Aspen loses comedy festival

The HBO television network has hosted its annual US Comedy Arts Festival in the Colorado mountain resort for the past 13 years, over which time it has become a firm favourite with Hollywood talent-spotters.

In a statement, festival boss Bob Crestani said: 'The US Comedy Arts Festival has had 13 great years as part of the Aspen landscape.

'We've made the bittersweet decision not to host the Festival there in 2008. We hope that circumstances will allow us to return to Aspen in the future.'

HBO say no decision has been made yet on the festival's new location - although Santa Barbara is considered a frontrunner. The network also started running a similar comedy festival in Las Vegas last year.

It's thought the lack of affordable accommodation in the upmarked ski resort was one reason for pulling the festival - one of the top five in the world – out of Aspen.

Lisa Johnson from the town's chamber of commerce told the Aspen Daily News: ‘We are very disappointed. The comedy fest was a strong event and very well loved by the local community.

‘The decision to do this was completely made behind closed doors and we weren't given any opportunity to try to change their minds.

'I think there's a good possibility we'll get them to change their minds for 2009. We're always open to supporting events like this as much as we can.'

Mayor Helen Klanderud added: 'I'm sorry they won't be here. That's a disappointment. It was a high-energy event that was enjoyed by many locals. It was a very positive event for Aspen. We welcomed them and we enjoyed working with them.'

The Aspen festival was usually held in early March.

Published: 12 May 2007