The Comedy Barn: More Than 25 Years of Good, Clean Laughter
By Dr. Clint W. Kerns, ThD
Some places in Pigeon Forge I recommend because I’ve visited them and enjoyed them.
The Comedy Barn is different.
I’ve been going there for more than 25 years.
My first visit was in June 2000, and before the evening was over, I had somehow gone from sitting comfortably in the audience to standing onstage as part of the show.
What happened next involved my name, my driver’s license, an original comedy song, a rather unusual woman, a little help from the Comedy Barn crew, and a kiss from Miss Comedy Barn 2000.
Trust me. That story deserves an article all its own.
What matters for this Destination Guide is that I laughed that night, went back again, and have continued going back through the years.
I’ve participated in several routines myself. I’ve been part of the human xylophone. I’ve served as a human dummy for a ventriloquist. When I brought groups to Pigeon Forge, a trip to Dollywood was regularly accompanied by visits to The Comedy Barn and Dolly Parton’s Stampede, and quite often somebody from our group mysteriously ended up participating in the show.
I may or may not have had something to do with that.
More than two decades later, I still usually find my way back to The Comedy Barn every year or two.
And there’s a reason.
This Really Is Family Comedy
“Family-friendly” gets used pretty loosely these days.
One of the things I’ve appreciated about The Comedy Barn through the years is that I could take church groups, young people, adults and families there without spending the evening wondering what was coming next.
The Comedy Barn opened in Pigeon Forge in 1995, and clean comedy remains central to its identity today. The current show combines comedians with live music, clogging, juggling, ventriloquism, animal acts and audience participation. The acts rotate, too, so repeat visitors don’t necessarily see exactly the same show every time.
This isn’t a stand-up comedy club where one comedian stands behind a microphone for two hours.
It’s a variety show.
That’s important to understand before buying your ticket. If you’re expecting sophisticated nightclub-style stand-up, this probably isn’t what you’re looking for. Some of the humor is deliberately corny, silly and downright ridiculous.
That’s part of the charm.
I’ve watched children laugh, grandparents laugh and everybody in between laugh, often at the same routine.
Be Careful Where You Sit…You Might Become Part of the Show
Audience participation has always been one of my favorite parts of The Comedy Barn.
Obviously, I have some experience in this department.
Part of what makes it work is that the performers know how to take ordinary people who aren’t professional entertainers and turn whatever happens onstage into comedy.
And believe me, anything can happen.
The Comedy Barn still incorporates audience members into selected routines today, including both adults and children. The theater itself points out that the participation and improvisation mean no two performances are exactly alike.
That’s not advertising language I have to take their word for.
I’ve lived it.
More than once.
One of the performers I’ve enjoyed through the years is Danny Devaney, known to Comedy Barn audiences for his famous ping-pong-ball routine. I caught up with Danny again during my most recent visit, and we took a photograph together.
After more than 25 years of visits, those relationships and memories have become part of the experience for me.
But one of my strongest Comedy Barn memories isn’t funny at all.
The Night The Laughter Stopped
Years ago, I took one of our choir groups to The Comedy Barn.
After the show, we discovered that one of the young ladies traveling with us, who was pregnant at the time, had passed out from dehydration.
Someone called an ambulance.
I gathered several of the young preachers who were traveling with us. There were probably around 15 of us, and we were going to pray for her.
That’s when I saw Comedy Barn comedian Eric Lambert approaching.
I didn’t know Eric nearly as well then as I do today, and for just a moment I wondered whether he was coming to tell us we couldn’t gather there and pray.
I was completely wrong.
Eric asked me what was happening. I explained the situation and told him we were about to pray.
His response has stayed with me all these years.
In essence, he told us this wasn’t a time to play around. We needed to get ahold of God.
Then this man who had just spent the evening making a theater full of people laugh dropped to his knees with us. He put an arm around me and the young lady’s husband, and he prayed.
