Before the BQE sliced through in the 1950s, Williamsburg was one of Brooklyn’s premier entertainment districts—home to vaudeville theaters, jazz clubs, and vibrant music halls. Though the expressway disrupted this cultural corridor, Williamsburg's creative spirit never died. From underground punk venues to the indie comedy boom, the neighborhood has reinvented itself time and again.

Join us July 10 -13 for the Grand Street Comedy Festival as we celebrate the past while shaping what comes next for the Brooklyn entertainment scene.