I’ve been an ‘I Love Lucy’ fan for as long as I can remember (as of 2025, I now have an I Love Lucy tattoo and a dog named Lucy!). As a kid, I wanted to stomp grapes and wrap chocolate. I held bottles of cough syrup and pretended to do a Vitameatavegamin commercial (the drunk version, of course). I also wish I had a dollar for every time I said “Lucy, you got some ‘splainin’ to do’ or ‘Luuuccccy I’m home.’ No, I didn’t know anyone named Lucy. I just made sure to say these famous phrases whenever they fit. I know every word of every episode of I Love Lucy. I only disliked a few episodes (the visit to Scotland is one of them). I wanted to meet Lucille Ball. I wanted to ‘be‘ Lucille Ball. She was my idol, and I admired all the work she did to pave the way for other female comedians, writers, producers, and so on, after her. I have read everything I could about her and watched her on many shows where she appeared.

Years ago, when I went to Atlantic City, New Jersey, there was an ‘I Love Lucy’ exhibit with memorabilia from the show, including clothes, awards, and props. I remember turning a corner at the exhibit and seeing a re-creation of both the Manhattan apartment and the California hotel room. My eyes welled up and I couldn’t control the tears that flowed. I felt that I stepped back in history and right through my television set. It was THAT good. I felt like I was in the Desilu Studios watching a taping of ‘I Love Lucy.’

When I found out that Lucille Ball was born in Jamestown, New York (only a five-hour drive away from my own home), I added a trip to this small town to my must-see list. I wanted to see where my idol was born and raised. Then, I found out about the Lucy Comedy Fest, an annual event in Jamestown where there are comedy shows, grape stomping (yes!), candy wrapping (yes! yes!), tributes to Lucy and tours of “Desilu Studios” which is more of the re-creations and memorabilia.

For several years, I tried to get to this Comedy Fest, but the stars didn’t align until this past August when I finally went with my honey (who isn’t an ‘I Love Lucy’ or Lucille Ball superfan per se, but had a great time nonetheless).

We took a tour of the studios and went to a dinner with the twins who played Little Ricky, Joseph and Michael Mayer. (The article continues after the photo gallery!)

I went to a panel where Peter Farrelly (There’s Something About Mary (1998), Me, Myself & Irene (2000) and Dumb & Dumber (1994)) told really funny stories about his career (Bobby was sick with the flu but was scheduled to appear) and then took a lucky winner for a ride in the Mutts Cuts van from the movie ‘Dumb & Dumber.’

I went to both the Babalu Cafe and the Havana Cuban Cafe & Pizzeria, where I had my first Cuban sandwich — YUM! — Thanks, Ruben!, who also happened to have the best flan around. (Unfortunately, it’s now closed permanently.)

The chocolate wrapping was a hoot. My honey and I did it together (I’m Lucy, he’s Ethel) and it was much more difficult than I thought it would be. Speed it up a little! they did! and before you know it there were chocolates flying everywhere and we just couldn’t keep up and we kept laughing. I resisted the urge to hide the ‘chocolates’ down my shirt and in my hat.

Recording a Vitameatavegamin commercial was awesome. I want to give props to the Museum because after I recorded my first (non-drunk) commercial, I accidentally deleted it, and they let me in again to record it. Afterward, I had some regrets about not doing the drunk one, but hey, at least I gave it a shot. Cut me some slack, I got stage fright with others watching me. LOL).

I’ve told so many people about this comedy fest that attendance should increase every year, LOL.  Hopefully, I’ll come back and see it again. The professional comedians who were there this year included Brian Regan, Trevor Noah, and Lewis Black. There were Lucy & Ethel shows and tours of Jamestown.

We saw the homes where Lucille was born and raised, and heard stories about the couple who bought her childhood home just to ensure that nobody remodeled it (they were outside waving to our tour bus).  We went to the cemetery where Lucille is buried. I admit that I cried a little. I cried the day she died, too.

We were there for her 105th birthday celebration (Lucille died in 1989) and saw the ‘ugly’ Lucille Ball statue. We also saw the unveiling of the beautiful new Lucille Ball statue and sang ‘Happy Birthday’ to her (again, got choked up). I paid homage to the woman who meant so much to me growing up — she made me laugh, and thanks to her hard work, inspired me to achieve whatever I wanted and not let being a woman stop me.

Jamestown is now home to the National Comedy Center where many of the professional comedians who come to the Festival perform.

“Comedy is one of the most overlooked of all the arts–it’s usually the dramatic stuff that gets all the attention & recognition,” said Peter Farrelly in a release. “So to have a place that will celebrate comedy and the comics of the past is a great thing.”

If you’re interested in attending a future Lucy Comedy Fest, visit the website and sign up for the newsletter to stay informed about the upcoming dates. Book your hotel AS SOON AS the dates are announced, but be forewarned that the rates of some of the hotels will double.

Are you a Lucy fan???! Tell me about it in the comments!