Laughter, Legacy, and Latkes: Borscht Belt Festival in Ellenville This Weekend

The Borscht Belt Festival is back in downtown Ellenville for its third year, celebrating the legendary legacy of Jewish resorts, comedy, and culture that once defined the region.

Presented by the Borscht Belt Museum, the festival runs from Friday, July 25 through Sunday, July 27, with a lineup of events honoring the heyday of the Catskills resort scene and its outsize influence on American comedy.

“The Borscht Belt refers to the Catskills resort era—from the early 1900s through the 1980s—when more than 1,000 hotels and bungalow colonies drew over a million visitors each summer,” said Andrew Jacobs, President of the Borscht Belt Museum’s Board of Trustees. “That’s where stand-up comedy was born. Joan Rivers, Jerry Seinfeld, Milton Berle—they all cut their teeth in the Catskills.”

Full schedule & tickets: www.borschtbeltfest.org

Image: Visitors to Borscht Belt Fest 2024  in Ellenville, NY. (Credit: Borscht Belt Fest)