The West End Service Station on Route 66 in Edwardsville, Illinois, is hosting a display on local Black history -- including a bit of the city's own -- through the end of this month. The former gas station at 620 St. Louis St. (aka Route 66), converted into a visitor's center in 2023, presents Black … Continue reading West End Service Station in Edwardsville hosting a display on local Black history
Category: Events
Ground broken on Petrol Motor Quart project in Galena
The principals behind the Petrol Motor Quart in Galena, Kansas, held a ceremonial groundbreaking for the project on Tuesday. Aaron Perry, owner and operator of Gearhead Curios in Galena, presided over the brief event and the overturning of the earth at the site in the 300 block of South Main St. (aka Route 66). Here's … Continue reading Ground broken on Petrol Motor Quart project in Galena
Texas Route 66 Festival in Amarillo to remain an annual event after 2026
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 … Continue reading Texas Route 66 Festival in Amarillo to remain an annual event after 2026
U-Drop Inn Cafe in Shamrock to hold grand reopening on Feb. 15
The U-Drop Inn Cafe, housed in the landmark U-Drop Inn building in Shamrock, Texas, will hold its grand reopening with its new operators from 4 to 8 p.m. on Feb. 15. The restaurant will serve a smoked brisket dinner with samples of new menu offerings for $25 per person. The operators ask prospective customers to … Continue reading U-Drop Inn Cafe in Shamrock to hold grand reopening on Feb. 15
Tulsa plans statewide Route 66 centennial celebration on May 30, 2026
The City of Tulsa is planning a statewide Route 66 centennial celebration on May 30, 2026, that includes a huge car parade and other events. News on 6 in Tulsa was the first to have the story, though details still are a bit fuzzy. One of the tentative events is a parade featuring thousands of … Continue reading Tulsa plans statewide Route 66 centennial celebration on May 30, 2026
Illinois Route 66 Scenic Byway announces first Route 66 centennial celebration in 2026
The Illinois Route 66 Scenic Byway earlier this week announced a Route 66 centennial event in 2026 -- the first of many that will be scheduled that year. The byway's Statewide Conference and Centennial Celebration will take place on Nov. 11, 2026, at Route 66 Motorheads in Springfield, Illinois, it announced in a news release. "This momentous event … Continue reading Illinois Route 66 Scenic Byway announces first Route 66 centennial celebration in 2026
Route 66 Christmas Chute in Sapulpa taking a one-year break due to street work
The popular Route 66 Christmas Chute in downtown Sapulpa, Oklahoma, will take a break in 2025 because of a long-planned streetscape redesign on Dewey Street (aka Route 66). Organizers of the holiday event said it would resume in 2026, the same year as Route 66's centennial. The Route 66 Christmas Chute announced the one-year hiatus … Continue reading Route 66 Christmas Chute in Sapulpa taking a one-year break due to street work
Tulsa Oilers hockey team to be renamed Route 66 Blue Whales for home games on Jan. 10-11
The Tulsa Oilers hockey team, an Anaheim Ducks and San Diego Gulls affiliate, will temporarily change its name to the Route 66 Blue Whales for home games on Jan. 10-11 in tribute to the historic highway and the Blue Whale landmark in nearby Catoosa. According to a news release from the Oilers, the team will wear … Continue reading Tulsa Oilers hockey team to be renamed Route 66 Blue Whales for home games on Jan. 10-11
Request for proposals issued for cities that want to be Route 66 Centennial Kick-Off site
Towns along Route 66 are being asked to submit a proposal to be an official Route 66 Centennial Kick-Off Host City when the highway marks its 100th anniversary in 2026. The proposed kick-off date would be April 30, 2026 -- the day in 1926 that the number 66 was assigned as the official number for … Continue reading Request for proposals issued for cities that want to be Route 66 Centennial Kick-Off site
Frank and Lynne’s video Christmas card for 2024
In what's become a tradition at Route 66 News, here is the annual video Christmas card from Frank and Lynne Kocevar, the former owners of the Historic Seligman Sundries in Seligman, Arizona. This is the 15th annual card they've done. Scenes come from Safford, Arizona; Granbury, Texas; Mineral Wells, Texas; Payson, Arizona; Fountain Hills, Arizona; … Continue reading Frank and Lynne’s video Christmas card for 2024