The Catskills Comedy Festival Brings Laughter to the Mountains This Fall

How wonderful is it when a hair-brained, audacious idea makes immense traction, suddenly galvanizing fleets of people and even raising spirits? Meet Robbie Chafitz, who had this thought less than a year ago: “What if we turned the town of Catskill into a place for a good laugh?”

Since then, a full-blown comedy festival and non-profit organization have taken shape, launching what already appears to become an annual tradition of serious fun in this charming town.

In less than a year, The Catskills Comedy (TCC) Festival’s calendar of offerings already boasts 16 events. Plus, there will be more weeks before the event. The line-up goes beyond comedy and will appeal to all ages and tastes. For three laugh-packed days between October 18th and 20th, there will indeed be plenty of stand-up, as well as inspiring workshops, music, improvisation, free comedy workshops for kids, art shows, hilarious drag shows and parties. All of that is affordably priced at 3-event or 5-event passes , making the festival feel inclusive, diverse and accessible to all.

The event boasts a roster of impressive national, regional, and local talent, including comedy legend Bobcat Goldthwait, who will headline the event. Ophira Eisenberg (NPR, Comedy Central), Eddie Brill (David Letterman), Jason Kravits (Only Murders in the Building, Curb your Enthusiasm) and so many others will make this not-to-be-missed event one of your favorite Hudson Valley destinations for the whole family this fall.

Want to meet Robbie and know more? Here’s a fun romp through what it took to turn his dream into a reality; learn how he inspired a town and is happy to remind others of the importance of a good laugh.

INSIDE+OUT: Is this the 1st year for the festival?

Robbie Chafitz: Yes, this is the festival’s inaugural year, and we hope it will become an annual event.

What was the impetus to create this festival?

Last September, I saw a comedy show at the Avalon Lounge in Catskill. It was wonderful to see so many people laughing and enjoying themselves. I thought we could all use a good laugh these days, and what if we turned the village of Catskill into a place where people could go for a good laugh? I mean, the Catskills had a rich history of comedy, so why not start a comedy festival that not only honors those traditions BUT, more importantly, creates an environment where comedy would thrive?  So I told everyone that we were going to create an annual not-for-profit festival in the Village of Catskill that would attract comedians to our area, provide great entertainment for the community, and drive audiences to our charming Main Street, all while raising money to provide free comedy workshops to the local kids. So here we are a year later!

Did you have a personal connection to the Borscht Belt comedy of yesteryear?

My only personal connection is being a fan of the type of comedy and comics that came out of that era and that environment. Most American comedy, as we know it today, had its roots in the Catskills.

How many acts can guests expect at the festival?

Currently, we have 16 events taking place in multiple venues across three days! Many events feature a variety of performers. Roughly 25% of our shows are free or pay what you want. And the average price for ticketed events is only $25. We raised money through private donations and grants to help keep ticket costs down – we wanted to ensure the festival was accessible to everyone. We also used the donations to provide free comedy workshops to our local youth.  We think it’s important that a festival born from the community benefits the community. We also programmed the festival to try to include a variety of comedy so there would be something for everyone!  We are also continuing to add shows, so folks should check our website and social platforms @thecatskillscomedyfest often for updates.

There is so much going on, including workshops, music, panels, open mic, art exhibits, dance parties, and other free events– tell us about all that.

We didn’t just want to program stand-up; we tried to include all kinds of comedy. So we have programmed comedic art shows, musical improv, alternative comedy, sketch, drag, and more. We also have a couple of after-parties so guests can keep the night going by dancing alongside their favorite performers.

What is the greatest challenge of producing such a large event?

Everything! This festival was literally built from the ground up in just under a year. It’s run entirely by volunteers from our community, including friends, family, and anyone we could recruit. We raised funds to ensure we could provide transportation, housing, and stipends for the performers and figure out how to build a website, sell tickets, and promote the festival. You name it, and it’s become a full-time job.  We had to raise money based only on a promise as we had never done this before. We are proud that we were able to raise funds to keep ticket costs low, offer free events, and provide free comedy workshops for kids.

When did production start for this fall’s launch?

