The Borscht Belt Museum is dedicated to preserving the legacy of the Catskills resort era, and celebrating its history as a refuge from bigotry, the cradle of stand-up comedy and a cultural catalyst that changed America.
Events
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Borscht Belt Fest
Saturday, July 26 & Sunday July, 27
Ellenville, NYA celebration of comedy, culture and food in the Catskills
From sharp stand-up to unexpected stories, Borscht Belt Fest brings together an all-star lineup including acclaimed author Gary Shteyngart, writers from SNL and The Tonight Show, and New Yorker cartoonists Asher Perlman, Dave Ostow, Liana Finck, and Avi Steinberg, for a weekend packed with big laughs and thought-provoking conversations.
The streets of Ellenville will come alive with Jewish food vendors, klezmer music, comedy shows, engaging panels, and more. Celebrate the legacy of Catskills comedy, discover the region’s rich cultural history, and hear from the voices shaping its future, one punchline, or panel, at a time. Whether you're here for the shtick or the substance, there's plenty to explore.
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Legacy of Laughter: Honoring Robert Klein
Saturday, July 26
Join us for an unforgettable evening of laughter, legacy, and legendary storytelling as the Borscht Belt Museum proudly honors comedy icon Robert Klein.
Enjoy a special screening of the acclaimed documentary Robert Klein Still Can’t Stop His Leg, a panel discussion with Klein, director Marshall Fine, and, New York Times journalist and Borscht Belt Museum Board President Andrew Jacobs.
The night culminates with a celebratory award presentation by beloved comedian Josh Gondelman, paying tribute to Klein’s indelible mark on American comedy and his deep ties to the Borscht Belt legacy, with cocktails and lite bites.
Museum Hours
Tuesday to Sunday
11 am - 5 pm
Closed Mondays
90 Canal St., Ellenville, NY
Admission: $15 for adults
$5 for Wawarsing/Ellenville residents with local I.D.
Free: 18 and under.
Questions? Email info@borschtbeltmuseum.org or call 845-879-3561.
The Borscht Belt Resort Era
For much of the 20th century, urban dwellers, many of them Jews, migrated en masse each summer to the Catskill mountains 90 miles north of New York City. They were seeking escape from the pestilence and sweltering tenements of the city, but also from rampant antisemitism that barred Jews from most hotels.
The vacation world they created included nearly 1,000 resorts, bungalow colonies and boarding houses, and a vibrant nightlife that drew the nation’s top entertainers — and a parade of sports figures, political leaders and civil rights activists.
Keep in Touch!
Engaging, Interactive, Educational
The Borscht Belt Museum occupies the historic Home National Bank, a 1928 Neo-Georgian gem that has strong links to the Borscht Belt era. The Home National Bank was one of the few financial institutions willing to lend to the region's Jewish hoteliers and bungalow colony owners in the 1920s, 30s and 40s.
Actor and comedian Danny Kaye with resort owner Jennie Grossinger.
Boxer Floyd Patterson trains at Kutsher’s for a title fight.
President Lyndon B. Johnson meets Homowack Lodge owners Irv and Florence Blickstein during a visit to the Catskills in 1966.