The history of the Catskills’ legendary Borscht Belt will take center stage this Sunday, October 18, as the Borscht Belt Historical Marker Project celebrates a major milestone: the dedication of its 20th historical marker.

The free community event begins at 2 p.m. at the Mamakating Historical Society in Wurtsboro and will honor the communities of Wurtsboro, Spring Glen and High View, which played important roles in the region’s once-thriving resort industry.

Speaking with Radio Catskill’s The Local Edition, project founder and photographer Marisa Scheinfeld reflected on how the effort began with her own childhood memories of the Catskills resorts, including the Concord and Kutsher’s.

Her interest eventually led to a photography book documenting what remained of the Borscht Belt landscape and a partnership with the Jewish American Society for Historic Preservation to commemorate sites that had never received historical markers.

The project has since grown into a regional historical marker trail, preserving the stories of former hotels, the families who operated them and the communities that developed around them.

Scheinfeld explained that the Borscht Belt emerged partly in response to antisemitism, when Jewish travelers were excluded from many American hotels and resorts. The Catskills became a place where Jewish families could establish their own businesses, find community and build a cultural legacy that would influence American comedy, music and entertainment.

The upcoming dedication also highlights the smaller resort communities that helped shape that legacy, including the history of the Homowack Lodge, a family-run destination that grew from a modest boarding cottage into a major Catskills resort.

Sunday’s celebration will feature a rare screening of The Rise and Fall of the Borscht Belt, a documentary by filmmaker Peter Davis featuring archival footage and interviews that capture the resort era.

The afternoon will also include a talk by Alex Prizgintas, archival exhibits, remarks from guests with personal connections to the region’s resort history, a vintage hot dog cart, raffles and prizes.

For Scheinfeld, the dedication is about more than remembering the past. It’s about ensuring future generations understand the people, places and cultural contributions that helped shape the Catskills.

The event is free and open to the public.

Event Details

• What: 20th Borscht Belt Historical Marker Dedication
• When: Sunday, October 18, 2026, at 2 p.m.
• Where: Mamakating Historical Society, Wurtsboro, NY
• Featured communities: Wurtsboro, Spring Glen and High View
• Admission: Free and open to the public