Shenandoah Apple Blossom Festival® Announces New Comedy Show Event

​Get ready to laugh until your cheeks hurt at the Shenandoah Apple Blossom Festival® Comedy Show! Join us at the vibrant Bright Box Theater in Old Town Winchester, VA, for an evening of non-stop hilarity featuring talented comedians who will keep you entertained all night long. With a lively atmosphere, great company, and plenty of laughs, this is the perfect way to kick off your Apple Blossom celebrations. Don’t miss an unforgettable evening of comedy—secure your tickets now and get ready for the ultimate laugh fest!  Featured comedians include headliner and Winchester native, Pete Buchbauer, and his special guests Chip Nicholson, and Jessica Keenan. 
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Pete Buchbauer, Headliner
A native of Winchester, VA, and honing his skills in Washington, DC, Pete has been delighting audiences for over 16 years. Spending years as a “road comic” Pete finally set down roots in Los Angeles, CA where his comedy continued to grow. He has performed all over the country in some of the best clubs, theaters, and festivals including the D.C. Improv, The World Famous Comedy Store, Helium Comedy Club, Laughing Skull Comedy Club, and Caroline’s on Broadway. He has been named Best of the Fest in the Burbank Comedy Festival (2018, 2019, 2023), DC Comedy Fest (2018), and has been a top 100 finalist in the World Series of Comedy (2016, 2018, 2023). Pete’s debut album “Out of My League” is available on all streaming services and SiriusXM. Pete was once the co-host of The White Label Lounge, a music television show that streamed on Roku, in 2018 Pete was the voice of Harley in the pilot of the cartoon Spiritual Therapy for Cartoon Network, unfortunately it was not picked up for series, but in 2023 Pete was a 16 time champion on the game show Person, Place, or Thing on Fox, and in 2025 you can see him as the lead role in the feature film The Death of Ivan Nussbaum. 
 
Pete has shared the stage with such notable acts as Kevin Hart, Dave Chappelle, Jeff Ross, and John Mayer (it’s a long story). Pete’s production company The Popular Outcasts have been producing comedy shorts on YouTube as well as live stand up shows all over the country since 2009. Pete is excited to come back to Winchester for the Apple Blossom Festival and hopes the town he grew up in is ready to laugh.

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Chip Nicholson
Raised in San Diego California, Chip Nicholson says he learned comedy from, “Growing up laughing with my mom at shows like Mad TV, SNL, In Living Color, All That, Def Comedy Jam, Martin, Fresh Prince of Bell Air, the Jamie Fox Show…. “. “I’d watch these shows and knew I wanted to have that kind of something with those kinds of people… I just didn’t know how to get my foot in that door ”. Until Chip found himself at his first open mic and.. “The moment after the last word of that last joke was the sound of applause. Everything blurred; sound into sight the cheers into the lights and found myself unable to stop smiling.” I had Chills. and that’s when I knew. That door I had searched for my foot to get into, I had tripped through and fallen for Stand Up Comedy”.
 
In the coming year Nicholson hopped from mic to mic doing 2-3open mics a night. When there wasn’t a mic, Karaoke’s.  Soon eyes turned to LA after graduation he moved up.
 
Chip was living the life - out of a car for the first couple months in LA.. It was a rough Black History Month. Nicholson says “Comedy isn’t as convenient as it is charming, but that’s what’s fun about journeys.” Chip Nicholson has lived a life of paradox that would be crazy not to laugh along with. Now in Los Angeles, Chip Headlines his happy go lucky style from Calgary Canada to Nashville Tennessee. Winning 2019’s top Finalist of the San Diego Comedy Festival, 2019’s Best of Fest Winner of Arizona’s Big Pine Comedy Festival and recently selected for the main show opening up for Reggie Watts at the Oklahoma 2024 Blue Whale Comedy Festival Chip is on the rise, sharing his passion for comedy, and invites you to fall for it too.

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​Jessica Keenan
Jessica Keenan is a Mexican/Lebanese comedian who was born and raised in Las Vegas, Nevada. She has appeared on HBO Max’s Ha Festival: The Art of Comedy and was also a finalist for Standup NBC.  In 2021, her first special was released on HBO Max: What She Said! Jessica made her Late-Night debut on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon in August 2024.
 
As a staple of the Los Angeles comedy scene Jessica’s star is on the rise performing with the likes of David Spade, Bobby Lee, Tiffany Haddish, and more. If you didn’t know Jessica before you’ll be telling all your friends that you do now.

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​Comedy fans can choose between two nights and three show times, with all shows taking place at Bright Box Theater in Old Town Winchester.  The Friday night show takes place on April 25 with VIP doors at 6:30 pm, general admission doors at 7:00 pm and showtime at 8:00 pm.  Saturday includes an early and late show.  The early show takes place on April 26 with VIP doors at 5:30 pm, general admission doors at 6:00 pm and showtime at 7:00 pm.  Saturday’s late show is general admission only with doors at 9:30 pm and showtime at 10:00 pm.  General admission tickets are $24 and VIP tickets are $29 per show.  General admission tickets at the door are $26 (if available.)
 
Tickets and more info available here or Bright Box Theater at for more details and to purchase tickets. 
 
Celebrate the 98th Shenandoah Apple Blossom Festival® in Winchester, Virginia from April 25-May 4, 2025 where we have something for everyone!