Thirteen summers of stand-up, podcast tapings and late-night sets along South Broadway are coming to an end, as organizers of the High Plains Comedy Festival announced this week that this year’s edition will be its last. The once scrappy local showcase evolved into a multi-venue weekend that regularly dropped big-name comics and homegrown talent into Denver’s summer calendar. For many comics and longtime attendees, the shutdown leaves a very visible hole in the city’s comedy scene.
Organizers shared on Facebook that High Plains will stop running after this run, according to The Denver Post. The Post reports that the statement marked the end of the festival’s 13-year run and teased “one last official party” on Nov. 21 at the Skylark Lounge on South Broadway. Founder Adam Cayton-Holland declined to comment when reached, the paper notes.
What High Plains Built
High Plains was launched by Adam Cayton-Holland with a simple goal: to give Denver comics their own spotlight. Over time, the festival graduated into bigger rooms while keeping its operations centered on South Broadway. As Westword has reported, the event turned into an annual anchor that paired national headliners with Denver’s most dependable locals and fostered a walkable, neighborhood-style festival feel. That formula helped put Denver on the map for touring stand-ups and podcast fans across the country.
Big Names, Podcasts And Sponsors
Across its run, High Plains became known for stacking lineups with a mix of local fixtures such as Ben Roy, Andrew Orvedahl and Josh Blue alongside nationally recognized comics. The Denver Post notes that past guests have included Maria Bamford, David Cross, Reggie Watts, Anthony Jeselnik and Kumail Nanjiani, with the festival hosting both traditional stand-up shows and live podcast tapings. The Post also reports that at various points, High Plains leaned on sponsorship support from partners, including Illegal Pete’s and TruTV.
Who Fills The Calendar?
With High Plains stepping aside, other presenters are already stretching their schedules to catch the demand. RISE Comedy is putting on a house festival from July 24 through Aug. 1 in the Ballpark neighborhood, according to the festival page at RISE Comedy. At the same time, the High Plains website still advertises fest passes and lineup information, a reminder of how quickly clubs and promoters are moving to reshuffle as Denver’s festival landscape shifts. For archived schedules and past lineups, see High Plains Comedy Festival.
Final Show And Legacy
Organizers say High Plains will get one last sendoff on Nov. 21 at the Skylark Lounge, a final salute to the South Broadway cluster of bars and stages that helped the festival feel like a neighborhood takeover each summer. The timing of the festival’s end coincides with another milestone for Cayton-Holland: his feature film See You When I See You, adapted from his memoir, premiered in the Premieres section at the 2026 Sundance Film Festival, according to Sundance. As Westword and local comics have pointed out, High Plains helped elevate Denver talent to a wider audience, and its absence is likely to echo through the city’s comedy community for years to come.
