Pittsburgh comedian Matt Light is on a mission to put Pittsburgh comedy on the map.
Light is producing the first Iron City Comedy Festival: Laughs On Draft event to be hosted at Pittsburgh Brewing Co. in East Deer.
With 19 years of experience in the comedy field, he’s hoping to help spotlight comedic talent in the Pittsburgh area.
Light has been producing content with the brewery since 2019. After being invited to one of the largest comedy festivals in the world in 2025, he was inspired to bring a similar event to Pittsburgh Brewing Co. The goal, he said, is to celebrate Pittsburgh-area comedians.
“If you look at a lot of the events put on by the city or people in general, there’s always a music festival,” Light said. “Nobody does that for comedy. I think we get forgotten about pretty often.”
Despite many of their event offerings being music-oriented, Light said, brewery officials were “100% on board” with the comedy festival idea when he pitched it.
The day combines everything he loves, Light said.
Starting at 1 p.m. on Aug. 15, those attending can hear comedy all day, see a professional wrestling presentation in partnership with IWC Wrestling and experience a “tomato-throwing event.”
“This whole festival that I’ve put together is pretty much, ‘OK, Matt: what are your favorite things in the world, and how can you put them together?’” Light said. “I love professional wrestling, I love doing stand-up comedy and I love IC Light beer.”
More than 30 stand-up comedians will be performing throughout the day. A list of the names will be released the week of the event, Light said.
Then, starting at 8 p.m., a lineup of featured comedians will perform sets on the main stage of the venue, Light said.
The lineup includes Light and some of his friends in the industry.
Stand-up comedian Jeff Konkle, also known as “Mr. Wednesday” on the “’DVE Morning Show” is included in the main lineup.
Joe Bartnick, whose latest stand-up special, “A Killing in Chicago,” is on Amazon Prime, will make an appearance. He was also featured in “Bill Burr: Friends Who Kill,” a stand-up comedy showcase special on Netflix.
Emmy Award-winner Jim Florentine is also slated to appear. Florentine has a long credit list featuring stand-up acts, podcasts, and television and movie appearances. He’s well known for his regular appearances on “Kill Tony,” his cohost work on “That Metal Show” and his prank calls on “Crank Yankers.”
In planning for the show, Light had the idea of a tomato-throwing event for earlier in the day. His inspiration was drawn from the olden days of monarchy.
“Back in the day, when you would entertain kings and queens and you didn’t like (the performance), you would throw tomatoes at them,” Light said. “It’s pretty mean, but it’s also very funny.”
Light gathered six “very brave” comedians who will do 10-minute sets while the audience has an opportunity to express their approval or disdain through purchased tomatoes.
In addition to the comedy sets, a live professional wrestling event put on by IWC will be hosted on the green space of the brewery campus. Konkle and Mark Madden will be commentating during the event.
“I am a die-hard professional wrestling fan,” Light said. “I’ve been a wrestling fan ever since I was a kid.”
The day will also include a roast battle between comedians, food trucks and drinks for sale.
For more information and to purchase tickets, visit ironcitycomedy.com.
If you go
What: Iron City Comedy Festival: Laughs On Draft
Where: Pittsburgh Brewing Co., 150 Ferry St., Creighton, PA 15030
When: Aug. 15 at 1 p.m. Doors open at noon
Tickets: General admission tickets can be purchased for $40 at ironcitycomedy.com.