The Great Outdoors Comedy Festival kicked off in Halifax Thursday night with Matt Rife taking the stage at the Garrison Grounds. The festival is North America’s largest outdoor comedy event. Haligonians spotted Rife downtown that night at Durty Nelly’s Irish pub, where he seemed to pick up a bartending shift. Videos of the comedian behind the bar spread online as patrons and fans gathered around him, raking in more than 180,000 views. The 30-year-old comic rose to fame around 2022 after clips from his stand-up acts went viral on TikTok. He’s since been at the centre of controversies after his jokes sparked backlash online. Rife has done world tours and Netflix comedy specials, garnering millions of followers online. He’s returning to The Great Outdoors Comedy Festival Friday night at 7:30 p.m. to a nearly sold-out audience. Park Ranger Donovan, the onsite host of the festival, boasts a lineup of comedians set to perform until Sunday. “Matt Rife… Adam Ray as Dr. Phil is going to be here, Trevor Wallace is going to be here, it just keeps going. Nikki Glaser’s going to be here, I’ll be here, it’s going to be an amazing show,” he told CTV Your Morning Atlantic’s Brianne Foley. “You’re going to see the greatest comedians in the world in the most beautiful venue on the entire planet at Garrison Hill. Like look around, this place is fantastic,” he adds. Park Ranger Donovan, personified by comedian Donovan Workun, tells attendees to dress accordingly for sunny and rainy days. “You might need a hat, a parasol as they say in France,” he says. But he says not to worry about the fluids because the festival has it covered. “The drunker you are the funnier the show,” he laughs. “Check us out, c’mon, show up and fill the hill. We want to see you out here, we love you Halifax.” More information about the comedians lined up this weekend can be found on the festival’s website. For more Nova Scotia news, visit our dedicated provincial page
