Dan Hust | Democrat Jeff Siegel, holding a sample bagel chain, discusses the "Bagel Capital" (Monticello) and plans for an upcoming bagel festival.

Monticello: 'Bagel Capital'

By Dan Hust
MONTICELLO — March 29, 2013 — Jeff Siegel officially kicked off the countdown to this August’s inaugural Bagel Festival in the new “Bagel Capital,” Monticello, on Wednesday. (That’s an official title for the village, thanks to resolutions from the NYS Assembly and Senate.) Siegel said the Aug. 16-17 festival will occupy much of Broadway with an array of bagel-oriented events and vendors. A VIP gathering under a 5,000-square-foot tent will begin it, where a dozen comedians will “roast” the ubiquitous food in front of 500 ticketholders. The rest of the festival will be free admission, with a parade, live entertainment, craft and food vendors, contests between bakeries for best-tasting bagels, play areas for kids, a Bagels and Brunch Center with local chefs, a bagel mascot, plus Mr. and Mrs. Bagel and Miss Bagel and Mr. Jr. Bagel. There’ll even be a bagel triathlon where bagels will be rolled, thrown and stacked, and two record-breaking attempts will be made: to make the world’s longest bagel chain and the world’s largest tie-dyed peace sign bagel in honor of the coinciding Woodstock anniversary. Already there’s a jingle created for the festival by Bold Gold Media, and with even more promotion downstate and across the country, Siegel hopes to draw 10,000 people to what promises to be a very unique event. See www.thebagelfestival.org.