KEENE, N.H. (MyKeeneNow) Juston McKinney thinks like a comedian: When his neighbor told him he was going to the gym more often to be able to eat more Thanksgiving dinner, he looked at the leaves piled in his yard and thought, “How about raking those leaves on your property so they don’t blow into my yard? You should try it.”

New Hampshire’s own McKinney returns to the Colonial Theatre this Saturday, Nov. 16, to deliver a fresh set of comedy rooted in the quirks and charms of life in the Granite State. Known for his dry humor and witty takes on local culture, McKinney tackles everything from family life to small-town absurdities to state liquor stores and New Hampshire’s lack of helmet laws.

Raised in Portsmouth, McKinney brings firsthand insight to his New England-focused material. His early comedy career grew out of experiences on the New Hampshire-Maine border, where he first tested his routine while balancing a career in law enforcement. After making the leap to New York City in the late ’90s, McKinney quickly gained attention at top comedy clubs like Comic Strip Live and Caroline’s on Broadway. He has since appeared on “The Tonight Show” with both Jay Leno and Conan O’Brien, starred in multiple Comedy Central specials, and toured alongside Bill Engvall in “Blue Collar Comedy: Next Generation.”

In addition to his comedy specials, McKinney has a growing presence on social media, where his recent YouTube special “On the Bright Side” has over a million views. The special explores life’s humor in divisive times, staying true to McKinney’s commitment to comedy that’s entertaining without taking strong political sides. “If I can make us laugh about something, it can be healing,” he said in a recent phone interview with My Keene Now.

This past May, he recorded a TED Talk titled “A Comedian’s Guide to Surviving a Dysfunctional Childhood,” which explores how he uses comedy as a way to process life’s challenges. “The TED Talk gives people a glimpse into where a lot of my material comes from,” he said.

Audiences in Keene can expect to hear some of these stories, along with his insights on family life, the New Hampshire “Live Free or Die” mentality, and his year-round battle with the region’s squirrel population—a topic that even led to a running joke about his efforts to relocate yard-wrecking squirrels to Stratham.

McKinney’s comedy isn’t confined to regional jokes, though. He tailors his material to audiences, sharing relatable stories about parenting, dealing with teenagers, and his own experiences navigating adulthood. “I’ve got a son in high school who calls me ‘boss,’ but he never listens to me or does what I say—he’s only interested in taking money from me,” McKinney joked.

One of the standout features of McKinney’s act is his multimedia “Year in Review” segment, which he brings to New England audiences each December. Featuring humorous commentary on current events, McKinney combines slides, newspaper clippings, and videos, giving audiences a lighthearted take on the past year.

Recently, McKinney expanded his tour schedule to include shows in Chicago, Montreal, and upcoming stops in Florida and Pennsylvania, where his New England perspective resonates beyond the region. When he performs outside of New England, McKinney says he keeps his sets largely universal but makes a point to include some hometown humor for New Englanders in the audience.

McKinney’s humor strikes a delicate balance, using observations from everyday life to connect with audiences of all ages. “I try to give a little something for everyone,” he says.

Comedian Juston McKinney performs this Saturday, Nov. 16, at 8 p.m. at The Colonial Theatre, 95 Main St., Keene. Tickets are $38 and can be purchased at the box office (open Tuesday through Friday from noon to 5 p.m. and two hours before the start of the show on performance day), by calling 352-2033 and leaving a voicemail, by emailing boxoffice@thecolonial.org or visiting www.thecolonial.org.

Listen to Dan Mitchell interview Juston on the Good Morning with Dan Mitchell show in October here: