Get ready to laugh out loud

The Docklands Arts, Laughs and Blues Festival will fill Docklands with music, comedy and cabaret next month.

The festival was first held last year and event organiser Melissa Head said the 2013 festival would once again bring a range of entertainment to Docklands.

The festival runs from October 1 until October 6 and features a program jam-packed with local and international acts.

Entertainment on offer includes a stand-up comedy gala, jazz, magic, burlesque and more, with a range of free and ticketed events.

This year the festival includes a “Search for a Funny Bone” competition, where budding comedians can test out their jokes for the chance to win $500 along with a spot in the gala comedy show alongside Jeff Green, Dave O’Neil and Dan Willis.

The six-day festival culminates in the free Sunday Blues Festival on October 6, with a range of blues artists performing at different venues throughout the day.

The Wonderland Spiegeltent is the festival hub, but you can also catch entertainment at nearby Groove Train and the Harbour Town Hotel.

Ms Head said she hoped the annual event would make Docklands a festival destination.

Having just returned from the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, Ms Head said she would like the Docklands Arts, Laughs and Blues festival to grow into something that showcases Docklands internationally.

But she said more support was needed to ensure the festival continued to run each year.

Ms Head is currently searching for a major sponsor to support the festival.

Businesses interested in sponsoring the 2014 Docklands Arts, Laughs and Blues Festival should contact Ms Head at [email protected]

You can view the complete Docklands Arts, Laughs and Blues Festival program at http://www.docklandsartsandlaughsfestival.com.au