Marin
Comedy Shows in Fairfax, CA
The room to know is Mac’s at 19 Broadway. Fairfax’s one comedy stage runs stand-up most weeks — a free showcase on Tuesdays, headliner sets on weekends — inside a small speakeasy-style room on Broadway a block off the plaza. Here’s what’s actually booked, what a ticket runs, what the room feels like, and how to park.
Mac’s at 19 Broadway is Fairfax’s comedy room
Mac’s has been a Marin institution for decades — a low-ceilinged basement speakeasy on Broadway Boulevard that’s run live music, comedy showcases and late DJ sets under one roof since long before “speakeasy” became a design trend everywhere else. Comedy shares the calendar with music rather than running as its own separate program, so when you’re checking a date, look at the full Mac’s lineup, not just a comedy-specific listing — a jazz or reggae night can land on the same week as a headliner set.
Full details, hours and the live event list are on the Mac’s at 19 Broadway venue page, or see Mac’s own comedy calendar for anything not yet listed here.
Free Tuesday comedy: 90 Seconds Comedy Time Bomb
90 Seconds Comedy Time Bomb is the standing free showcase at Mac’s most Tuesdays, and it’s arguably the best-value night out in Marin. The format is openly modeled on Kill Tony: each comic gets ninety seconds to win the room, judged live by a rotating panel — regulars have included Mike Ghiringhelli, Marvin Deloatch Jr. and Michael Downtown Brown — while the crowd’s reaction counts for just as much as the judges’ verdict. No cover, no ticket link needed, just show up. It’s the lowest-commitment way to see what Fairfax’s scene looks like before you pay for a headliner, and the mix of amateur nerve and professional judging makes it worth catching even when you don’t recognize a single name on the lineup.
Weekend headliners worth planning around
Scott Capurro Live Comedy Show headlines Mac’s with a set built on sharp wit and fearless, sometimes uncomfortable storytelling. His screen credits go back to Mrs. Doubtfire, BBC programming and Star Wars: Episode I — Mac’s is a much smaller room than any of those productions, which is exactly the appeal of catching him here instead of at a theater.
Legends of SF Comedy pairs Michael Pritchard — billed locally as Marin’s Favourite Son and known elsewhere as “Counselor to the World” — with Doug Ferrari, who wrote for and performed alongside Robin Williams and Rodney Dangerfield. The night mixes straight stand-up with interviews and storytelling about the Bay Area comedy scene both comics came up in, so it runs longer and looser than a standard headliner set. Worth budgeting for if you’re timing a babysitter or a dinner reservation around it.
What’s booked right now
| Date | Show | Cover |
|---|---|---|
| Aug 20 | Scott Capurro Live Comedy Show | See listing |
| Aug 25 | 90 Seconds Comedy Time Bomb | Free |
| Sep 10 | Legends of SF Comedy | $25 |
This table reflects what’s on sale as of publish; for anything added after, check the full live listing on the Comedy hub.
What the room actually feels like
Mac’s isn’t a comedy club built for comedy — it’s a basement music venue that comedy shares. Low ceiling, close quarters, a bar running the whole time. That means sound carries and hecklers get heard, for better or worse, and it means there’s rarely a genuinely bad seat, since there aren’t many seats to begin with — most of the room stands. If you want a stool near the stage, that’s a 7:30pm-arrival problem on a weekend, not a ticket problem.
Free Tuesday vs. a paid weekend headliner
If you’ve never been, start with a free Tuesday. There’s no financial commitment, the room is more forgiving of a mixed bill, and you’ll get a real sense of whether Mac’s basement energy is your thing before you spend money on it. Once you know you like it, the weekend headliners are where the county’s stronger touring and Bay Area names actually show up — Scott Capurro and the Legends of SF Comedy bill are both a level above what a free showcase can book, and the room fills up accordingly. Treat Tuesday as the audition and the weekend booking as the reason to actually plan an evening around Fairfax.
Parking, cover charges and getting there
Mac’s is at 19 Broadway, a short walk from the free public lot behind the Fairfax Pavilion on Bolinas Road. On weekends, arrive by 7:30pm — the handful of street spots directly on Broadway fill first, and once they’re gone you’re circling for ten minutes rather than parking once. Free Tuesday shows have no cover; weekend headliners run $10–$25 depending on the act, paid at the door or via the event’s ticket link. It’s 21+ after early evening on comedy nights, so check the specific event listing if you’re bringing anyone younger.
SMART and Golden Gate Transit don’t run directly into Fairfax at night, so this is a drive-or-rideshare trip from most of Marin — budget 20–30 minutes from San Rafael or Mill Valley via Sir Francis Drake Blvd, longer if you’re coming from the freeway side of the county during Friday traffic.
Plan your visit
Frequently asked questions
Is Mac’s at 19 Broadway 21 and over?
It’s a bar first, so expect a 21+ policy after early evening. Check the specific event listing, since some early or all-ages-adjacent bookings can differ.
Do I need a ticket for the free Tuesday comedy?
No. 90 Seconds Comedy Time Bomb has no cover and no ticket link — just show up. Arrive close to showtime if you want a seat near the stage.
How far ahead should I book a weekend headliner?
For a bigger name like Legends of SF Comedy, book as soon as it’s listed. Mac’s is a small room, and strong lineups sell out before the week of the show.
What if a headliner show is sold out?
Check the event listing for a waitlist or door-only policy — some Mac’s shows hold a few standing spots for walk-ups even after advance tickets sell out, but it’s not guaranteed. The free Tuesday showcase is always a fallback if a specific weekend booking is full.
Can I just get a drink at the bar without watching the show?
Mac’s is a working bar on comedy nights, so you can technically be there without facing the stage, but the room is small enough that you’ll hear the set either way. It’s not really set up as a separate hangout space during a ticketed headliner night.
More ways to spend the night in Fairfax
Mac’s also runs jazz and lounge nights on non-comedy dates — see our guide to Marin’s best jazz shows for what’s on the same stage between comedy bookings. Pairing a Mac’s set with dinner and drinks is also one of our top picks in the Date Night Ideas in Marin County guide.
See what else is on
Browse the live, always-current Comedy hub for every upcoming show in the county, or check This Weekend in Marin for a full night out beyond just the show.
