Bond’s extended sets across several nights, plus James Ellis onstage in a speedo, JB Ball thrashing social media algorithms, Uncle Lazer’s morally-questionable Texas-lifestyle stories and more.

Credit: Photo by Ryan Kern
Credit: Photo by Ryan Kern
Credit: Photo by Ryan Kern
Credit: Photo by Ryan Kern
Credit: Photo by Ryan Kern
Credit: Photo by Ryan Kern
Credit: Photo by Ryan Kern
Credit: Photo by Ryan Kern
Credit: Photo by Ryan Kern
Credit: Photo by Ryan Kern
Credit: Photo by Ryan Kern
Credit: Photo by Ryan Kern
Credit: Photo by Ryan Kern
Credit: Photo by Ryan Kern
Credit: Photo by Ryan Kern
Credit: Photo by Ryan Kern
Sunshine Comedy Festival at Coastal Creative in St. Petersburg, Florida on Jan. 12, 2024. Credit: Photo by Ryan Kern
Credit: Photo by Ryan Kern
Credit: Photo by Ryan Kern
Credit: Photo by Ryan Kern
Credit: Photo by Ryan Kern
Credit: Photo by Ryan Kern
Credit: Photo by Ryan Kern
Credit: Photo by Ryan Kern
Credit: Photo by Ryan Kern
Credit: Photo by Ryan Kern
Credit: Photo by Ryan Kern
Credit: Photo by Ryan Kern
Credit: Photo by Ryan Kern
Credit: Photo by Ryan Kern
Credit: Photo by Ryan Kern
Credit: Photo by Ryan Kern
Credit: Photo by Ryan Kern
Credit: Photo by Ryan Kern
Credit: Photo by Ryan Kern
Credit: Photo by Ryan Kern
Credit: Photo by Ryan Kern
Credit: Photo by Ryan Kern
Credit: Photo by Ryan Kern
Credit: Photo by Ryan Kern
Credit: Photo by Ryan Kern
Credit: Photo by Ryan Kern
Credit: Photo by Ryan Kern
Credit: Photo by Ryan Kern
Credit: Photo by Ryan Kern
Credit: Photo by Ryan Kern
Credit: Photo by Ryan Kern
Credit: Photo by Ryan Kern
Credit: Photo by Ryan Kern
Credit: Photo by Ryan Kern
Credit: Photo by Ryan Kern
Credit: Photo by Ryan Kern
Credit: Photo by Ryan Kern
Credit: Photo by Ryan Kern
Credit: Photo by Ryan Kern
Credit: Photo by Ryan Kern
Credit: Photo by Ryan Kern
Credit: Photo by Ryan Kern
Credit: Photo by Ryan Kern
Credit: Photo by Ryan Kern
Credit: Photo by Ryan Kern
Credit: Photo by Ryan Kern
Credit: Photo by Ryan Kern
Credit: Photo by Ryan Kern
Credit: Photo by Ryan Kern
Credit: Photo by Ryan Kern
Credit: Photo by Ryan Kern
Credit: Photo by Ryan Kern
Credit: Photo by Ryan Kern
Credit: Photo by Ryan Kern
Credit: Photo by Ryan Kern
Credit: Photo by Ryan Kern
Credit: Photo by Ryan Kern
Credit: Photo by Ryan Kern
Credit: Photo by Ryan Kern
Credit: Photo by Ryan Kern
Credit: Photo by Ryan Kern
Credit: Photo by Ryan Kern
Credit: Photo by Ryan Kern
Credit: Photo by Ryan Kern
Credit: Photo by Ryan Kern
Credit: Photo by Ryan Kern
Credit: Photo by Ryan Kern
Credit: Photo by Ryan Kern
Credit: Photo by Ryan Kern
Credit: Photo by Ryan Kern
Credit: Photo by Ryan Kern
Credit: Photo by Ryan Kern
Credit: Photo by Ryan Kern
Credit: Photo by Ryan Kern
Credit: Photo by Ryan Kern

Read his 2016 intro letter and disclosures from 2022 and 2021. Ray Roa started freelancing for Creative Loafing Tampa in January 2011 and was hired as music editor in August 2016. He became Editor-In-Chief...