The centennial year of Route 66 is still well over a year away, but an event called the Great Route
66 Centennial Convergence has been scheduled for April 30, 2026, at the Santa Monica Pier in Santa Monica, California.
Social media influencer John Binns of Australia, with the handle of Wasteland Firebird, is organizing the event.
“I want dozens or hundreds of people to complete their road trips, all at the same time. If we don’t specify anything else about the schedule (starting points, way points, or time frames) then the journey won’t overwhelm all the little retailers along the way. But at the end, we’ll take over the pier!” he wrote in an email.
Binns was asked why he chose the April date.
“April 30 is the anniversary of the date the Route was signed into existence. The date the ribbon was cut is in November. The problem with November (aside from school being in session) is it’s near the end of the year and the excitement for the 100th/250th will have worn off. I wanted to pick a date that was kind of near the beginning of the year, so we can build up excitement for the upcoming 250th anniversary of the USA, without attempting to overshadow July 4 or hijack it. While taking the trip I noticed how many people were visiting from other countries, where the kids are on different schedules anyway. April is also when we made our trip in 2024, and I noticed that the weather changes make for an exciting trip. You kind of go from winter into summer as you drive. I know a lot of people love winter, and I enjoy it too, but I will always see winter as somewhat “sad” and summer as ‘happy.’ So it turns your trip into a story, a journey from sad to happy. Think of the route coming into existence during the Depression, and then think of how successful we are today as a country. And think of the journey from the wars that founded the country, and the wars that started the 20th century, to today. These are all journeys from sad to happy. And the best stories, and journeys, will have a happy ending.”
The Santa Monica Pier is the home of the oft-photographed “Route 66 – End of the Trail” sign that serves as a traditional if not actual endpoint for many westbound Route 66 travelers. The sign, shepherded by 66-to-Cali owner Dan Rice, was installed in 2009.
The actual western endpoint of Route 66 is a few blocks east at Olympic and Lincoln boulevards. It once was a boring intersection, but that has markedly improved with the addition of a Mel’s Drive-In restaurant a few years ago.
Binns also recently created a Route 66 documentary he posted in a series of videos on YouTube. All told, the videos total a little less than three hours:
He said he wants to produce a bigger-budget series of films about Route 66 in 2026.
(Image of the Santa Monica Pier by cultivar413 via Flickr)