OK, perhaps the post title is laying it on a bit thick.
But among Route 66 enthusiasts, the Route 66 Festival with its Will Rogers Awards banquet are among the first things that they circle on their calendars.
Route 66 Festival ’08 takes place on June 18-22 in Litchfield, Ill. The festival includes the town’s fifth annual classic car show on closed lanes of the Mother Road, a Beatles tribute band, guided Route 66 tours, the Bigfoot monster truck, a young Elvis impersonator, and a double-feature at the Skyview Drive-In on Route 66 that features the movie “Cars.”
The highlight of the festival for many roadies will be the Will Rogers Awards on June 21 at the Litchfield Community Center at 1100 S. State St (map here). It starts with a cash bar at 5 p.m., dinner at 6, and a speech by prominent author Michael Wallis and award presentations about 8. Tickets are $37.50 apiece. Go here to register for the banquet.
Other events for enthusiasts will be a Route 66 preservation project, an annual summit of the Mother Road’s movers and shakers, an authors and artists expo, and the annual Sunday breakfast for Route 66 yahoogroup members.
Be sure to book hotel rooms and especially the banquet tickets quickly. Both have a tendency to sell out well in advance.