This spring, Anaheim will add a new kind of event to its calendar: one that pairs stand-up comedy with global street-level flavor. The first-ever Stand Up Chow Down - An Anaheim Experience debuts April 3–4, 2026, with a weekend of comedy shows, pop-ups, surprise sets, and food pairings spread across Anaheim’s Packing District, Farmer’s Park, and nearby walkable venues.
The concept is simple and a little mischievous: discover Anaheim through food and comedy at the same time. Organizers describe it as a way to spotlight the city’s “hidden gems” — not just in the city’s restaurants and breweries — but in unexpected performance spaces too. While details are still emerging, you can expect sets tucked into unusual locations, including at least one live taping planned inside a nearby auto body shop, as well as several secret pop-up shows revealed to ticket holders throughout the weekend.
Comedian Adam Ray is confirmed as the headline performer, with additional acts scheduled to be announced closer to the event. Programming runs across Friday and Saturday, with roughly 15–16 shows planned across several Anaheim venues, all within the Packing District radius, so visitors can flow easily between food events, activations, and comedy routines.
On the foodie side, the focus stays Anaheim-first. Rather than importing outside vendors, the event embraces the Packing District’s international lineup and local culinary talent with guest chefs, mixologists, local breweries, and wine partners activating throughout the weekend. Organizers frame the food program as a bespoke celebration of Anaheim’s own flavor identity, not your run-of-the-mill food-and-wine event in Orange County.
According to organizers, Stand Up Chow Down - An Anaheim Experience was born out of a bigger question: how does Anaheim create the kind of annual “tentpole” weekend that other cities are known for? The way Austin has SXSW and Montreal has Just For Laughs, or how Art Basel and Coachella can shift the energy of an entire region for a few days out of the year. The goal here is to put Anaheim’s culinary scene in the spotlight, using comedy as the driving force, and leaning into the city’s unique personality: its blue-collar grit, its community pride, and its quirky streak that extends far beyond the theme parks.
Timing plays a role, too! The event lands on April Fools’ weekend, a cheeky nod, and a fitting backdrop for a new cultural moment built around comedy, community, and, of course, really good food! Year one starts now, but organizers plan to grow Stand Up Chow Down into an annual event in Anaheim.
In keeping with Anaheim’s commitment to accessibility, the event plans to accommodate guests with disabilities, and many of the activations, pop-ups, and sets are expected to be family-friendly. For now, you’ll have to stay tuned as more lineup details and the full schedule are announced, because a weekend built around secret sets means half the fun is not knowing exactly what’s coming next!
Tickets are on sale now, with flexible options to cover all sorts of experiences, so get ‘em while they’re hot!
