Details about Route 66 festival in Kingman emerge

It’s more than 11 months away, but organizers in Kingman, Ariz., already are planning for a variety of events for the Route 66 International Festival, reported the Kingman Daily Miner.

The festival is scheduled for Aug. 13-17. The festival’s website is here.

According to the newspaper, the festival will have five categories: Spiels, Wheels, Meals, Deals and Surreal. Here’s a summary of each one:

Spiels — Opening and closing ceremonies, a parade, presentations, Route 66 electric highway roundtable, unveiling of a Route 66 Walk of Fame in Kingman, and walking tours with local author Jim Hinckley.

Wheels — It primarily features the Chillin’ on Beale Street car show, but includes Route 66 cruises, mountain bike rides, and ghost-town tours.

Meals — On the schedule are a a pancake breakfast, barbecue and concert at Hualapai Mountain Park, food trucks, wine-tastings, and happy hours.

Deals — The Main Street Marketplace, Route 66 artists and authors exhibition, a western and Native American arts exhibit and the annual Arts & Crafts Fair at Hualapai Mountain Lodge.

Surreal — Concerts, a Route 66 Virtual City of classic billboards, a Santa Fe Railroad and model railroad exhibit. a film festival highlighting Andy Devine and movies filmed in Kingman or on Route 66, tours of the Kingman Army Air Field Museum, Route 66 Museum and Mohave Museum of History & Arts, an amateur photo contest, and bowling and golf tournaments.

The newspaper also mentions geocache and letterbox events with prizes.

Kingman leaders see the festival as a big opportunity to put the city more on the Route 66 map, as the town is often bypassed by travelers who instead stop at Seligman, Ariz., or Needles, Calif.

(Image of Route 66 in Kingman, Ariz., by clauretano, via Flickr)

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