TULSA – June 23, 2022 – Travelers from across the country and around the world will be in Tulsa this weekend to kick off a five-year countdown to the 2026 centennial celebration of Route 66. There will be car shows, live music, family activities and a journey through time and nostalgia on the Mother Road.

The AAA Route 66 Road Fest will be held at the SageNet Center at Expo Square. Gates are open from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. June 25 and from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. June 26.

The inaugural event has drawn strong support from across the state, including public officials such as Tulsa Mayor G.T. Bynum, OKC Mayor David Holt, and Oklahoma Lt. Gov. Matt Pinnell.    

“Oklahoma has a lot of history sewn into Route 66,” Pinnell said, “so it is fitting that Oklahoma leads the way into a national celebration of Route 66, launching the countdown to 2026.”

The Tulsa event will culminate a weeklong celebration that began when the Road Fest opened in Oklahoma City on June 18 and 19.

The Road Ahead Partnership, a national advocacy group, has selected the AAA Route 66 Road Fest as the flagship event for the nation’s Route 66 centennial celebration. Established in 2016 by the National Park Service and the World Monuments Fund, the Partnership promotes and preserves the Mother Road through educational programs and economic development initiatives.    

Road Fest visitors can explore Route 66 through the decades by touring an interactive exhibit called “The Journey,” which features artifacts, history, photos, fashion, automobiles, and iconic brands that came of age on Route 66. There also will be classic car shows, vendor booths, and family activities that include virtual reality experiences, robotics, drones, pinewood derby racing, and a Route 66 themed miniature golf course. Like any great festival, there will be plenty of food, drink, and live music. Top regional performers are scheduled throughout the Road Fest, such as Better Than Ezra, Cannons, The Ventures, and Son Volt. Go to https://route66roadfest.com/tulsa-music/ for the full Tulsa musical lineup.

Daily admission tickets cost $20 for adults 18 and over, and tickets for teens, 12 to 17, are $10. Children 5 to 11 are $5, and children under 5 are free. Tickets are available at the gate or online at route66roadfest.com. A discounted price is also available at Love’s Travel Stops locations in Oklahoma, where adult tickets are $4 off.

“Route 66 is known the world over as a window on America, drawing travelers who want to see what our nation used to be and what it is today,” said AAA Executive Jared Peterson. “Many who drive Route 66 can’t help but think of the millions who have journeyed on the Mother Road through the decades. The Road Fest is a celebration of the freedom, mobility, and nostalgia that the historic highway has come to represent.”

OKLAHOMA CITY – June 13, 2022 – Travelers from across the country and around the world will be in Oklahoma City this weekend to kick off a five-year countdown to the 2026 centennial celebration of Route 66. There will be car shows, live music, family activities and a journey through time and nostalgia on the Mother Road.

The AAA Route 66 Road Fest will be held at the Bennett Event Center at OKC Fairgrounds. Gates are open from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. June 18 and from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. June 19.

The inaugural event has drawn strong support from across the state, including public officials such as OKC Mayor David Holt, Tulsa Mayor G.T. Bynum, and Oklahoma Lt. Gov. Matt Pinnell.

“Oklahoma has a lot of history sewn into Route 66,” Pinnell said, “so it is fitting that Oklahoma leads the way into a national celebration of Route 66, launching the countdown to 2026.”

After kicking off the celebration in Oklahoma City this weekend, the Road Fest will open at Tulsa’s SageNet Center at Expo Square on June 25-26.

The Road Ahead Partnership, a national advocacy group, has selected the AAA Route 66 Road Fest as the flagship event for the nation’s Route 66 centennial celebration. Established in 2016 by the National Park Service and the World Monuments Fund, the Partnership promotes and preserves the Mother Road through educational programs and economic development initiatives.

Road Fest visitors can explore Route 66 through the decades by touring an interactive exhibit called “The Journey,” which features artifacts, history, photos, fashion, automobiles, and iconic brands that came of age on Route 66. There also will be classic car shows, vendor booths, and family activities that include virtual reality experiences, robotics, drones, pinewood derby racing, and a Route 66-themed miniature golf course. Like any great festival, there will be plenty of food, drink, and live music throughout the event. Top regional performers are scheduled throughout Road Fest, such as Jason Boland & The Stragglers, and Jonathan Tyler & the Northern Lights. Go to https://route66roadfest.com/okc-music/ for the full Oklahoma City musical lineup.

Daily admission tickets cost $20 for adults 18 and over, and tickets for teens, 12 to 17, are $10. Children 5 to 11 are $5, and children under 5 are free. Tickets are available at the gate or online at route66roadfest.com. A discounted price is also available at Love’s Travel Stops locations in Oklahoma, where adult tickets are $4 off.

