This isn't a joke - we swear! Join us April 1st for an evening of laughs and delicious food that, contrary to assumption, the house is not named after (or vice versa).
The Food
Our friends at Tangerine Food Company are turning your grandpa's favorite frozen meal into the next gourmet craze. They'll keep everything on theme with lil' smokies, Swedish meatballs, and mini biscuits with pimento cheese to start off during cocktail hour. Dinner will be three-courses, plated - a garden salad; Salisbury Steak* with mashed potatoes and peas; and a surprise dessert!
*A mushroom hash vegetarian option will be available
The Entertainment
We have booked three local stand-ups who will have you laughing through dinner!
Mara B.
Mara B is a mom who lives in the suburbs where it’s quiet - no trains, no interstates, no noise pollution. Mostly because there is a lot of noise pollution in her mind! Good news, the jokes live in there too.
She has tales of motherhood and the challenges of becoming a mom, staying a mom, and her identity outside of being a mom.
Matthew Jacobsen
Matthew Jacobsen is a high energy stand-up comedian armed with stories, voices, and faces.
Matthew placed first in the 2024 “Funniest Person In Iowa” contest, and received the Nate Cockerill Stage Performance Award at The 2022 Cleveland Comedy Festival.
Sean Dengler
Sean Dengler grew up in Traer, Iowa. Bonus points if you know where it is. From growing up in this small town to living in the big city of Des Moines, Sean has lived a life full of different experiences he shares through comedy with audiences across the country.
He’s performed at Teehee's Comedy Club in Des Moines, Paul Bunyan Comedy Festival in Michigan, San Diego Comedy Festival, and the Del Close Marathon in New York City.
The Why
Guests ask our staff and volunteers all the time "Let me guess, this was built by John Salisbury?" or "Did this guy invent Salisbury Steak?" and they're only joking about half the time. Those who are joking take it seriously, to the point of leaving us pleasant Google reviews and editing our Wikipedia page. We figure if everyone else is having a laugh, why can't we?
A Legacy of Laughter
Jokes aside, the Weekses are a family that loves to laugh. When people tell us stories about the Weekses time at Salisbury, it's always done through chuckles. When grandsons Barron and Cooper joined us at Gatsby Gala 2025 they had everyone they met dissolving into giggles. The Weeks family was and remains notorious for their fantastic sense of humor.
As part of our mission to preserve, interpret, and share Salisbury House with the community we keep front of mind Carl and Edith Weeks' legacy as hosts and do what we can to bring that legacy to life at the events we hold today - and that means having a good laugh on occasion.
Tickets
Tickets include appetizers, dinner, and the show. Doors open at 6:00 PM, dinner and the show will start at 7:00 PM. A cash bar will be available with select beer, wine, and non-alcoholic options with proceeds benefiting Salisbury House Foundation.
