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.
Museum Hours
Fall/Winter Hours
Wednesday-Sunday
CLOSED MONDAYS & TUESDAYS
10 am - 5 pm
90 Canal St., Ellenville, NY
Admission: $15 for adults
$10 for Wawarsing/Ellenville residents with local I.D.
Free: 18 and under.
Questions? Email info@borschtbeltmuseum.org or call 845-879-3561
Events
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Borscht Belt Film Fest Nov. 6-8!
Mark your calendars for a weekend packed with extraordinary cinema and incredible storytelling that celebrates the golden era of the Catskills!
Our Full Lineup drops this Thursday, October 1!
Check back on Thursday to see the film roster and snag your tickets before they’re gone!
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Borscht Belt Film Fest Opening Reception and Screening of "We Met At Grossinger's" Friday, November 6
Celebrate the golden era of the Catskills and kick off the Borscht Belt Film Fest 2026 with an unforgettable evening of nostalgia and cinema!
Enjoy classic Grossinger’s-style cocktails crafted by our sponsor, Tuthilltown Spirits, alongside Borscht Belt style nosh, and schmoozing with fellow film lovers. We are excited to present the Legacy Award to the late, legendary Elaine Grossinger Etess, being accepted by her children and grandchildren.
Following the reception, join us at Shadowland Stages, just down the block from the Museum, to watch the feature documentary "We Met at Grossinger's", capturing the unforgettable history, romance, and magic of the iconic resort.
After the screening, stick around for an exclusive panel discussion featuring special guests— producer Robert Friedman and the children and grandchildren of Elaine Grossinger Etess!
Ticket Details - $125 per person, includes full access to the 5:00 PM Reception (cocktails and Borscht Belt style nosh), admission to the 7:00 PM Screening, and Q&A at Shadowland Stages. All proceeds benefit the Borscht Belt Museum.
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.
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.