The event will include races on both Saturday and Sunday, an attempt at breaking the world record for most people grape stomping and an appearance by legendary comedian and actor Bob Newhart. Plus, there will be a variety of other activities that tie in with the weekend-long event.

The event is being sponsored Univera Healthcare and coordinated by the Lucy-Desi Center for Comedy, Chautauqua Striders and the Jamestown Savings Bank Arena. Lucy-Desi Center executive Director Journey Gunderson says she is obviously excited to have a legend like Newhart come to Jamestown on Saturday night.

“The coolest part of everyone’s reaction is that they’re excited to see someone who they consider one of the most iconic comedy legends in American history,” Gunderson recently told WRFA. “And young people know him from The Big Bang Theory – we’ve heard young people tell us, ‘I love [Newhart’s character] Professor Proton!’ So that is something I didn’t necessarily expect but have been excited to see. It’s a really cool thing to see that the audience is really going to range in people who knew him from Bob Newhart, his TV show in the 70s and 80s, to people who know him from his 2013 Emmy Award-Winning performances on The Big Bang Theory.”

Bob Newhart will return to Jamestown on Oct. 10, 2014.

Gunderson says this will actually be Newhart’s second appearance in Jamestown. He was also in town in 1996 for the Lucille Ball Festival of Comedy celebration.

A limited number of tickets for the Bob Newhart show at the Reg Lenna Center for the Arts on Saturday night are still available and can be purchased by visting www.lucyrace.com or by calling 484-0800. They can also be purchased at the Reg Lenna box office.

The weekend will also include an effort to break the world record for most people grape stomping in one location. Gunderson said that this is simply a fun way to celebrate Lucy and one of her most memorable scenes on television.

“Jamestown received so much positive press from the 2011 Guinness World Record of the most people dressed as Lucy Ricardo so its’ always been in the back of our minds and not the forefront certainly to break records, but to celebrate comedy, so we looked at it that way,” Gunderson said. “We wanted to celebrate one of the most iconic comedy scenes in television history – so many people celebrate the scene when Lucy stomps grapes in that classic I Love Lucy episode… and also celebrate that we are in the largest grape-growing region east of the Rockies.”

The current record for most people grape stomping is 970 and was set in Spain. However, Gunderson is confident that that the new record will be set this Saturday, starting at 11am. The grape stomping will take place on W. Second St. near the Jamestown Gateway Train Station. Everyone is encouraged to stop by and register to take part up to the start of the event.

And of course the main purpose of the event this weekend is the 5K race on Saturday along with the half-marathon on Sunday. This is the second year for both events and Gunderson says registration this year has already surpassed last year. And even if you don’t plan to run, Gunderson is encouraging all residents to come out on Sunday and cheer on the runners and celebrate in the post-race activities, which include a live concert from Jamestown’s own Smackdab – beginning at 11 a.m. Sunday in front of the Ice Arena.

Another event this weekend that ties in with the Lucytown Half Marathon and 5K run is hockey at the Ice Arena, which features the Southern Tier Xpress taking on the Pittsburgh Vengeance Saturday afternoon.

For more information on all the events, visit www.lucyrace.com or by calling 484-0800.

WRFA’s interview with Journey Gunderson, regarding the 2014 Lucy Town Half Marathon, will take place Friday afternoon at 1 p.m. on WRFA.

Actress and Comedian Caroline Rhea will take the stage of the Reg Lenna Center for the Arts in Jamestown, N.Y. on Thursday, Aug. 7 as part of the 2014 Lucille Ball Comedy Festival.

JAMESTOWN – Thursday marks day number two of the 2014 Lucille Ball Festival of Comedy in Jamestown, with plenty of events and activities on the agenda for today and tonight, including a performance by a nationally known actress and comedian.

Tonight at the Reg Lenna Center for the Arts, Caroline Rhea will perform along with several other notable comedians during the Stand-Up Showcase, beginning at 8 pm.

According to Lucy – Desi Center executive director Journey Gunderson, Rhea is known for her past work on the TV show Sabrina the Teenage Witch and other programs, as well as her work in stand up comedy.

“She is aware of the festival because she has a relationship with Costaki Economopoulos, who performed in 2011 here and she said, ‘I want to play your festival. I love Lucy!'” Gunderson explained. “I know Caroline Rhea from her successful standup career in the 90s and 2000s, but some younger people might remember her for her role on Sabrina the Teenage Witch.”

In addition to Rhea, tonight’s program at the Reg will also feature ‘Comedians on the Rise’ Carmen Lynch, Moody McCarthy, and Andrew Norelli – who have appeared on Leno, Conan, Letterman, and more.

While tickets range between $15 and $30 for the Thursday night show, an U.S. military veteran will have free admission to the performance. It begins at 8 p.m. at the Reg and tickets are still available.

Other events scheduled for today include the start of the Lucille Ball Hometown Tour, which will depart from the Gateway Train Station and take place at various times throughout the next four days, the Lucy Silent Auction which begins at noon at the Train Station, The Tropicana Room Lunch with Ret Turner and Comedy Late Night presented by the festival organizers and Rooftop Comedy, happening at the Lucille Ball Desi Arnaz Center, beginning at 10:30.

Other acts scheduled for later in the festival include an appearance by Tom Cotter at the Reg Lenna on Friday night, Late night TV legend Jay Leno on Saturday night and various other activities as well.

The complete schedule of events can be found online at LucyComedyFest.com.

Lucy Desi Center Executive Director Journey Gunderson (left) and Board President Tom Benson stand next to a poster announcing Jay Leno as the headline act for the 2014 Lucille Ball Festival of Comedy.

JAMESTOWN – One of the top names in television entertainment the past two decades will be coming to Jamestown this summer.

Officials with the Lucy Desi Center for Comedy in Jamestown announced Wednesday afternoon that long-time late night television host Jay Leno will be appearing in Jamestown as part of the 2014 Lucille Ball Festival of Comedy. Leno will appear at the Jamestown Savings Bank Arena on Saturday, Aug. 9. In addition, the evening will feature a musical performance by Emmy Award-winning Lucie Arnaz, the daughter of the late Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz.

The Saturday night show is only part of the five-day festival that begins Aug. 6 and continues through Aug. 10. Other attractions for the festival include comedian Tom Cotter, who will appear Friday, Aug. 8 and also a Comics to Watch showcase hosted by Caroline Rhea, taking place on Aug. 7. Both events will take place at the Reg Lenna Center for the Arts.

Lucy Desi executive director Journey Gunderson addresses the audience during a media conference on Wednesday, April 9.

The festival will also have a variety of other events and attractions throughout the downtown focusing on comedy as well as celebrating the legacy of Jamestown Native Lucille Ball.

Pre-sale tickets for the Lucille Ball Comedy Festival will begin going on sale to museum members, sponsors and supporters on Friday, April 11 at noon EST and can be purchased by visiting www.lucycomedyfest.com. Tickets for the general public will go on sale on April 18 at noon EST.