It’s February: cold, dark, and, let’s face it, more than a little depressing.

Luckily, it’s also time for the city’s first ever JFL NorthWest, a new comedy festival presented by NorthWest Comedy Fest and Just For Laughs. From February 18 to 27, Vancouverites can forget their winter woes with some of the best in stand-up, sketch, and improv. With only ten glorious days to enjoy thirty events, we're hoping to squeeze in as many laughs as possible. But for those with limited time this month, we`ve crafted this sweet little list of our five favourite picks for the festival:

JFL NorthWest Must-Sees

By Sad Magazine

Trevor Noah
By Sad Magazine
"You have to work a bit harder to offend me because I'm from the home of some of the best racism in the world.” Africa’s most successful comedian and newly anointed host of The Daily Show kicks of the festival on February 19.
Wanda Sykes
By Sad Magazine
“I'm here today because I hated everything else.” Known as “one of the funniest stand-up comics,” Wanda Sykes has been featured on HBO’s Curb Your Enthusiasm and co-starred with the likes of Steve Carrell, Jane Fonda, and Jennifer Lopez.
The Nasty Show
By Sad Magazine
Nasty in all the right ways. A JFL classic, The Nasty Show is five nights chock full of the "most raw, shocking, foul, filthy comedy" of the festival. Need we say more?
Janeane Garofalo
By Sad Magazine
"My hell is going to be the stairmaster wing of Dante's inferno, where they're gonna tape my feet to the pedals and the only music I get is Michael Bolton karaoke style." Part comedian, part activist, part best-selling author, Janeane Garofalo is not to be missed.
Hari Kondabolu
By Sad Magazine
"You can be funny and say what you mean; these ideas are not mutually exclusive." Brutally honest and side splittingly funny, Hari Kondabolu has been called “one of the most exciting political comics in stand-up today.”