“Route 66 is known the world over as a window on America, drawing travelers who want to see what our nation used to be and what it is today,” said AAA Executive Jared Peterson. “Many who drive Route 66 can’t help but think of the millions who have journeyed on the Mother Road through the decades. The Road Fest is a celebration of the freedom, mobility, and nostalgia that the historic highway has come to represent.”

Local, Regional Bands to Take Stage at AAA Route 66 Road Fest

Contact: Chip Minty at 405-219-9944 or [email protected]

OKLAHOMA CITY – June 1, 2022 – Music is as much a part of the Great American Road Trip as classic cars and roadside diners, so it only makes sense that there will be a packed schedule of live music playing from morning to night during the AAA Route 66 Road Fest.

A total of 10 bands will be playing in Oklahoma City on June 18 and 19 at the Bennet Event Center at OKC Fairgrounds. On June 25 and 26, 12 acts will be performing at Tulsa’s SageNet Center at Expo Square. Music is a major part of a sweeping celebration of history and nostalgia as the AAA Route 66 Road Fest kicks off a national countdown to 2026, when Route 66 turns 100 years old.

“We couldn’t be more excited about the amazing line-up of performers taking the stage during our inaugural event,” said Jared Peterson, AAA Oklahoma executive. “Route 66 is about freedom, mobility and the celebration of life, and these bands will be a big part of the spirit that makes the AAA Route 66 Road Fest so special.”

The music experience, presented by Hard Rock Hotel & Casino – Tulsa, will feature the following acts:

Oklahoma City
Saturday, June 18

• Wise Guys – 11 a.m.
• Charlie Redd & Luna Voodoo – 1:30 p.m.
• Johnny Manchild – 4:00 p.m.
• Rusty Dusty – Presented By Dell Technologies – 6:00 p.m.
• Red Dirt Rangers – 7:30 p.m.
• Jason Boland & The Stragglers – 9:00 p.m.

Sunday, June 19

• Mary Cogan – 11 a.m.
• Tulsa Playboys – 1:30 p.m.
• Alaska & Madi – 4 p.m.
• Jonathan Tyler & The Northern Lights – 5:30 p.m.

Tulsa
Saturday, June 25

• Midlife Crisis – 11:00 a.m.
• Charlie Redd & The Full Flava Kings – 12:30 p.m.

• Weston Horn – 2:00 p.m.
• The Ventures – 4:00 p.m.
• Rusty Dusty – Presented By Dell Technologies – 6:00 p.m.
• Cannons – 7:30 p.m.
• Better Than Ezra – 8:45 p.m.

Sunday, June 26

• Zodiac – 11:00 a.m.
• Grady Nichols – 12:30 p.m.
• Red Dirt Rangers – 2:00 p.m.
• Tulsa Playboys – 3:30 p.m.
• Son Volt – 5:30 p.m.

Music fans can make the most of their Road Fest musical experience at the Dell Artist Lounge, where they will have a chance to meet the bands, buy their merch, snap a pic, and hang out with other music-lovers. Dell Technologies has created this space for all festival goers to experience the ultimate hang, free to all with a Road Fest ticket. For a full list of acts scheduled to play in Oklahoma City and Tulsa, go to: route66roadfest.com.

In addition to music, the Road Fest will feature classic car shows, food, drink, and family activities that include virtual reality experiences, pinewood derby racing, and a Route 66 mini golf course featuring famous landmarks from the historic highway. There also will be an enormous interactive exhibit called The Journey, which will allow visitors to walk through the decades of Route 66, exploring the artifacts, photos, fashion, automobiles, music, and iconic brands that came of age on the Mother Road.

Admission to the Road Fest is $20 for adults 18 and older, $10 for 12- to 17-year-olds and $5 for children 5 to 11. Tickets are available at route66roadfest.com. Or, tickets can be purchased at the gate.

Contact: Chip Minty at 405-219-9944 or [email protected]

OKLAHOMA CITY – April 27, 2022 – The AAA Route 66 Road Fest has been selected as the flagship event of the Mother Road’s centennial celebration by a national advocacy group whose mission is to preserve and promote the legendary road. The inaugural Road Fest in Oklahoma City and Tulsa this June will continue each year through 2026.

“When we learned about the Road Fest, we liked its concept and design,” said Bill Thomas, chairman of the Route 66 Road Ahead Partnership. “We saw it as an opportunity to offer a model activity to the rest of the Route 66 states.”

There are many Route 66 centennial celebrations planned through 2026, but the AAA Route 66 Road Fest will be the first, scheduled for June 18-19 at the Bennett Event Center at OKC Fairgrounds, and in Tulsa’s SageNet Center at Expo Square on June 25-26.

