Comic Relief is launching its new nationwide Neighborhood Festivals series this fall in Los Angeles and Philadelphia, combining live comedy, family entertainment, and hands-on volunteering to fight childhood poverty. Featuring performances from iconic groups like The Groundlings and UCB, alongside interactive activations with The LEGO Group, LinkedIn, and Scholastic, these free community events make giving back accessible and fun.
NEW YORK, Sept. 3, 2026 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- Comic Relief today introduced its inaugural Neighborhood Festivals, a new community initiative designed to bring people together in their local communities through comedy and connect them directly with non-profits working locally to end childhood poverty. The new national series begins this fall with initial festivals in Los Angeles and Philadelphia. The first Neighborhood Festival will be held at the Paramount Pictures Studio Lot in Los Angeles on Saturday, September 19, from 11:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m., followed by a second festival in Philadelphia on Saturday, October 24 (location/time TBA).
While admission is completely free, advance registration at ComicRelief.org is required for all attendees.
Rooted in Comic Relief's mission to harness the power of comedy for social change, the Neighborhood Festivals establish a fresh community experience built on a simple truth: most Americans want to help kids facing poverty, but need accessible ways to start. Neighborhood Festivals answer that call, offering hands-on, local ways to connect with the community organizations already doing the work. The festivals also mark the public launch of the Comic Relief Neighborhood Fund, dedicated to creating on-the-ground community giveback events, supporting local non-profit partners through grants, and activating regional response efforts.
The September festival in Los Angeles will feature performances from iconic comedy and family entertainment groups, including The Groundlings, Upright Citizens Brigade's "Wildly Appropriate," Story Pirates, and YADA's "Rockin' Awesome Improv Show," alongside local DJs and interactive, all-ages entertainment throughout the day. Entertainment details for the October Philadelphia event will be announced in the coming weeks. These experiences are designed to inspire action not just for one day but year-round by raising public awareness of childhood poverty, inspiring community connection, fostering engagement with local organizations, and making giving back a fun, visible, shared experience for kids and families.
"One in six kids in America lives in poverty. That means it's not some distant, abstract problem; it's in nearly every neighborhood, often just around the corner," said Michele Ganeless, Chief Executive Officer of Comic Relief. "It's a national issue, and at the same time, a deeply local one, but it is a problem we can solve. Neighborhood Festivals give people an accessible way to get involved, using comedy to bring communities together to have fun, connect with their neighbors, and see exactly how they can support local kids and families."
The Neighborhood Festivals will feature custom, hands-on activations developed in partnership with Comic Relief's local grantee partners:
- Community Care-Kit Packing: In collaboration with beloved brands including Scholastic, eventgoers can volunteer to assemble 500 whole-kid care kits containing school supplies, snacks, toiletries, and books to be distributed locally through Covenant House and the Boys & Girls Club.
- LEGO® Replay Community Build Station & Donation Drop: The LEGO Group will host a signature hands-on community build activation featuring build tables, community-oriented design prompts, and on-site ambassadors. Designed to foster shared play and connection for families, the area also integrates the LEGO Replay program, inviting attendees to donate their used LEGO® bricks for recycling and distribution to local schools to inspire creativity and learning.
- LinkedIn Career Empowerment Experience: In partnership with LinkedIn, the festival will feature interactive experiences designed to help young adults explore skills, build confidence, and discover new opportunities. Attendees will have the chance to engage with career-focused activities, connect with resources that support personal and professional growth, and participate in experiences that encourage learning, self-discovery, and future planning.
Locally active non-profits will be central to both events, providing attendees with interactive booths where they can learn about local programs, sign up to volunteer, and access community resources. By providing both a high-profile platform and direct funding to participating non-profits, Comic Relief ensures these organizations have the resources and visibility needed to deepen their local impact.
At the Los Angeles festival, a dedicated installation will highlight the work of local non-profits that received rapid response grants from Comic Relief to fund recovery, rebuilding, and resilience efforts following last year's wildfires and give attendees the opportunity to support these ongoing efforts. Non-profit grantees to be highlighted in the feature include Boys & Girls Clubs of America, Children's Health Fund, Covenant House, Echoing Green, Feeding America, The Student Conservation Association, Didi Hirsch Mental Health Services, Helen Keller International, and The Boris Lawrence Henson Foundation. In addition, City Year Los Angeles AmeriCorps members will participate as official volunteer partners of the event.
Visit ComicRelief.org to learn more about the Neighborhood Festivals and to secure your free spot by registering to attend (required).
About Comic Relief:
Comedy moves culture. Comic Relief uses this power to build awareness, raise money, and drive action in communities to support kids facing poverty. To date, we've helped more than 50 million children and families live healthier, safer, and more empowered lives. Comic Relief, Inc. is a registered U.S. 501(c)(3) public charity. Learn more at ComicRelief.org and follow us across platforms @ComicReliefUS.
Media Contact
Steve Albani, Comic Relief, 1 (917) 439-3212, [email protected], ComicRelief.org
Aileen Budow, AB Creative Communications, 1 (917) 842-9653, [email protected]
SOURCE Comic Relief
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