2026 Line Up

Saturday, July 25
9:30am - 12:00pm
Location sent with ticket confirmation

Join Borscht Belt Museum archivist Allen Frishman for a classic bagels - & lox breakfast and private tour of his home, a veritable museum chock-a-block with ephemera saved from oblivion. An author, preservationist and former building inspector for the town of Fallsburg, Frishman rescued countless objects — telephone switchboards, bungalow kitchens, swizzle sticks and hotel signs — before the bulldozers arrived. Many of them make up the Borscht Belt Museum's core collection.

BORSCHT BELT TALK
Saturday, July 25
10:30am - 11:30am

Location sent with ticket confirmation

"Before Woodstock: The Music of The Original Catskills Counterculture."
This panel focuses on the music that "Progressive" Jews in the mountains played, sang, and listened to from the 1930s onward — union songs, Spanish Civil War songs, peace songs, lullabies, songs of love, songs of protest, songs for a hopeful future, songs in English, Yiddish, Russian & Spanish. We'll listen, and we'll talk about this music as part of the larger cultural project — for every set of social movements needs a soundtrack. 

BORSCHT BELT TALK
Saturday, July 25
12:00pm - 1:15pm

Location sent with ticket confirmation

Step back into the golden age of the Catskills for an unforgettable, high-energy afternoon of history, culture, and rhythm. Borscht Belt Rhythm and Beats is a dynamic multimedia panel and presentation exploring the eclectic soundtrack that defined the region. This special event brings together expert discussion, archival visuals, and live musical elements designed to illustrate the vibrant history of the area and get the crowd up and dancing.

Featuring Panelists:

Eve Sicular, Paul Shapiro, Rabbi Dr. Cantor Sam Josephson, Scott Wilson, Leni Cohen

BORSCHT BELT TALK
Saturday, July 25
1:45pm - 2:45pm

Location sent with ticket confirmation

There is a direct line from the Catskills stage to the satirical traditions that shape American political comedy today. This provocative and timely panel will trace how Borscht Belt humor — rooted in powerlessness, resilience, and the subversive intelligence of outsiders — became the dominant language of American political satire.

COMEDY SHOW
Saturday, July 25
3:00pm - 4:30pm

Shadowland Studio
14 Market Street

The Nevele may have closed its doors, but the spirit of the Catskills is alive and well. Join us for a special showcase hosted by everyone’s favorite retired Nevele bellhop, Alejandro Morales, as he welcomes a new roster of "guests" to the festival stage.

SPECIAL EVENT

Saturday, July 25
4:45pm - 6:15pm

Borscht Belt Museum
90 Canal Street

“Not Your Motha's "Dating Game!" The Jewish Dating Game is a hilarious interactive game show with delicious prizes. Hosted by modern matchmaker Linnea Sage. Watch sparks fly or sign up to be a contestant! A night of joy, fun, and love for Jews and allies, singles and couples alike.

Want to be a contestant? Buy a ticket and fill out this form to apply.

All tickets include one cocktail. VIP tickets include front row seats and merch.

COMEDY SHOW
Saturday, July 25
5:00pm - 6:30pm

Shadowland Studio
14 Market Street

The latest and greatest in the grand tradition of standup comedy returns! We’re kicking off the festival with an audience favorite, The Borscht Belt Classic. This show delivers the unmistakable flavor of Catskills comedy, performed by comedians of all generations. 

Featuring:
Ethan Herschenfeld, Andrew Steiner, Joey Novick, Robby Slowik

FUNDRAISER

Saturday, July 25
5:30pm - 7:30pm

A Night in the Catskills
Brisket • Music • Memories • Memorabilia Auction

Experience an intimate evening celebrating the golden age of the Catskills with live music, a traditional Kosher-style brisket dinner and a one-of-a-kind fundraising auction featuring rare Borscht Belt memorabilia. Enjoy delicious food, nostalgic stories and a chance to support an important cause— all in an exclusive gathering limited to just 60 guests. RESERVE NOW — THESE TICKETS GO FAST!!

