Monticello
Around Monticello
Photo: Daniel Case · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Town and around · New York · 80k people
Monticello
Locals say The Catskills · “Gateway to the Catskills”, “Borscht Belt”
Catskill comfort and borscht belt warmth.
SUNY Sullivan goldSUNY Sullivan navyCatskill forest green
Welcome to the Catskills, where the mountains are close and the pace is easy. Whether you're here for the trout, the trails, or the music, you'll find a community that loves the outdoors and a good story.
Clubs for Monticello
No clubs for Monticello yet.
The room
One room for everyone around Monticello. It never closes; when it's busy it splits into tables. Once you're in, you stay until you leave.
Ask the neighbours
AllA good plumber, the best tacos, a lost cat: nobody has asked yet. Be the first.
Coming up
No events in the next month. Events made in the room show up here.
Marketplace
Things for sale, free and wanted, and rooms for rent, from people around Monticello. Sign in to sell something.
Things to do
- Bethel Woods Center for the Arts Site of the 1969 Woodstock festival, now a concert venue and museum.
- Monticello Raceway Harness racing track with a long history.
- Catskill Park Vast protected area with mountains, trails, and streams.
- Slide Mountain Highest peak in the Catskills, popular hiking destination.
- Neversink Reservoir Scenic reservoir offering fishing and hiking.
- Lake Superior State Park Family-friendly park with a lake and camping.
- Outdoors Hike Slide Mountain
- Outdoors Fish for trout in the Neversink
- With kids Swim at Lake Superior State Park
- With kids Pick apples at a local orchard
- Evenings Live music at Bethel Woods
- Evenings Harness racing at Monticello Raceway
- Locals love Farm stands
- Locals love Country diners
Through the year
Four distinct seasons with cold winters and mild summers. The best time to be out is autumn for foliage and comfortable temperatures. Best: Autumn is the standout season with crisp air and brilliant foliage.
Talk like a local
- “The Catskills”
- The Catskills
- “Borscht Belt”
- Old resort area from the Jewish vacation era
- “Bungalow colony”
- Summer bungalow communities
- “Upstate”
- A local term for the region north of NYC
Getaways
- Kingston Historic waterfront and arts scene.
- Hudson Valley Farm-to-table dining and river views.
- Oneonta College town with breweries and museums.
- Hudson Antique shops and art galleries.
Local flavour
Rooting for New York Yankees, New York Mets, New York Giants, New York Jets, New York Knicks, New York Rangers
Eat and drink
- Apple cider donuts From local Catskill orchards
- Catskill trout Fresh from local streams and lakes
- Maple syrup Local syrup from Catskill sugar bushes.
- Kielbasa Smoked sausage common in the region.
- Apple cider Fresh pressed cider from local orchards.
Where people go
- Former Borscht Belt resorts and bungalow colonies
- Catskill mountain trails Hiking and nature paths
- Lakes Swimming, fishing, and boating
- Bethel Woods Center for the Arts Site of the 1969 Woodstock festival
- Monticello Raceway Harness racing venue
Heritage and traditions
Sullivan County is proud of its Borscht Belt heritage, when Jewish families from New York City summered in its resorts, and of its role as the home of the 1969 Woodstock festival, now celebrated at Bethel Woods.
This time of year in Monticello
- Apple picking Autumn Orchards open in September.
- Fall foliage Autumn Peak color in October.
Say it like a local: “schmooze” — to chat or network
Festivals
- Sullivan County Fair August The county's traditional summer fair with livestock, rides, and local food.
- Livingston Manor Trout Parade May A quirky parade celebrating the opening of trout season, with floats and fishing themes.
- Bethel Woods Summer Concert Series Summer A series of concerts at the Woodstock site, featuring major acts.
Landmarks with a story
- Fort Delaware Museum A 1750s French and Indian War fort, rebuilt on the Delaware River.
- Sullivan County Museum Housed in a former school, it preserves the county's rural and resort history.
- Time and the Valleys Museum Tells the story of the Neversink Valley and the communities flooded by the reservoir.
- Museum at Bethel Woods Exhibits on the 1969 Woodstock festival and the 1960s counterculture.
Food traditions
- Borscht The beet soup that gave the Borscht Belt its name, served at the old resorts.
- Matzo ball soup A staple of the Jewish resorts, now found in local delis.
- Bagels and lox A classic breakfast from the Jewish deli tradition.
- Kielbasa Polish sausage from the area's Eastern European immigrants.
- Resort-style buffets The lavish all-you-can-eat meals that defined the Borscht Belt experience.
Music and arts
- Borscht Belt comedy Stand-up comedy tradition that flourished in the resorts.
- Folk and Americana music The legacy of Woodstock and the current scene at Bethel Woods.
- Fly tying The craft of making fishing flies, centered at the Catskill Fly Fishing Center.
A little history
- The Borscht Belt era, when hundreds of resorts and bungalow colonies hosted Jewish vacationers and launched comedians. 1920s-1960s
- The Woodstock Music & Art Fair took place at Max Yasgur's farm in Bethel. 1969
- Construction of the Neversink Reservoir flooded several towns, displacing communities. 1950s
- Tanning and dairy farming drove the local economy. 19th century
- The opening of Bethel Woods Center for the Arts revived the Woodstock legacy. 2000s
- Game day Harness racing at Monticello Raceway
- Game day Trout fishing contests
- Outdoors Hike Slide Mountain
- Outdoors Fish the Neversink
- With kids Ride the Catskill Mountain Railroad
- With kids Visit the Sullivan County Museum
Locals speak with a general upstate New York accent, but the Borscht Belt left Yiddish phrases in common use.
Only here
- The site of the original 1969 Woodstock festival.
- Monticello Raceway, one of the few harness racing tracks in New York.
- The ruins of Borscht Belt hotels, now overgrown in the woods.
- The Neversink Reservoir, which submerged entire towns.
New here? A few tips
- Get a car – this is rural country, and public transit is limited.
- Prepare for snowy winters and muddy springs.
- Try the local apple cider donuts and Catskill trout.
- Visit Bethel Woods to understand the Woodstock legacy.
- Learn a few Yiddish words – they're part of the local charm.
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Part of Greater New York
Nearby
Every areaKingstonNew YorkWhere the river meets the mountain, and the apples taste like autumn.Hudson ValleyNew YorkRiver, ridge, and orchard.HonesdalePennsylvaniaWhere the mountains meet the lakes, and the quiet is loud.MontrosePennsylvaniaWhere the river bends and the mountains rollHemlock FarmsPennsylvaniaLakes, woods, and four seasons of calm.CatskillsNew YorkHigh peaks, deep valleys, and a warm welcome.OneontaNew YorkWhere the hills meet the Hall of FameHudsonNew YorkA river town with a creative soul
Monticello, NY. Areas from the US Census Bureau and Statistics Canada; places from GeoNames. Local flavour was written with a model and may have mistakes. Team names identify teams; no endorsement.