36th Annual Oliver Hardy Festival returns to Harlem

It’s time to celebrate Harlem’s most famous son and the larger half of the comedy duo Laurel and Hardy.

On Saturday, crowds will gather to celebrate the 36th Annual Oliver Hardy Festival in downtown Harlem.

Hardy, with Stan Laurel, became a globally famous part of a comedy duo who made 107 films between 1927 and 1950. They were known for their slapstick routines and gentle, bumbling characters.

Hardy was born in 1892 in his grandparent’s home in Harlem.

Augusta Eats: This downtown cafe makes it easy to recognize the culinary theme. Waffles!

The festival will be from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. in downtown Harlem. There will be art and food vendors, entertainment, a parade and more throughout the day.

The theme of this year’s festival is based on the Laurel & Hardy film “The Chimp.” According to the city’s Facebook page, since the film opens with a circus, expect to see circus displays.

There will be movie shorts in the museum theater, a kid zone and lots of other fun things to do for the day.  The city’s Laurel and Hardy Museum of Georgia will be open with memorabilia about the duo and the history of Harlem.

For more information, visit the festival website at https://harlemmuseumandwelcomecenter.com/oliver-hardy-festival.

This article originally appeared on Augusta Chronicle: Celebrate Harlem’s favorite son at the annual Oliver Hardy Festival