Sacramento Comedy Festival

This nine-day event, created in 2011 by Brian Crall, owner of the Sacramento Comedy Spot, features improv, sketch comedy, live podcasts and a stand-up comedy competition that will award a $1,000 prize. Headliners include Mike E. Winfield, Cheryl “The Soccer Mom” Anderson and Shane Murphy. An all-festival pass is $45, and most events cost $5 to $12, but if you can't afford that, feel free to just crash the free after-parties following the events each night during the festival. Sacramento Comedy Spot, 1050 20th Street, Suite 130; www.saccomedyfest.com.