And I mean he prayed.
That moment made a tremendous impression on me.
Eric and I eventually exchanged telephone numbers, and a friendship developed that continues today. Through the years, when members of that longtime Comedy Barn family have passed away, Eric has contacted me and asked for prayer.
That’s something most visitors will never see from a theater seat.
But it’s part of why this place became more to me than another Pigeon Forge attraction.
What You’ll See at The Comedy Barn Today
The cast and individual acts have naturally changed over the years, but the basic formula that kept bringing me back remains.
Today’s show features a mixture of comedy, live music, clogging, juggling, ventriloquism, animal performances and audience participation. The Comedy Barn also continues to emphasize clean entertainment intended for children, parents and grandparents to enjoy together.
And if you’re visiting during the Christmas season, The Comedy Barn presents a special Christmas production with holiday music, costumes and seasonal comedy acts.
That’s something worth remembering if your Pigeon Forge trip falls during Winterfest.
What You Should Know Before You Go
The Comedy Barn is located at 2775 Parkway in Pigeon Forge, so it’s easy to incorporate into a day spent elsewhere along the Parkway. The Comedy Barn Theater
This is not a dinner show. That’s an important distinction between The Comedy Barn and attractions such as Dolly Parton’s Stampede or Hatfield & McCoy Dinner Feud.
There are concessions available, and you can enjoy purchased snacks and beverages during the performance. The theater recommends arriving as much as 45 minutes before showtime, giving you time to park, get settled and visit the gift shop.
Children under three may sit on an adult’s lap without a ticket; if you want a separate seat for the child, you’ll need a child’s ticket. Wheelchair-accessible seating can also be requested during the online ticket process.
If you’re bringing a church, senior, student or other large group, pay attention to the group options. The Comedy Barn currently offers special rates for groups of 20 or more.
Because schedules and ticket prices can change, I recommend checking the theater directly rather than relying on an old price somebody posted online.
Check current Comedy Barn show information and tickets
Who Do I Think Will Enjoy It?
I’d particularly recommend The Comedy Barn for families and multi-generational groups.
It’s also an easy recommendation for church groups, and I say that from experience rather than assumption. I’ve taken groups there myself.
Parents who don’t want to spend the entire show worrying about what their children are going to hear should appreciate the emphasis on clean comedy. Grandparents can enjoy the same show with their grandchildren. And people who enjoy old-fashioned variety entertainment get much more than simply a string of jokes.
Just understand what you’re buying.
It’s intentionally wholesome. It’s sometimes corny. It’s interactive. It’s unpredictable.
And every once in a while, you may become the entertainment.
I learned that lesson on my very first visit.
Clint’s Take
I’ve been visiting Pigeon Forge for decades, and I’ve watched attractions come and go.
The Comedy Barn has remained part of my Pigeon Forge experience since June 2000.
I’ve sat in the audience. I’ve stood on the stage. I’ve taken groups there. I’ve laughed until I hurt. I’ve watched friends become unwilling volunteers. I’ve made friendships that lasted long after the curtain came down.
And once, after all the jokes were finished and the audience was leaving, I saw one of the men who had spent the evening making people laugh drop to his knees beside a group of preachers and call on God for someone who needed help.
So when I tell you I recommend The Comedy Barn, I’m not repeating something I read in a brochure.
I’m recommending a place that has been part of my own Pigeon Forge story for more than 25 years.
And if you happen to get called onto the stage…
Well, I’ll just tell you this:
Be careful what you say. They may remember you 25 years later.
Plan Your Visit
The Comedy Barn is located at 2775 Parkway, Pigeon Forge, Tennessee 37863. The show lasts approximately two hours, including a brief intermission, and the theater recommends arriving up to 45 minutes before showtime. Free parking is available. Because showtimes, ticket prices, cast members and policies can change, purchasing tickets in advance is recommended, particularly during weekends and busy travel seasons.