Everyone's favorite carb-filled breakfast treat, the bagel, is celebrated in the early weeks of January on National Bagel Day.

Did you know the bagel has very strong ties to the Hudson Valley?

National Bagel Day Celebrated Every Year in January

Bagels are probably one of the more popular breakfast food items. So much so that there's a special day to celebrate them!

According to National Day Calendar, National Bagel Day falls on January 15th every year. The recipes for bagels made it's way to the United States thanks to Polish-Jewish immigrants.

Bagels were made by hand for quite a while, but by the 1960s things started to change. One Hudson Valley inventor changed the bagel game.

The Birthplace of The Bagel: Monticello, New York?

While National Bagel Day is celebrated in January, over the summer (usually around August) The Bagel Festival takes over Monticello, New York.

To some it may seem random to hold the festival in the Sullivan County town, but when you dive into the history of the bagel you'll learn that Monticello is actually "the birthplace" of the breakfast delicacy.

According to The Bagel Festival website, in 1968 Louis Wichinsky filed a patent for "Dough Kneading Machine for the Forming of a Bagel and the Like." You can see the actual patent online.

Wichinsky was born and raised in Hurlyville, New York and was known for his creative inventions. However, the Sullivan County museum website explains the idea for his best invention came in 1942. The museum states when Wichinsky was stationed in London with the Air Force, the idea was born for a bagel making machine.

Here's how it went down, according to the Sullivan County Museum:

He was spending the Jewish holidays with two brothers who owned a bakery. One of them, Sam Wolinsky, put a challenge before him: “Louis, you Yanks can do anything. How come you can’t build a bagel machine?'”

And the rest, as they say, is history.

Monticello, NY: The Bagel Capital

In 2012, the Village of Monticello Board of Trustees and the Town Of Thompson Town Board made it official.

They issued an Official Proclamation that Monticello, NY is The Bagel Capital. The proclamation states:

We proclaim this in honor of its culture, history, and people. You have and will inspire this world forever because of your unique trend setting achievements and creativity in the bagel realm.

The 2025 Bagel Festival will be held on August 10th from 9 am until 4 pm in Monticello.

Where's your favorite Hudson Valley bagel spot?

Top 25 Bagel Shops in the Hudson Valley

Bagel descpription

Gallery Credit: Shane Lehan

A Dozen of the Best Bagel Shops Around the Mid-Hudson Region

Here is a list of some of the best bagel shops in the Mid-Hudson area. Which bagel shop is your favorite?

Gallery Credit: Conor Walsh

More! More of the Best Bagel Destinations in Upstate New York

So, how do you start your morning? A piece of toast on the run? A bowl of Cheerios? Ham and eggs? A fruit smoothie? Well, they are all good starters but for this writer (and many other folks) a great way to start the day is with a toasted bagel with a schmear of cream cheese. Filling, healthy, delicious, and convenient. There are dozens of bagel shops spread all over the Upstate region. Here is a starter list of 14 great bagel bakeries, from the Hudson Valley to Buffalo, and from the St. Lawrence River to the Catskills. Check out the list and see some of the great photos. I can guarantee you that looking at these photographs will make you say, "Yup, it is bagel time!"

Gallery Credit: Chuck D'Imperio