Monday, July 14, 2008 9:55 PM CDT
Bagelfest kicks off Wednesday
By HERB MEEKER, Staff Writer
hmeeker@jg-tc.com
MATTOON — Lenders Bagels will put some bang into Bagelfest again this year.
After celebrating its 80th birthday last year, the company that brought bagels to Mattoon and the rest of the country will join in the fun once more this year. It could be said that this company is never too old to rock and roll, which is good since the theme for the 2008 Bagelfest is “Rock Around the Bagel.”
Lee Makofsky said the company will again sponsor its free bagel breakfast at the DeMars Center in Peterson Park on Saturday morning. Then there will be samples of new bagel products, including “Wee Ones” and 100-calorie bagels at the company booth at Peterson Park. The local Lenders Bagel plant will also participate in the annual Bagelfest Parade.
“Lenders Bagels really values Bagelfest. It’s a great opportunity for a one-on-one meeting with our vice president, Ray O’Brien, and it’s really fun,” said Makofsky.
The Lenders booth will be open from noon to 5 p.m. Saturday in the park. There will be contests, a ring toss for prizes and distribution of coupons.
The Mattoon facility is the largest bagel factory in the world. The local celebration is famous for serving up the biggest bagel breakfast anywhere as well.
Beginning in 1986, Bagelfest started as a fun way of marketing the product of a bagel plant in the Midwest. But the celebration is now a multi-day festival that includes baby and beauty contests, musical acts, a dog competition, an art show, a multi-faceted fundraiser for local organizations, a carnival and a gathering point for class reunions of Mattoon residents.
Here is a schedule of Bagelfest events:
Wednesday
n 5 p.m. Carnival opens, Peterson Park
n 6 p.m., Bagel Baby contest, Cross County Mall
Thursday
n 5 p.m. Carnival and vendors open
n 5 p.m., musical entertainment, Rotary Band Shell, Peterson Park
n 6 p.m., bingo, DeMars Center, Peterson Park
n 7 p.m., Miss Bagelfest competition, Williams Elementary School on South Ninth Street
Friday
n 3 p.m., Carnival and vendors open
n 6 p.m., bingo
n 4 p.m., Jackson Avenue Band, band shell
n 5 p.m., beer tent opens,
n 7 p.m. X*Crush, main stage, Peterson Park
n 8 p.m. Scott Wattles and Blue Suede Crew and Smashband, main stage
Saturday
n 7:30 a.m. Run for the Bagel
n 8 a.m., bagel breakfast
n 10:30 a.m., parade
n 1 p.m., bingo
n 2 p.m., Bagel Bow Wow Dog Contest
n 4 p.m., Art in the Park
n 5 p.m., beer tent opens
n 7 p.m. Sister Kate, main stage
n 8 p.m. Keith Anderson and Ashton Shepherd, main stage
Contact Herb Meeker at hmeeker@jg-tc.com or 238-6869.
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