COMEDY SHOW
Saturday, July 25
8:00pm - 9:15pm
Shadowland Studio
14 Market Street

Viral star and Kimmel Show favorite Ariel Elias headlines the first night of the festival. 

Ariel Elias is a comedian living in New York City. Growing up, this Kentucky Jew made everyone laugh at her bat mitzvah and the rest is history. Today, her comedy is a fun mesh of unique, personal stories mixed with witty and wry observations. 

FREE
Saturday July 25 12-3pm
Sunday, July 26 11-2pm
Borscht Belt Museum
90 Canal Street

Tell your Borscht Belt story! Sign up for a 20–30 minute oral history interview and help the Borscht Belt Museum keep the memories alive.

The Borscht Belt Museum is dedicated to preserving the rich history and vibrant memories of the Borscht Belt resort hotels and bungalow colonies that once thrived in the Catskills. We invite you to share your unique stories and memories.

WORKSHOP

Sunday, July 26
10:00AM - 11:00AM
Location sent with ticket confirmation

The Comedy Lab: A Borscht Belt Crash Course in Joke Writing

An Interactive Workshop for Ages 10 to 100

From the 1920s through the 1970s, the "Jewish Alps" of the Catskills weren’t just a vacation spot — they were a high-speed factory for American humor. Legends like Mel Brooks, Joan Rivers, and Jerry Seinfeld didn’t just get lucky; they mastered a specific set of tools to make people laugh until their sides ached.

Now, it’s your turn. This isn't a boring history lecture. It’s a fast-paced, one-hour "writers' room" where families go behind the scenes to learn the secret mechanics of the perfect joke.

Hosted By:
Molly Livingstone and Joey Novick

BORSCHT BELT TALK

Sunday, July 26
10:00am - 11:15am
Location sent with ticket confirmation

Join us for a panel discussion featuring the legendary owners and keepers of the Borscht Belt’s bungalow legacy. We’ll dive into the daily grit and summer glamour of running these colonies, from the "macho" weekend arrivals to the mid-week tranquility of the "colony" lifestyle.

Featuring:
Phylis Kaufman (Kaufman’s Bungalow Colony, Monticello), Sheldon Dishner (Dishner’s, South Fallsburg), Allen Frishman (Archival Officer, Borscht Belt Museum).

BE PART OF THE SHOW

Sunday, July 26
11:00am - 12:00pm
165 Canal St, Ellenville, NY 12428

Come share your favorite Catskill memories at a Borscht Belt-themed "Story Slam." & a delicious brunch.

Start your experience out right — Reserve your Borscht Brunch spot at Aroma Thyme Bistro and Restaurant by calling 845-647-3000.

Then also register here for FREE access to our exclusive Borscht Belt Story Hour (details below) — This is a celebration of Catskills memories, history, and storytelling.

Sign up for a chance to tell a true, personal 5-minute story about your time in the Catskills. Inspired by The Moth Story 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.

BORSCHT BELT TALK

Sunday, July 26
11:30am -1 2:45pm
Location sent with ticket confirmation

The casino at Grossinger’s. The legendary nightclub at the Concord. The makeshift stage tucked behind a boathouse. In the Catskills, place mattered.

The physical architecture of the mountains did more than just house an audience; it shaped the very soul of American comedy. From the timing of a punchline to the intimate, high-stakes energy of a crowded room, the "spatial genius" of the resort era was a critical ingredient in the Borscht Belt experience.

SHOW & TELL

Sunday, July 26
12:00pm - 1:00pm
Location sent with ticket confirmation

You’re invited to join the Borscht Belt Museum’s Archival Officer, Allen Frishman, for an afternoon of stories, memories, and unexpected treasures as we explore the objects that shaped our personal histories. Please bring one cherished Borscht Belt item — sentimental, quirky, historic, or surprising — that tells a story. It might be a photograph, a recipe card, a letter, a souvenir, a piece of clothing, or a tiny treasure tucked away for years. Don’t have an object? Everyone has a story! Let's share them. Hey, you might get into Allen’s next book, you never know! Together, we’ll share memories, laughter, and a little Catskills magic.

