2024 FESTIVAL LINE-UP

PRIVATE MUSEUM TOUR
Saturday, July 27
10 - 11 am
90 Canal Street

Join curator Debra Schmidt Bach for an intimate tour of the museum's new exhibition, "And Such Small Portions!," which explores the intersection of food and comedy in the Catskills Resort era. A veteran curator at the New-York Historical Society, Schmidt Bach and her curatorial team have crafted an entertaining and delicious journey through the foodways and comedic culture of the Borscht Belt.

This tour is SOLD OUT but a second tour has been added at 1:30pm. See the listing below.

COMEDY
Saturday, July 27
11:00 am - 12:15pm
Shadowland Studio, 14 Market St.

Kick off the festival with the incredible Julia Scotti, who stole hearts on America's Got Talent and stars in "Julia Scotti: Funny That Way." Julia breaks barriers with her sharp wit and hilarious stories.

PHOTOGRAPHY EXHIBITION
Sat., July 27 & Sun., July 28
11 am - 5 pm
Hunt Memorial Building
2 Liberty St.
Closing Reception: Sunday, 6 - 7 pm

Photographer Isaac Jeffreys has documented over 75 historic Borscht Belt resorts across Sullivan and Ulster counties. Once vibrant social hubs from the 1920s to the 1970s, many have succumbed to the passage of time. Jeffreys' use of dramatic lighting and staging imbues his images with a sense of hope and imagination for an era he never experienced in its prime. In this ephemeral exhibition, his photographs lead viewers through newly captured scenes of bungalow life in the mountains and journeys through majestic theaters. The show includes a collection of rare artifacts and ephemera.

The gallery will also host the festival's closing reception, on Sunday, July 28th, 6:00 - 7:00 P.M.. All are welcome. Refreshments provided by City Winery and Old World Provisions.

MUSEUM EXHIBITION
Saturday, July 27
11 am - 6pm
90 Canal St.

The Borscht Belt Museum’s new exhibition, “And Such Small Portions!” celebrates the vibrant history, cherished rituals and irresistible humor of food and comedy in the Catskills Resort era.

Curated by Debra Schmidt Bach (New-York Historical Society), Steve Jaffe (Museum of the City of NY) and Mackensie Griffin (Bard Graduate Center), this interactive visual journey is inspiring, educational and deliciously fun.

This exhibition is made possible through the generous support of the Chaya Fund, the Victor and Pearl Tumpeer Foundation, Slutsky Lumber and Timely Signs.

Due to the high volume of visitors during Borscht Belt Fest, we encourage advance ticket purchase for the museum on Saturday and Sunday.

BORSCHT BELT TALKS
Saturday, July 27
11:30 am - 12:30pm
Market St Studio, 9 Market St.

What’s it like growing up in a comedic household? The children of four iconic Borscht Belt comedians share personal stories about the delights and downsides of sharing a roof with a professional funnyman. Emmy and Tony Award-winning comedy writer Alan Zweibel moderates this fascinating discussion with Sheryl Gunty Seiferas & Lori Gunty Becker (daughters of Morty Gunty), Judi Kirschenbaum-Levin (daughter of Freddie Roman), Peter Lord (son of Dick Lord) and David Barbanell (son of Vic Arnell).

CABARET
Saturday, July 27
12:30 - 1:30 pm
9 Liberty St.

Come share your favorite Catskill memories at a Borscht Belt-themed "Story Slam." Sign up for a chance to tell a true, personal 5-minute story about your time in the Catskills. Inspired by The Moth Radio Hour, story-teller names will be drawn at random for a chance to pay tribute to those wonderful bygone days and nights. Whether your story is funny, poignant, or wistful, we're sure the audience will love our story-slam trip through time as they vote for the best story. The winning storyteller will receive a prize. Following ticket purchase, email dan@borschtbeltmuseum.org to enter the storytelling contest.

Moth veteran and Catskills alum Alan Amtzis will host this event.

COMEDY
Saturday, July 27
1:00 - 2:15 pm
Shadowland Studio, 14 Market St.

Travel back to the golden era of comedy with The Borscht Belt Classic. Enjoy the timeless humor of Bob Greenberg, Jeffrey Gurian, Barbara Kaufman, Antonia Lassar, and guest Allen Frishman.

