The first two years of Kickstand’s Comedy in the Park summer series were impressive, but 2023 blew them both away, with Portland Parks & Recreation staff counting approximately 4,700 people on a recent Friday in August. That’s people-protesting-against-Donald-Trump numbers. But while anger frequently provides the motivation of our moment, Kickstand brought all those people out to make them laugh, and in doing so, to showcase and support local comedians and community. Now, as Portlanders gaze.