MONTICELLO – An estimated 10,000 people flocked to Monticello on Sunday to enjoy the annual bagel festival. The village was designated years ago as the Bagel Capital given its Borscht Belt history.
Broadway, the main business street, was closed to traffic as throngs of people visited the many vendors along the thoroughfare and enjoyed a taste of a real Catskills bagel.
Mayor George Nikolados noted the annual fest has a lasting impact on the community.
“People who have never been to Monticello will come here and may not patronize all the businesses today, but now they know where Monticello is, and personally in my business, I get people who say they first came to Monticello for the bagel festival and then in November or December they take a trip and see all the stuff we have to offer here,” he said.
And the bagels came in all varieties, from plain and salted, to pumpernickel and onion. And of course, you could have them with a schmeer of cream cheese, butter or just plain.
