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OTTUMWA, IOWA -- RAGBRAI XXXVII began on Sunday morning in Council Bluffs, Iowa. In less than a week, the City of Bridges will be hosting an estimated 20,000 people including the riders, their support team, and other guests.

KTVO spoke with Pam Kaupins, one of three co-chairs of the Ottumwa RAGBRAI Advisory Board.

“It’s kind of hard to believe, after working on this since February, it’s kind of hard to believe that it’s happening!" Kaupins said.

RAGBRAI will roll into Ottumwa on Thursday morning, July 23rd, north along Shaul Avenue to Finley Street near Wildwood Park.

“And it’s such an awesome sight. The people that have seen it before...it's one of their favorite things to do is watch the teams come in, and the high fives and the waving and all that goes along with it. On the entrance we’re going to have the Ottumwa cheerleaders and football teams, they’ve got great big signs that they are going to be waving and welcoming them,” Kaupins said.

Among the riders is an array of international guests from 40 different countries, as well as participants from every state in the U.S.A.

“Great timing, kind of with the economic downturn providing a real boost to Ottumwa businesses,” Kaupins added.

A small portion of Church Street will be closed north of the I-34 viaduct, in front of Bridge View Center, to the Market Street Bridge. This closure will take place from Thursday to Friday morning. Church Street will remain open, however, in front of all businesses.

“There is a shuttle bus route, so the Church Street businesses have a real advantage because the buses will be bringing them all over from the campgrounds and dropping them off on Church Street, anywhere they want to go,” Kaupins said.

The 10,000 RAGBRAI riders will leave Ottumwa on Market Street, to 4th Street and onto North Court on Friday morning.

“Yes, right along Market Street with all of these beautiful flowers that we have every year, but this year we did petunias, that was the RAGBRAI flower," Kaupins said.

The departure will begin about 5:30 A.M. on Friday, with the majority of riders leaving between 6:00 A.M. and 8:00 A.M. Pam guarantees a spectacular occasion.

“Our goal was to try to put something out for everybody, not only our riders and their families but for all Ottumwans and people in Southeast Iowa," Kaupins added.