BORSCHT BELT TALKS
Saturday, July 27
1:30 - 2:30 pm
Market St Studio, 9 Market St.

In Catskills' heyday, giants like Wilt Chamberlain, Rocky Marciano and Red Auerbach trained at the region’s hotels and entertained throngs of adoring guests and journalists. At a time of de facto segregation, Borscht Belt hotel owners helped chip away at prevailing racial barriers. Panelists include Joe Dorinson, author of “The Black Athlete as Hero,” boxing historian and Liberty boxing club owner Jose Toledo, and legendary tennis coach and professor Barry Goldsmith. Moderated by film and TV producer Evan Haiman.

PRIVATE MUSEUM TOUR
Saturday, July 27
1:30 - 2:30 pm
90 Canal Street

Join curator Debra Schmidt Bach for an intimate tour of the museum's new exhibition, "And Such Small Portions!," which explores the intersection of food and comedy in the Catskills Resort era. A veteran curator at the New-York Historical Society, Schmidt Bach and her curatorial team have crafted an entertaining and delicious journey through the foodways and comedic culture of the Borscht Belt.

BORSCHT BELT TALKS
Saturday July 27th
2:00 - 3:00 pm
119 Canal St.

The Catskills made a big impression on readers of “The Forverts,” the Jewish immigrant community's Yiddish paper of record. Each summer, subscribers jammed the newspaper's switchboards to ensure their beloved daily was delivered to their Borscht Belt boarding houses, bungalow colonies, and resorts. Loaded with classified ads for Catskills farmland, boarding houses, hotels, and even Yiddish summer camps, ‘Forverts’ readers and writers found a home in the Borscht Belt for well over a century. Join archivist Chana Pollack on a journey through the historic Forward archives, hear some of what they reported on the Catskills, and see what the tumult was all about.

COMEDY
Saturday, July 27
3:00 - 4:15 pm
Shadowland Studio, 14 Market St.

Lucie Pohl’s Immigrant Jam Comedy features NYC’s funniest immigrant and 1st gen comics, who will make you laugh so hard you’ll wish you were born somewhere else. Guaranteed not to have stolen any of your jobs, Immigrant Jam celebrates the beauty of everything cross cultural, deliciously different and not from here. Hosted by Lucie Pohl, with performances by Leclerc Andre, Divya Gunasekaran, Naomi Karavani, Pat Burtscher, and Alex Carabaño.

BORSCHT BELT TALKS
Saturday, July 27
3:30 - 4:30 pm
Market St. Studio, 9 Market St.

Jeffrey Yoskowitz, award-winning author and founder of The Gefilteria, explores the history and context for some of today's most beloved dishes – including latkes, matzo ball soup, blintzes, pastrami sandwiches, pickles, and much more – and how they evolved and adapted in the New World. He'll also share exciting discoveries about seasonal Jewish eating, holiday cooking, and culinary wisdom that will transform everything you thought about Ashkenazi Jewish gastronomy.

BORSCHT BELT TALKS
Saturday, July 27
4:00 - 5:00 pm
119 Canal St.

Humorist, Borscht Belt Museum archivist and lifelong Catskills resident Allen Frishman returns to share more behind-the-scenes stories about his family's bungalow colonies, his plumbing experiences, and his extensive collection of rare and interesting artifacts, including the hotel coat hangers that your grandmother stole! "They charge way too much for this room. Take a hanger!" Well, it's in his collection now. And when you see some of the other items, they'll make you say, "Boy, I remember that." He'll also be sharing some new stories from his forthcoming book, "Gefilte Fish for the Soul." So be prepared to have a memorable hour of comedy and reminiscing.

Frishman will be signing copies of his first two books, "Tales of a Catskills Mountain Plumber" and "More Borscht from a Catskills Mountain Plumber."

COMEDY
Saturday, July 27
5:00 - 6:15 pm
Shadowland Studio, 14 Market St.

Get ready for a rollicking showcase of stand-up comedy with Ellenville natives Alejandro Morales and David Lonstein. They bring their east coast favorites, Alex Grubard, LaTice Mitchell and Sean Barry for a evening of non-stop laughter.

CABARET
Saturday, July 27
5:00 - 6:30 pm
9 Liberty St.

