Mattoon Bagelfest parade lineup stretches for 14 blocks (2024)

MATTOON — The lineup area on Western Avenue for entries in the Bagelfest parade on Saturday stretched for 14 blocks, making the procession one of the longest in the celebration's 38-year-history.

Floats decorated for the 2024 "Bagelfest Academy" theme, Shriner motorcycle and go-cart teams, pageant royalty, and other entries were lined up from 21st Street back to the railroad tracks west of Lytle Park in preparation for the parade starting at 10:30 a.m. This was part of the concluding day of this year's festival.

Windsor residents Jim and Linda Morgan were sitting on their adult tricycles in the 3000 block of Western as part of an entry for Schlabach's Bike Shop in Arthur when the procession rolled. Linda Morgan said they were undaunted by having to ride nine blocks to the starting point of the parade at 21st Street and then another 19 blocks to the ending point at Second Street east of Peterson Park.

Linda Morton said, "We parked at the end of the route and road on back down here. It took us about 30 minutes.

"I just like to get out and show people an 82-year-old person can have fun too," Jim Morgan said, noting he had been a lot heavier when he and his wife used to ride in a convertible in parades as Santa and Mrs. Claus on summer break. "I have lost 70 pounds since I bought this bike."

New Life Car CareDirector Dan Craw said he has been in a few Bagelfest parades over the years with the tow truck or the utility truck that he uses for thisnonprofit organization, which provides automotive services for people in financial need. Still, Craw said he had never seen a lineup area before like the one Saturday morning.

"They are going all the way down there by the tracks. It's the first time I have seen it that long," Craw said.

For his entry in the 2024 parade, Craw created a train with a John Deere lawn tractor engine and four children's riding toys as the cars. Craw said he placed a wooden undercarriage and wheelbarrow tires under the toys. He added that, "It pulls like a train. Wherever the tractor goes, the cars will follow."

The Edgar County Shrine Club's Ansar Clowns had a team of six riders on new Honda motorcycles in the parade, accompanied by a bubble machine in a custom-made, 6-foot-diameter stainless steel barrel on a trailer.

"It shoots out bubbles and the kids just go wild over it," said rider Mark Austin. He added the riders would perform countless loops, plus many wheelies, on the way to Peterson Park, and would likely be sore afterward. "On those little bikes, there's not much cushioning on the seat," he said.

At Peterson Park, community members lined up before the parade for the annual "World's Biggest Breakfast" at the Demars Center. The free Lender's and Thomas' bagels at the breakfast were provided by the Bimbo Bakeries USA plant in Mattoon. Those dining on bagels with cream cheese or jelly included Emily Everhart of Neoga and her family.

"We are going to do the breakfast and the parade and enjoy some Bagelfest fun," Everhart said, noting that she and her family enjoyed corndogs and funnel cakes the previous evening on the carnival midway at the park.

Many festivalgoers lined the south side of Peterson Park and Broadway and Western avenues downtown to watch the procession. The extra-long length of this year's Bagelfest parade, which drew entrants from the rain-canceled Fourth of July parade, also created unique viewing opportunities farther down on Western Avenue.

Gena and Norma Himes sat on the front porch of their home in the 3000 block of Western with Norma's sister, Shirley Tomlinson, from around corner to watch the parade entries line up and roll by on this road.

"This is the longest parade we have ever seen," Norma Himes said. "It makes it especially nice for us old people. We don't have to go uptown and stand."

Tyler Dulumback and Joy James sat on the front porch of the home in the 2900 block of Western that had belonged to her grandmother years before. James said she has been thankful for the opportunity to purchase this Victorian-style home, reconnect with good memories, and be part of the seasonal festivities on Western, including the parade lining up by her front yard.

"I don't mind it. At least I don't have to leave my porch," James said.

Meredith Danley said she felt fortunate that the yard sale she scheduled this weekend at her mom's home, where she grew up, in the 3300 block of Western coincided with a parade in which the lineup does not usually extend that far west.

"I don't know if it's ever gone this far before. It's really big. I can't believe it," Danley said, adding that foot traffic at the yard sale had been good that morning.