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Bagelfest in Mattoon, Illinois

This past week, Mattoon celebrated 41 years of Bagelfest! This community staple features days of fun and entertainment for the whole family. The festival celebrates the town’s claim of the largest bagel factory in the world. The event features days of events, live shows and, of course, many bagels.

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County fair season: More than funnel cakes and carnival rides

• history
• agriculture
• Illinois History

County fair season is in full swing across Illinois, bringing residents closer to agriculture and history.

Steeped in rich history and tradition, county fairs have been a staple of showcasing the innovation and techniques of modern farming. In 1841, the Union Agricultural Society held its first annual fair in Naperville and shortly later, other counties began hosting their own fairs including Knox in 1851 and McHenry in 1852. Illinois held its first state fair in 1853. Activities at the fairs included livestock judging, plowing contests and horse races. As technology progressed, it was also common to see car races and airplane demonstrations.

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Illinois named among top states for business

The Consumer News and Business Channel ranked Illinois at No. 12 in their 2026 Top States for Business list, the highest ranking in the state’s history.

Since 2019, the state has risen in annual ranking from No. 30 to No. 12, one of the largest improvements any state in the country has seen during this period.

Illinois ranks high in major categories including No. 3 in infrastructure, No. 7 in education and No. 12 in technology and innovation and access to capital, allowing the state to climb near the top.

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Celebrating the Route 66 Centennial

The iconic Route 66 turns 100 years old this year, and Illinois is celebrating with major events, festivals and more.

Established in 1926, Route 66, also known as the “Mother Road”, connects Chicago to Santa Monica, California, stretching 2,448 miles across nearly two-thirds of the country. The origins of Route 66 trace back to trails used by Native Americans, which later evolved into smaller roads that often paralleled railway lines.

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