The City of Amarillo’s tourism department recently announced the Texas Route 66 Festival, which began last summer, will continue to be an annual event after the highway’s centennial in 2026.
The decision from Visit Amarillo came after the 2024 event proved to be a success and had a good effect on local businesses, reported KVII-TV in Amarillo.
This year’s event will be from June 5 to June 14.
“2025 this is going to be the year where we get everything finetune as we can getting ready for the centennial in 2026,” said Kashion Smith, executive director of Visit Amarillo.
Local attractions and shops are eagerly anticipating the festivities, with international travel expected to increase as more people visit to celebrate Route 66.
“International tourism for Amarillo is beautiful, since the pandemic in 2020 it has increased, and we even see that at our little ghost town at Jericho,” said Blanca Schaffer, co-owner of the historical attraction.
Smith added, “We expect to see a jump in travelers from Europe, Australia you know certain countries that are really into Route 66 if you will in the centennial.”
Lile noted the economic importance of international visitors, saying, “We average anywhere between 30,000 to 40,000 foreigners every year that come over to travel Route 66 either from Chicago to Los Angeles or Los Angeles to Chicago. We depend on them to make a living.”
The tourism bureau plans to announce its plans for 2026 in a few months.
(Image of an Old Route 66 sign in Texas by Venturist via Flickr)