This crazy idea was conceived last September, and we’ve been figuring it out ever since. We also produced a half-dozen sneak peek events over the summer to work out the kinks, generate awareness, and learn from our mistakes. We didn’t want to be figuring things out during the actual festival. And as time went on, more and more folks hopped on board to help transform this idea into a reality.

How do you decide who will be included in the festival, and was it difficult to get talent, being the first year?

We really wanted to curate the first year to ensure we had a good mix of national, regional, and local talent. We also didn’t have the staff to review submissions, which is a detailed task within itself. We may take submissions in the future, but we’ll see how this first year goes. For our inaugural festival, we relied on Eddie Brill, the warm-up act and stand-up booker for David Letterman. Eddie and comedy producer Pat Buckles, along with Sarah Austin Jenness (The Moth) and Susie Farris (Casting agent), who are all friends of mine, really helped us cast a wide net.  Peter Daniel Straus, an outstanding local performer, also contacted his amazing cast of friends. It truly was a group effort.

Are there guest accommodations at the main venue, or is the whole town in on the joke regarding places for guests to stay?

Unfortunately, Catskill doesn’t have its own hotel yet. So we are housing talent in motels in Leeds and donated Airbnbs. The Bridge Street Theatre and the Stewart House in Athens also donated talent housing. We are so grateful for all the support we have received to make this happen. Out-of-town audiences are finding local accommodations in nearby motels, resorts and vacation rentals. We posted a link to some lodging suggestions on our webpage.  We genuinely want to make sure everyone who attends the festival has an amazing experience and wants to come back to visit our incredible area.

Tell us about some of the acts you’re most excited about. We love how you are supporting local comedians!

We are very excited about Bobcat Goldthwait. Bobcat is a comedy legend whose career has really evolved over the years– we are so fortunate that he agreed to headline our first year. We have such a fantastic line-up of talent, including Ophira Eisenberg (NPR, COMEDY CENTRAL), Eddie Brill (David Letterman), Jason Kravits (Only Murders in the Building, Curb Your Enthusiasm), and so many more!  Honestly, I am very excited about all the acts.  I am so proud we were able to curate such an incredible line-up of such diverse and talented people. And we genuinely want to encourage everybody to participate in our open mic event. We believe our Show-up/Go-Up hosted by Erik Marino will take on a life of its own and inspire all comedians to take the stage. This festival won’t succeed unless everyone who wants a chance to perform gets their turn at the mic.

Is this going to be an annual festival?

Ideally, yes, but ask me again after October 20th. Seriously, it’s really up to the community. A festival like this only thrives through local support, participation, and the desire to see it live on. Based on the current enthusiasm and volunteer efforts, I see this festival enduring for years.

What do you love about living + creating in the Hudson Valley?

The energy, the passion and the people.  I love that you can pop into Hemlock, Citiot, or one of the many local shops on Main Street and instantly run into a friend (or soon-to-be friend). And I love that your day can start by working on a festival website in a local coffee shop and end by swimming in a local watering hole, boating on the Hudson or just enjoying our incredible views. I also love how the community comes together when someone has a wild idea, like starting an annual comedy festival.

Tell us something about yourself that people would be surprised to know.

Where do I even begin? I lived in Paris in my 20s and performed on the street as Charlie Chaplin. I’ve appeared in Woody Allen’s Manhattan Murder Mystery (ever so briefly). I’ve operated on orphans in Romania (long story), taught Film and American Touch Football in Moscow, and accidentally got hired as a topless waiter for a Ladies’ Night at a rural bar in Maryland.  Oh, and I still don’t know all my multiplication tables.

Why do we need laughter in our lives?

Nothing brings people together more than sharing a good laugh, and I think we could all use a little more coming together right now.

THE CATSKILLS COMEDY FESTIVAL 2024
Friday, OCT 18th – Sunday, Oct 20th in Catskill NY

FULL SCHEDULE OF EVENTS HERE
TICKETS HERE

Photos courtesy of The Catskills Comedy Festival @thecatskillscomedyfest

Follow/Connect with Robbie Chafitz and The Catskills Comedy Festival via Website | Facebook | Instagram

+ + +

Click HERE to see all of our exclusive interviews with the amazing folks who proudly call the Hudson Valley home.