Bagelfest 2026

July 15-18

Since 1985, the town of Mattoon, Illinois has been celebrating its love for bagels with an annual festival called Bagelfest. The festival first began as a way to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Lenders Bagels, a popular brand of bagels that has been produced in Mattoon since 1980s. Lenders Bagels quickly became a staple in households across America. Today, Bagelfest continues to attract visitors from far and wide who come to enjoy the festivities- one of the favorites being the World’s Biggest Bagel Breakfast. For lovers of bagels, community, and music- there’s no better place to be than Mattoon, the home of Lenders Bagels and Bagelfest.

This year’s Main Stage lineup brings something for everyone — kicking things off Thursday, July 16th with Sidewalk Prophets for a FREE Christian concert, followed by country favorite Scotty McCreery on Friday, July 17th, and legendary rock band Jefferson Starship on Saturday, July 18th. Tickets go on sale April 3rd, so mark your calendars and get ready for a weekend full of great music, great food, and Bagelfest fun!

Carnival armband presale begins July 1. Presale armbands are $20 each (a $5 savings) and are a great option for runners with families or anyone who’s a kid at heart!

Here’s the carnival armband schedule:

• Wednesday, July 15: 6–10 PM
• Thursday, July 16: 6–10 PM
• Friday: 1–5 PM and 5–10 PM
• Saturday: 12–5 PM and 5–10 PM

Please note: on days with multiple time slots, each armband is only valid for one session.

The parade will take place Saturday morning at 10:30 AM, beginning in front of Niemann’s and ending at Peterson Park.