Meet the comedian behind the inaugural Paul Bunyan Comedy Festival

Oscoda- Brandon Young remembers the first time he got behind the microphone to make people laugh. 12 years later, he’s created a new stage for over 30 comedians to showcase their skills and bring humor to the sunrise side. Young, an Oscoda native who now lives in Ann Arbor, has always had a knack for humor since he was a little kid.

“I remember watching Comedy Central when it first came out in the early 90s and just watching all of those stand-up comedians and just being enamored in what they were able to do,” said the middle-aged funny man.

The comic graduated from Central Michigan University where he began to write jokes and come up with comedy routines. It wasn’t until after college when Young began performing, hundreds of miles from home and in a much warmer climate. He moved to San Diego on a wing and prayer in 2003 to live with one of his friends who just finished up in the Navy.

“It was me, him, and his mom living with him as well, so the three of us all living in a one bedroom apartment in San Diego, so you can imagine how exciting of a time that was,” laughed Young.

Despite the tough circumstances at the start, Young was able to find his groove performing stand-up. In 2009, He started Rock Comedy Ministry, which brings different forms of comedy to people who don’t normally get to experience humor. Out there, he met his wife and continued to explore all that comedy had to offer.

In May of last year, Young and his wife moved back to Michigan and set up shop in Ann Arbor. The comedian still performs shows in the college town, always working to make one more person laugh.

Young teamed up with Dan Bublitz, another comedian, to help bring to life the Paul Bunyan Comedy Festival. Young wanted to do something new and bring laughter to this small region.  Perhaps the most unique part about this three day extravaganza is that net proceeds are donated to the Alzheimer’s Association.

“Most comedy festivals don’t raise money for organizations,” Young said. “It’s usually kind of a thing where the people just profit the money, profit themselves. This one we’re giving back to a great cause.”

Young will be hosting on all three days of the event while 30 comedians from all around North America look to bring joy and humor to the small town of Oscoda.

“I’m just one guy that’s had an idea to bring some laughter up in this community where they don’t get it every weekend, they don’t get it every day like some of the bigger cities and I think it’s a good cause, good thing for them to do. ”

The festival runs April 5th through the 7th. For more information and tickets, visit https://www.paulbunyancomedyfest.com