The city of Holbrook, Ariz., wants to add Route 66 elements to the 30th edition of its Old West Days, according to a report in The Tribune-News.
The festival, set during the July 4 holiday, is being renamed Wild West Days.
[…] Teri Walker of The Tribune-News unveiled a new marketing plan for the event that will promote Holbrook not only as a destination, but will allow the community to display its distinctive, eclectic style.
“This will bring Route 66 into the identity and allow us to carry forward all of the elements of our colorful Old West heritage,” stated Walker. “Replacing ‘old’ with ‘wild’ promises more energy and action, and appeals to a broader age range.” […]
The concept will continue to embrace Holbrook’s Old West past, but will add elements of the Route 66 era as well. […]
She explained how Wild West Days would build on the tradition of the untamed, adventurous, pioneering spirit of the Wild West and convey the evolution from those unruly, wild days to the American cool of Route 66.
The committee agreed to the change with the belief that each year the event could grow to include a broader venue and more elements, such as courthouse tours, a scavenger hunt, Western art displays, and heavily themed kids’ activities and vendors. New activities will meld with the existing elements of the western re-enactors, classic car show, races, rodeo and the expansion of the barbecue competition.
The report indicates that part of the impetus for the change was the barbecue competition at last year’s festival, which was a big success. Walker said 40 barbecue teams have committed to the 2011 festival, more than double from the previous year.