MATTOON, ILLINOIS (MARCH 31): Come celebrate 41 years of Bagelfest in Mattoon, Illinois! This beloved annual festival is packed with excitement—enjoy the lively parade, thrilling carnival rides, show-stopping concerts, and a true taste of our vibrant community spirit. Experience all the fun and unforgettable memories that only Bagelfest can offer!
Bagelfest has been a cherished Mattoon tradition since 1986, originally created to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Lenders Bagels—a beloved brand proudly produced right here since the 1980s. Lenders Bagels quickly won over America with their delicious flavor and distinctive quality. Today, Bagelfest draws visitors from all over, eager to experience its festive atmosphere and signature events, including the World’s Biggest Bagel Breakfast. For bagel lovers, nowhere compares to Mattoon, the proud home of both Lenders Bagels and Bagelfest.
Bagelfest offers something for everyone, with a vibrant variety of activities to enjoy—delicious food, unique vendors, family-friendly fun, classic carnival games, bingo, and outstanding live music. This year’s concert lineup is set to be one of the most exciting in festival history!
Thursday, July 16th brings Sidewalk Prophets to the main stage—a cornerstone of Christian music with Gold-certified hits like “The Words I Would Say” and “Live Like That.” This Dove Award-winning band boasts over 240 million streams, five No. 1 songs, and more than 82 million YouTube views. Since forming at Indiana’s Anderson University, they’ve performed for 2.5 million fans and are celebrated for their interactive, family-like concerts, affectionately calling their audience “The Great Big Family.” Recent achievements include a record-setting Ryman Auditorium livestream, a landmark free concert in 2022, three Gold singles, and their highly anticipated 2025 album, Looking Up. Admission for this event is free.
Friday, July 17th turns the spotlight to country star Scotty McCreery. A household name for over a decade, Scotty made history in 2011 as the first country artist—and the youngest male artist of any genre—to debut his first studio album, the Platinum-certified *Clear as Day*, at No. 1 on the Billboard Top 200. At 31, he’s sold more than 4 million albums and racked up six No. 1 hits, including the recent “Cab in a Solo” and chart-toppers like the Platinum-certified “Damn Strait,” Gold-certified “You Time” and “In Between,” Platinum-certified “This is It,” and Triple Platinum-certified “Five More Minutes.” His newest album, *Rise & Fall*, and his current EP, *Scooter & Friends*, featuring the hit “Bottle Rockets” with Hootie & The Blowfish, continue to showcase his star power.
Saturday, July 18th rocks out with the legendary Jefferson Starship! As one of the most successful arena rock bands of the ’70s and ’80s, Jefferson Starship boasts three platinum and eight gold records, plus a long list of Top 40 Billboard singles. Now celebrating their 50th anniversary, the band joins a rare group of artists to reach this incredible milestone. Founded by Paul Kantner as a musical adventure, Jefferson Starship has become a powerhouse on the road, with the current lineup taking shape in 2012. Calling themselves both a “family” and a “gang,” they’ve played every U.S. state, toured five continents, and performed in countless countries. Recent highlights include a standout New Zealand tour and dynamic live shows that keep fans coming back. The lineup features founding member David Freiberg, drummer Donny Baldwin, keyboardist Chris Smith, guitarist Jude Gold, and singer/guitarist Cathy Richardson. As they mark 50 years, the band honors the legacy of Paul Kantner—whose spirit of exploration still drives Jefferson Starship today.
Advance tickets for the concerts on Friday and Saturday nights will be available online starting at 8 AM this Friday (April 3). VIP, Reserved Seating, and Lawn tickets will be available for both nights. Tickets and a complete list of festival activities can be found at www.exploremattoon.org.
