The Catskills may no longer be lined with sprawling resort hotels and nightly floor shows, but for one summer weekend each year, Ellenville becomes the closest thing to a time machine.
The third annual Borscht Belt Fest returns July 24-26, transforming the village into a celebration of the comedy, cuisine, music, and cultural traditions that once made the Catskills one of the most influential vacation destinations in America. Organized by the Catskills Borscht Belt Museum, the three-day festival combines stand-up comedy, historical panels, culinary events, live music, archival exhibitions, and family-friendly activities spread throughout downtown Ellenville.
Now in its third year, the festival has grown alongside the museum’s broader mission to preserve and reinterpret the legacy of the Borscht Belt—the network of hundreds of hotels, bungalow colonies, and summer camps that welcomed generations of primarily Jewish vacationers from New York City throughout much of the 20th century. Those resorts helped shape American comedy, popular music, food culture, architecture, and entertainment, launching the careers of performers from Mel Brooks and Joan Rivers to Jerry Seinfeld and countless others.
“As we enter our third summer, it’s exciting to see how much Borscht Belt Fest has grown into a vibrant celebration of Catskills culture, comedy, food and history,” says Andrew Jacobs, board president of the Catskills Borscht Belt Museum. “We’re incredibly grateful to our community, volunteers and sponsors for helping make that growth possible.”
The festival’s comedy programming reflects the central role humor played in Catskills culture. Headlining performances at Shadowland Stages include Ariel Elias on Saturday night, followed Sunday by Olga Namer and Harrison Greenbaum, whom both Time Out New York and the Daily News have called “the hardest-working man in comedy.” Additional events include the Borscht Belt Classic comedy showcases and “The Schmooze,” an evening of improvisation, storytelling, kvetching, and kibitzing featuring comedians over the age of 70.
Several panels explore how the Catskills’ influence continues to reverberate through American culture. “Meshuggeneh Nation: Jewish Humor and the News” examines the lineage connecting Borscht Belt comedians such as Mort Sahl and Henny Youngman to contemporary political satirists like Jon Stewart and John Oliver. Other programs investigate the region’s musical history, from Yiddish theater and synagogue traditions to swing, rhythm and blues, and Latin influences that filtered through the resorts during their heyday.
Food, unsurprisingly, occupies a prominent place in the weekend’s lineup. New this year are expanded culinary programs, including “Nosh, Nurture and Narrative,” a discussion of Jewish cuisine’s impact on New York dining culture, and a Kugel Cookoff that invites amateur cooks to compete for bragging rights and prizes. Visitors can also join archivist Allen Frishman for a bagels-and-lox brunch and private tour of his renowned collection of rescued Borscht Belt artifacts and memorabilia.
Outside the ticketed events, the festival spills into the streets. A free Saturday Makers’ Market will feature more than 30 craft vendors, while Sunday’s Street Fair brings more than 100 artisans, collectors, food vendors, and specialty merchants to downtown Ellenville. Organizers are also encouraging attendees to embrace the era by dressing in vintage Borscht Belt-inspired attire, with prizes awarded for standout costumes.
The festival arrives at a moment when Ellenville itself continues to build momentum after years of revitalization efforts. Once a thriving manufacturing and resort town that struggled through decades of economic decline, the village has experienced a resurgence fueled by arts organizations, preservation projects, new businesses, and a renewed appreciation for its distinctive history. The Borscht Belt Museum, which is working toward a permanent museum presence in Ellenville, has become one of the most visible symbols of that effort.
“We look forward to welcoming visitors from across the region as we continue building Ellenville into the ultimate destination for experiencing the legacy and spirit of the Borscht Belt,” Jacobs says.
For longtime Catskills families, the festival offers a chance to reconnect with cherished memories. For younger visitors, it provides an introduction to a cultural phenomenon whose influence still shapes American entertainment and leisure. For Ellenville, it has become something more: a celebration not only of the region’s past, but of its future.
This article appears in July 2026.