COMEDY SHOW

Sunday, July 26
1:00pm - 1:45pm
Shadowland Studio
14 Market Street

Another generous helping of the old-school comedy you know and love. Sunday’s Borscht Belt Classic features a chuckle-worthy mix of the past and the present of standup comedy. 

Featuring:
Bob Greenberg and Linda Belt, joined by Canada’s Benji Rothman.

LIVE MUSIC | FREE EVENT

Sunday, July 26

1:30pm  - 3:00pm

Mobile Stage

Isle of Klezbos approaches Yiddish musical traditions with loving irreverence and profound respect. The soulful, fun-loving powerhouse all-gal ensemble has toured from Vienna to Vancouver since 1998. Classic klezmer, Yiddish swing & tango, plus original grooves. Latest album “Yiddish Silver Screen”

Featuring
Debra Kreisberg: clarinet & sax
Pam Fleming: trumpet
Shoko Nagai: accordion & keyboard
Eve Sicular: drums /bandleader

BORSCHT BELT TALK

Sunday, July 26
1:00pm - 2:30pm
Location sent with ticket confirmation

New York City didn’t just adopt Jewish food — it was transformed by it. From the pushcarts of Orchard Street to the overstuffed booths of the Stage Deli and the legendary dining rooms of the Catskills, the story of the "Golden Medina" (the Golden Land) is written in schmaltz and brine.

Join us for a high-energy panel featuring chefs, scholars, and "appetizing" icons as we trace the journey of Jewish cuisine from a survival tactic on the Lower East Side to the very DNA of New York’s global food identity.

Featuring:
Professor Rocco Marinaccio & Liz Alpern

COMEDY SHOW

Sunday, July 26
3:00pm - 4:30pm
Shadowland Studio
14 Market Street

Inspired by the classic improv form, The Living Room, The Schmooze brings folks together for an afternoon of unfiltered kibitzing, kvetching, and improv comedy. With a charismatic cast of experienced comedians, ages 70+ ~ you'll be hooked by their chutzpah.

Featuring:
Lily Friedman, Richard Gould, Janet Klein, Barbara Newman, Merle Rubine, and Robert Wolfson

Directed by Elana Fishbein

COMEDY SHOW

Sunday, July 26
5:00pm - 6:30pm
Shadowland Studio
14 Market Street

Born in Brooklyn and raised in an orthodox Jewish home, Olga was married by 17 and divorced by 20 (it’s a long story - come see my set!). Inspired by Sarah Silverman and Larry David, Olga brings her unique point of view of life to her comedy that has been described as “funny, honest, authentic, and sarcastic.”

COMEDY SHOW

Sunday, July 26
7:00pm - 8:30pm
Shadowland Studio
14 Market Street

Harrison Greenbaum is one of the most in-demand comedic performers in the world, described as "the hardest-working man in comedy" by both Time Out New York and the NY Daily News.

On television, Harrison has been seen by millions on shows such as America's Got Talent, Last Comic Standing, Conan, Sherri, Comedy Central's This Week at the Comedy Cellar, National Geographic Channel's Brain Games, and more.  He's also been a regular guest co-host on StarTalk with Neil deGrasse Tyson, as well as the warm-up comic for The Daily Show on Comedy Central.

FREE
Saturday July 25 12-3pm
Sunday, July 26 11am-2pm
Borscht Belt Museum
90 Canal Street

Tell your Borscht Belt story! Sign up for a 20–30 minute oral history interview and help the Borscht Belt Museum keep the memories alive.

The Borscht Belt Museum is dedicated to preserving the rich history and vibrant memories of the Borscht Belt resort hotels and bungalow colonies that once thrived in the Catskills. We invite you to share your unique stories and memories.