Steve Arik fundraiser tops list of Tampa Bay’s best comedy gigs April 23-May 6

Local comedians will be sharing laughs to help a fellow funnyman on Friday. The benefit show, which is free to attend and will have a donation jar and a 50/50 raffle, raises money for Steve Arik, a longtime performer who’s been telling jokes in the Tampa Bay area since the 1980s and is now fighting Stage 4 colon cancer. 

His long treatment journey and considerable related expenses are no laughing matter, but several of the Bay’s best comedians will be taking the stage to help with those costs. The lineup includes previous Creative Loafing’s Best of the Bay winners Johnny B, Mike Rivera, Dick Ruse, Catherine Maloney and others. Anyone who cannot attend can still help Arik by donating to his GoFundMe. 

Get info on this gig below, plus more of the best comedy coming to Tampa Bay April 23-May 6. And check out our comedy venues guide for more.

“Dr. Dirty” John Valby Thursday, April 23. 7:30 p.m. $25.80 and up. Side Splitters, Tampa

Bill “Bull” Ohse Thursday, April 23. 7:30 p.m. Sold Out. Snappers Grill, Palm Harbor

Chris Tucker Thursday, April 23. 8 p.m. $65 & up. Morsani Hall at Straz Center for the Performing Arts, Tampa

Jeff Foxworthy Friday, April 24. 8 p.m. $78.75 and up. Ruth Eckerd Hall, Clearwater

Steve Arik Benefit Show Friday, April 24. 8:30 p.m. No cover. Finley’s Irish Pub, Largo

Adam Minnick Friday, April 24. 7 p.m. $16.50 and up. Richey Suncoast Theatre, New Port Richey

Trixx Friday, April 24. 7 p.m. And 10 p.m. $25 and up. The Hardware Store, Brooksville

Andrew Schulz Friday-Saturday, April 24-25. 8 p.m. And 10 p.m. Friday; 8 p.m. And 10:30 p.m. Saturday. Sold out. Side Splitters, Tampa 

Matty Chymbor Friday-Saturday, April 24-25. 7 p.m. And 9:30 p.m. $23.80. Side Splitters, Wesley Chapel 

Ms. Pat Friday-Saturday, April 24-25. 7 p.m. and 9:45 p.m. Friday; 6:30 p.m. And 9:15 p.m. Saturday. $37 and up. Funny Bone, Ybor City

Comedy Hypnosis with Bob Lauver Friday-Saturday, April 24-25. 7 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. $32.50. Snappers Grill, Palm Harbor

Matt Vita Friday-Saturday, April 24-25. 8:30 p.m. $23.58. Sunshine City Comedy Club, St. Pete Beach 

Clay Miles Friday-Saturday, April 24-25. 8:30 p.m. $23.58. Clearwater Comedy Club, Clearwater 

Nick Alex Saturday, April 25. 6 p.m. $23.80. Side Splitters, Tampa

Jay Hewlett Tuesday, April 28. 7 p.m. $20. Clear Sky on Cleveland, Clearwater

Broken Down Boomers with Jay Hewlett Wednesday, April 29. 7:30 p.m. $10. O’Brien’s, Tampa

Emma Willmann Thursday, April 30. 7:30 p.m. $28.80 and up. Side Splitters, Tampa

King Bo Thursday, April 30. 7 p.m. $27 and up. Funny Bone, Ybor City 

Sit Down For Stand Up! with Matt Fernandez Thursday, April 30. 7:30 p.m. $30 and up. Palladium, St. Petersburg

Alvin Williams Thursday-Saturday, April 30-May 2. 8 p.m. Thursday; 7:30 p.m. And 9:30 p.m. Friday; 9:30 p.m. Saturday. $23.80. Side Splitters, Wesley Chapel 

Kevin McCaffrey Thursday-Saturday, April 30-May 2. 7:30 p.m. Thursday; 7 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday. $22.50. Snappers Grill, Palm Harbor

Randy Feltface: Gimmick Friday, May 1. 7 p.m. And 9:30 p.m. $32 and up. Funny Bone, Ybor City

Britton Emert Friday, May 1. 10:30 p.m. $29.47. Sunshine City Comedy Club, St. Pete Beach

James Yon Friday, May 1. 7:30 p.m. $23 and up. Firehouse Cultural Center, Ruskin

William Montgomery Friday-Saturday, May 1-2. 7:30 p.m. And 10 p.m. Friday; 8 p.m. And 10:30 p.m. Saturday. $33 and up. Side Splitters, Tampa 

David Jolly (From Kill Tony) Friday-Saturday, May 1-2. 8 p.m. $25. Laugh Out Lounge, Winter Haven

Britton Emert Saturday, May 2. 7 p.m. $23.80 and up. Side Splitters, Wesley Chapel

Jeff Gerbino Saturday, May 2. 8 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. $20. Coconuts, St. Pete Beach

Michael Blackson Saturday-Sunday, May 2-3. 7 p.m. and 9:45 p.m. Saturday; 6:30 p.m. Sunday. $46 and up. Funny Bone, Ybor City 

Cam Bertrand Sunday, May 3. 6 p.m. And 8:15 p.m. $28.80. Side Splitters, Tampa 

Nasser Al-Rayess Wednesday, May 6. 7 p.m. $37 and up. Funny Bone, Ybor City 

Tom Wise Wednesday, May 6. 8 p.m. $20. Coconuts, St. Pete Beach

The Zoo Uncaged with Johnny B Wednesday, May 6. 7:30 p.m. The Zoo, St. Petersburg

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This article appears in Apr. 23 – 29, 2026.