“Route 66 spans 2,448 miles and eight states,” said Jared Peterson, AAA Oklahoma executive, “so earning this distinction is a real achievement for our state.”

The Road Fest will feature classic car shows, food, and ongoing live music from local and regional bands. Family activities will include virtual reality experiences, a pinewood derby, and a Route 66 mini-golf course featuring famous landmarks from the historic highway. Visitors will explore Route 66 through the decades by touring interactive exhibits that include artifacts, history, photos, fashion, automobiles and iconic brands that came of age on the Mother Road. Tickets are available at route66roadfest.com.

“The designation is not just for 2022,” Thomas said. “We have made a five-year commitment to AAA Oklahoma, spanning from the first Road Fest this June through the culminating Road Fest which will take place in June 2026.”

The Road Ahead Partnership was established six years ago by the National Park Service and the World Monuments Fund to create a single, national body to promote and preserve the Mother Road through educational programs and economic development initiatives. The partnership successfully advocated for federal legislation that created the U.S. Route 66 Centennial Commission, which will commemorate the national celebration in a variety of ways.  

“The Route 66 Road Ahead Partnership is excited to have AAA Oklahoma as the first organization to sponsor what will be a whole host of projects and centennial celebrations commemorating the 100th anniversary of Route 66,” Thomas said. “The AAA Oklahoma Road Fest is sure to be a great event – one that we will look forward to every year, leading up to the grand centennial year celebration in 2026.”

Lt. Governor Kicks Off Countdown to AAA Route 66 Road Fest

Contact: Chip Minty at 405-219-9944 or [email protected]

OKLAHOMA CITY – April 13, 2022 – Oklahoma Lt. Governor Matt Pinnell joined AAA Oklahoma and other state leaders at the Capitol on Wednesday with an announcement that there are only 66 days until the inaugural AAA Route 66 Road Fest in Oklahoma City and Tulsa, where thousands will celebrate the historic highway’s approaching centennial.

“Oklahoma has a lot of history sewn into Route 66,” Pinnell said, “so it is fitting that Oklahoma leads the way into a national celebration of Route 66, launching the countdown to 2026.”

The Road Fest will celebrate the highway’s history this June and kick off a multi-year commemoration leading up to the 2026 centennial to be observed in cities across the country and draw visitors from around the world.

Oklahoma’s nine-day event will be held June 18-19 at the Bennett Event Center at OKC Fairgrounds, then open in Tulsa’s SageNet Center at Expo Square on June 25-26. There will be exhibits, classic cars, family activities, food and live music.

Between the two weekends, the celebration will spill into Oklahoma communities all along the state’s 400-mile stretch of historic highway, where travelers can experience dozens of historic sites, museums, points of interests, shops, restaurants and motels, said AAA Oklahoma Executive Jared Peterson at the announcement event. Tickets to the Road Fest are available at: https://route66roadfest.com.

“As the historic highway’s centennial year approaches, AAA Oklahoma is excited to start the celebration just 66 days from now,” Peterson said. “In addition to the other attractions, there will be an amazing lineup of historical, interactive exhibits that will allow visitors to journey through the decades of innovation, popular culture, and nostalgia as though they are traveling through time on the Mother Road itself.”

The AAA Route 66 Road Fest will be a special occasion because Oklahoma and Route 66 grew up together, Pinnell said at Wednesday’s event, surrounded by Road Fest banners and classic cars.

“From the highway’s small-town tradition to its friendly personality, Oklahoma shares so much of its treasured culture with the road that is admired across the country and around the world,” Pinnell said.

AAA Route 66 Road Fest Tickets Now on Sale

Interviews about tickets and the AAA Route 66 Road Fest are available:

Contact: Chip Minty at 405-219-9944 or [email protected]

 OKLAHOMA CITY – Feb. 15, 2022 – Oklahoma City and Tulsa are first in line to celebrate the Mother Road’s approaching centennial year with the inaugural AAA Route 66 Road Fest this June. Tickets go on sale today at: https://route66roadfest.com.

Advance daily admission tickets can be purchased online at $20 for adults 18 and older, and $10 for 12- to 17-year-olds and $5 for children 5 to 11. Children under 5 are free. Visitors can explore Route 66 through the decades by touring interactive exhibits that include artifacts, history, photos, fashion, automobiles, and iconic brands that came of age on the Mother Road.  The Route 66 Journey exhibit will begin with antique vehicles from the 1920s and take participants into the Future of Mobility which will include a self-driving shuttle and high-tech drones. 

