MATTOON - Ray O'Brien knows the drill for proper Bagelfest attire.

After arriving at a local hotel, the Lender's Bagels vice president traded his coat and tie for shorts, a Polo shirt and flip-flops. The executive from Connecticut said Friday afternoon that Bagelfest has a reputation for fun at corporate headquarters. It is not just a business trip.

"This is unique to Mattoon. It is quite an event. If you've never heard about it, then it's hard to put a picture behind it," he said while sitting at a picnic table under the shade of a tree near the Peterson House. Nearby, children were giggling on the carnival rides and adults were making last-minute preparations at vendor booths.

When people out East ask O'Brien about Bagelfest, he compares it to a county fair centering on bagels.

"Other companies are envious of us, especially when I bring back the newspapers. It's almost too good to be true," he said.

He is impressed with the way the local bagel plant personnel come forward to help with Bagelfest. He learned that during his first Bagelfest visit.

"I was told, 'You've got to be ready for the Bagelfest Breakfast.' So I show up in the morning, and there are 200 people already lined up. We have workers volunteering, and they are showing up at 6 a.m. to help with the bagels. They really get behind it here," O'Brien said.

But Bagelfest is not just a Lender's event. It is a community event that draws thousands of people to the city each summer for musical entertainment, a parade, food, beauty and dog contests and more. O'Brien learned how popular it is when he was making a reservation for a hotel room.

"I learned they were all booked up, and I was going to have to stay in Effingham, but the new hotel opened up here so that gave me a local room. You have Bagelfest and the softball tournament with 72 teams here. Bagelfest is a major event for this community, and we're fortunate to be part of it," O'Brien said.

Lender's came to Mattoon 23 years ago. It now employs 280 people for production lines of bagels and French toast sticks - he smiled when he learned westside residents love the aroma of blueberries when that product is baking at the plant along Illinois 121.

Today, he has the breakfast, parade and Lender's booth on his schedule. "I know where they sell pulled pork and the coldest water bottles," he said.

Herb Meeker can be reached at hmeeker@jg-tc.com or 238-6869.