The festival, based at the Painted Bride Art Center, 230 Vine St., combines food events, musical offerings, book readings, and programs with social-justice themes.

Parallels between the Great Depression and our economic woes is a major theme of this year's festival. But don't expect to be depressed by it. From the Festival Speakeasy, where visitors can share a drink and conversation with artists and festival creators, to a musical program of Woody Guthrie's folk songs sung by his granddaughter Sarah Lee Guthrie, the eclectic nature of the First Person Festival shines bright.

In bad times laughter is the best medicine, and this year's festival has plenty of it. Esquire writer A.J. Jacobs ("The Know It All," "The Year of Living Biblically") reads from his latest laugh-out-loud volume, "The Guinea Pig Diaries," in which he details his experiential journalism, like posing nude for Vanity Fair magazine and adhering to the principles of the Radical Honesty movement for a month. Hoax artists Andy Bichlbaum and Mike Bonanno present "Yes Men Fix the World" on Thursday evening, taking the audience behind the scenes at some of their most elaborate pranks.

As in the past, the festival highlight is the GrandSlam competition that anoints one individual as the best storyteller in Philadelphia. Winners of the city's monthly Story-Slams compete Saturday night. The event always sells out, so reserve your place now.

For a list of all the First Person Festival events and order tickets: www.firstpersonarts.org.