More than 2,500 people of all ages gathered in downtown Ashland theaters, restaurants and pop-up clubs last weekend to laugh about the quirky arts-centric city during the first-ever Ashland Sarcasm Festival .

Ashland’s unapologetically edgy celebration brought stand-up to a city previously known mainly for Shakespeare, and provided a post-theater season economic boost. The successful debut has grassroots organizers promising a weekend of comedy and wit as an annual winter event.

Kids saw hours of improv and created new lyrics for Motown classics through Mad Libs. Adults applauded as nationally recognized comics gently satirized the small southern Oregon city the performers were seeing for the first time.

In his trademark half whisper, half giggle, comic Ron Funches confessed Ashla

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