The festival's fifth year kicked off with sold out shows featuring Anh Do, then Luke McGregor on Friday night and Lano and Woodley's late Saturday night show.

However, The Chaser's 7pm show on June 14 and Lano and Woodley's 5pm show the following night were half full.

Wagga Civic Theatre manager Carissa Campbell was pleased with the overall turnout but said numbers are needed in order for the festival to continue growing.

"Overall I'm really pleased with it, 3600 people attended overall, the food vendors did well and had a nice vibe and there were a lot of new people that attended this year which I'm always thrilled about," Ms Campbell said.

"If we're going to grow, the audience needs to be there and we do need the numbers.

"But you never really know what shows will be sold out because comedy is personal and this year we tried to offer more shows in the larger theatre."

Ms Campbell said last year people were turned away because there were no seats available, but the festival was also about offering a diverse range of comedy.

"Selling 500 seats is not the point, it's about bringing comedians to Wagga and getting a diverse range," she said.

"When Hannah Gadsby first came to Wagga she only sold about 300 seats and now she's selling the world; these acts now are so big and we'd struggle to get them again.

"Five years ago Luke sold about 120 seats and now his career has grown, but the main point is the art form more than the number of seats sold."

Resident Evan Garbutt attended The Chaser's show and said he was a bit disappointed with the turnout.

"I only went to one show and it was a poor turnout, although the set up for it was done really well with the market and food stalls outside," he said.

"I'm pretty disappointed with the turnout from the Wagga community despite some of the other shows having big turnouts so I'm not sure why, but if they don't get the numbers they won't come back.

"I don't think the pricing was too bad, however maybe a bit too high for those seeing multiple shows."

Similarly, resident Karl Hulford saw two shows and said cost could be a reason why not all were at full capacity.

"I saw two shows in the one night and got no discount; maybe a buy one, get your next half price could be an idea," he said.

"I'm also not sure if Wagga is ready for the left leaning commentary of The Chaser guys either, which is disappointing."

Ms Campbell said she is fully aware of price sensitivity, but there are complications with offering discounted tickets.

"The trouble is we're not a normal festival, it's not the same companies each night and it's different arrangements with different companies," she said.

"We're trying to find a way to do it because I'm totally aware of price sensitivity and also some artists will also set the price, so it's ongoing."

Riverina Comedy Club member and festival emcee Dave Cunneen said it will only get "bigger and better".

"I was lucky enough to emcee the local Riverina Comedy Show and we had a really good turnout and I think it shows Wagga has an appetite for local performers and touring comedians as well," he said.

"I think with the caliber of acts that came this year and the acts that came last year, it's just going to get bigger.

"If we sit back and think where it could be in five years, it's just going to get bigger and better."

Wagga's own comedian and Comedy Festival advocate Dane Simpson said it was "amazing", despite missing this year's event because he is on tour.

"I think there were a lot more shows in Wagga and they had more people going this year and it has so much potential," Mr Simpson said.

"It seems to just keep growing, which is amazing, people are certainly getting into it."