Courtesy: Tommy Lau

SF Sketchfest is back to ring in the new year with laughs and kick 2017 off on a high note. The 18-day annual festival features 700 performers at 17 San Francisco venues, and it kicks off Thursday with StarTalk with Bill Nye the Science Guy, Eugene Mirman and guests. The following day has no fewer than 20 individual performances, from improve with festival regular Paul F. Tompkins to musical throw-downs, sketch performances and much more.

Created in 2001 by David Owen, Cole Stratton and Janet Varney to showcase Bay Area comedy groups, Sketchfest has grown to a nationally recognized festival with famous headliners, local favorites, and troupes from throughout North America.

This year the most popular shows include the cast of The Kids in the Hall doing a live reading, a tribute to Comedy Bang! Bang! with “Weird Al” Yankovic, a King of the Hill 20^th anniversary reunion and The Kentucky Fried Movie 40^th anniversary event. This year’s individual tributes feature Fred Willard, Keenan Ivory Wayans, Aisha Tyler and Peter Bogdanovich.

Fans can see podcasts be recorded, radio shows and talk shows from their favorites including StarTalk Live, “Nerdist Podcast” with Christ Hardwick and guest Nathan Fillion, “How to Be Amazing” with Michael Ian Black, “Harmontown” with Dan Harmon and many more.

The festival includes film and television events, improv comedy, sketch comedy, storytelling, stand-up and even game shows. Musical comedy is on the bill as well, including Jeff Goldblum and the Mildred Snitzer Orchestra. Kids can get in on the action too with The Groundlings Children’s Show and Story Pirates.

Tickets are sold through seven different vendor sites, so it’s easiest to view the full lineup and find links to tickets at www.sfsketchfest.com.