When you think about it, it makes perfect sense that a city that prides itself on “keeping it weird” also happens to be home to the largest multi-disciplinary comedy festival in the South. And if you want to take in some of the hilarity and hijinks that are in store, then you need to find yourself in Austin this September.
Each year, the Out of Bounds Comedy Festival endeavors to enrich the communities of Central Texas through the education, performance and promotion of the live comedic arts. Out of Bounds (OOB) is a 7-day, multi-venue festival of all things comedy, featuring the world’s best in hundreds of improv, sketch and stand-up shows.
Founded in 2002 as the Out of Bounds Improv Festival and Miniature Golf Tournament, the festival was created as a way to get performers from Texas and beyond to come and enjoy the Austin comedy scene. Since then the festival has expanded from a handful of improv and sketch groups, mostly from Texas, performing on one stage for a couple of days, to a seven-day festival at multiple venues featuring performers from across the country and around the world.
Visitors can buy tickets to individual shows, or pick up festival passes, which grant you full access to all shows (including headliners), after-parties and area discounts.
There’s even an opportunity to purchase a unique souvenir to remind yourself of the experience: trading cards. Each year, OOB organizers print cards in packs that can be bought, sold and traded. There are more than 180 unique cards, depicting every performer in the festival. There are cards autographed by local comedy legends, and a special edition series of cards will be announced prior to the festival. You can even buy a complete set, or a Stand-Up Booster Pack with all 50 comics scheduled to perform in the festival.
Despite officially dropping “Miniature Golf Tournament” from the festival’s name, organizers keep the game going as a popular part of the fun. On the Sunday of the festival, participants stubbornly play a round of miniature golf – OOB style. Players are teamed with a random group of performers, and together you’ll fight for ownership of The Ridiculous Jacket. Plus, each hole of the course has a different theme and different rules. There will be trolls, trick shots, riddles, contests, unfair score alterations and more. It’s total madness, and an excellent way to socialize.
So if you’re keen on laughing yourself silly, be sure to get yourself to Austin in time for the Out of Bounds Festival. This year, the festival runs from September 1st to 7th. To book your trip, give us a call at (800) 566-8281.