Catskills native Warren Epstein brings his hilarious and heart-warming one-man show to Borscht Belt Fest! You’ll smell the gefilte fish and laugh out a lung as you journey through the quirky bungalow colonies, smoky cocktail lounges, and majestic resorts of yore.

BORSCHT BELT TALKS
Saturday, July 27
5:30 - 6:30 pm
Market St Studio, 9 Market St.

What happened in the 1950’s, 60’s and 70’s that so dramatically shifted the world of humor from family-friendly icons like Jack Benny, George Burns and Milton Berle to the salty, sexually explicit and politically incorrect comedy of Lenny Bruce, Buddy Hackett and Joan Rivers? Comedy historian Lenny Dave takes us on an instructive and entertaining survey of the rebellious and controversial comedians whose careers were nourished in the Catskills before they catapulted to national fame.

COMEDY
Saturday, July 27
7:00 - 8:15pm
Shadowland Studio, 14 Market St.

Rachel Feinstein is a nationally acclaimed comedian and actress who has appeared on Hulu's "Life & Beth," Steven Soderbergh Amazon series "Red Oaks" and Judd Apatow’s HBO comedy "Crashing." Other credits include "Trainwreck," "Top Five," "The Nightly Show with Larry Wilmore," and HBO's "Last Week Tonight with John Oliver." She has co-hosted "The View" on multiple occasions and made several appearances on "Inside Amy Schumer," for which she won a WGA award.

“Feinstein’s acute observations create silly, sympathetic characters keeping her subtly, exquisitely attuned to her audience," according to AV Club.

CABARET
Saturday, July 27
7:00 - 8:30 pm
9 Liberty St.

Get ready for a variety show specially tailored for grownups with half a brain. Now in its 8th smash year, The Ruthless Comedy Hour features top stand-up comedians, musicians and celebrity interviews, and touches on social, political and local concerns by making brutal fun of them. Hosted by stand-up veteran Karen Bergreen and humorist Cynthia Kaplan. Special guests: award-winning director and creator Robert Small and stand-up comedian and playwright Brad Zimmerman.

THEATRE
Saturday, July 27
8:00 - 10:00 pm
Shadowland Stages, 157 Canal St.

It's 1934 and the Cleveland Grand Opera Company is ready to welcome world-class soprano Elena Firenzi for her one night only performance in the starring role of Carmen. When the great singer arrives late, her passionate husband explodes in a fit of jealousy. Despite the chaotic dance of slamming doors, mistaken identities, and epic egos ... the show must go on!

This delightful farce, adapted from Ken Ludwig's Tony Award-winning LEND ME A TENOR, will have you singing with laughter! Directed by Brendan Burke.

Friday, July 26 to Sunday, July 28
Catskills Borscht Belt Museum
90 Canal Street

The Catskills Borscht Belt Museum Oral History Project invites you to share your unique stories and memories of the Borscht Belt resort era. Reserve a time to record your story in-person at museum. Appointments fill up fast so make your reservation now!

During your scheduled visit, we will guide you through the process, ensuring that your story is recorded and preserved with care and respect.

ART EXHIBITION
Saturday, July 27
11 am - 5pm
Hunt Memorial Buildng
2 Liberty St.

Woodstock artist Elise Pittelman lovingly reimagines the characters she encountered during the Borscht Belt's heyday as vibrant, colorful tableaus that resemble Japanese woodblock prints. Working off photographs and source material from the era, Pittelman elevates mundane moments of Catskills summer life and renders them with a cartoonish dynamism that is at once joyous and melancholy.

FREE OUTDOOR FILM SCREENING
Saturday, July 27
8:30 - 10:00 pm
11 Market St.

Bring your chair or blanket and join us for a free outdoor screening of"Dirty Dancing" that will transport you straight back to the summer of '63.

But wait, there's more! We're turning this screening into a full-blown celebration of all things "Dirty Dancing." Channel your inner Baby or unleash your inner Johnny – come dressed as your favorite character from the film! Don't worry if you're more of a spectator than a dancer – everyone is welcome! Sing along to the unforgettable tunes, quote your favorite lines, and feel the exhilaration as Patrick Swayze and Jennifer Grey sweep you off your feet.

Don't miss out on the time of your life!