There also will be a classic car show, vendor booths, and family activities that include virtual reality experiences, a remote-control car track, a pinewood derby competition and a Route 66 mini golf course featuring famous landmarks from the historic highway. Like any great festival, there will be plenty of food as well as live music from local and regional bands throughout the event.

“The Route 66 Road Fest will be as memorable as the historic highway itself and it is destined to be a summer highlight for visitors across the state and the country,” Peterson said.

In addition to tickets, Classic Car enthusiasts can sign up for the Road Fest Cars and Coffee event on the website. There also are a variety of booth spaces available for vendors who want to join the fun. For booth registration, go to route66roadfest.com or get more details by sending an email to: [email protected].

Oklahoma’s Route 66 Heritage to Take Center Stage

By Bob Blackburn

Like so many Baby Boomers born in the ’40s, ’50s and ’60s, I remember spending hours in the back seat of my parents’ car, speeding west on Route 66 to the Grand Canyon, Disney Land and any number of discoveries and adventures.

We may not have realized it at the time, but the road we were riding on was a path into the future of this country. Route 66 was the symbol of a revolution that has changed lives, changed culture, and opened new doors to prosperity for millions.

The automobile took off like a rocket ship in the 1920s, just about the time Route 66 was being born in Oklahoma and seven other states between Chicago and Santa Monica. The historic road was the nation’s first national highway, connecting East to West and transforming the way we traveled.

Prior to Route 66, drivers had to navigate a patchwork of local roads that were not uniform, loosely connected, and difficult to follow, compelling most to use trains for long-distance travel. But Route 66 changed that, making cross-country road trips viable for the first time, awakening a renewed sense of freedom and adventure we’ve been celebrating ever since.

Though the U.S. Interstate Highway System replaced Route 66 years ago, thousands of travelers from across the country and around the world still drive the Mother Road every year. These days, it’s not about getting from point A to point B. This stretch of highway is the destination, and small towns like Miami, El Reno, and Elk City are among the many pearls on a 2,400-mile necklace of history, lore, and nostalgia.

For decades, the highway has inspired books, movies, television shows and songs telling how Route 66 helped change America. Route 66 will be 100 years old in 2026, and it is fitting that Oklahoma will take the lead in June, kicking off a four-year build-up to the centennial celebration. After all, Tulsa’s Cyrus Avery is known as the Father of Route 66 for his work in designing the highway and Oklahoma has more miles of the Mother Road than any other state. The historic highway even brushes against the State Capitol grounds as it passes through Oklahoma City.

The AAA Route 66 Road Fest begins on June 18 in Oklahoma City and ends on June 26 in Tulsa, and the celebration will spill into Catoosa, Arcadia, Clinton, and several other Route 66 towns across Oklahoma.

The event in Oklahoma City and Tulsa will present the decades through a collection of interpretive exhibits, traveling through time from the 1920s through the 2010s and beyond. There will be food, music, and cars, lots of cars. There will be classic cars, remote-controlled cars, and automated cars of the future.

While the Road Fest will be in Oklahoma, it is not just for Oklahomans. This four-year countdown to 2026, is the start of a national celebration that will capture international attention, and Oklahoma’s East to West heritage will be at center stage.

Bob Blackburn is a native Oklahoman who served as executive director of the Oklahoma Historical Society from 1999 to 2021. In his retirement, Blackburn continue to write, speak, and consult on Oklahoma and the American West.

Tulsa Remembers When East Met West at the 11th Street Bridge

By Ken Busby

            Oklahoma Lt. Gov. Matt Pinnell likes to say, “If you want to see America, then you’ve got to see Oklahoma!”  I like to add, and if you want to see Oklahoma, there’s no better way than on Route 66!

            And if you want to learn about Route 66, you better come to Tulsa because that is where East met West in 1926. Tulsa is the capitol of Route 66 thanks to the old 11^th Street Bridge and the persistence of Cyrus Avery, a Tulsa entrepreneur who became known as the “Father of Route 66.”

            After the federal government decided that the first highway would begin in Chicago and end in Santa Monica, Avery convinced officials to bring that highway through Tulsa because that was the only place where there was a concrete and steel-reinforced bridge across the Arkansas River.

That is how the 11^th Street span became a bridge to the West on the nation’s first federal highway. No wonder Tulsa is such a focal point for this historic highway. But if Tulsa is the capitol, then Oklahoma must be the highway’s home state because there are more miles of Route 66 in Oklahoma than any other state. In fact, the Mother Road even nudges the State Capitol as it passes through Oklahoma City.

So, it’s only fitting that next June the Sooner State is kicking off the lead up to the historic highway’s centennial celebration with the AAA Route 66 Road Fest, an event that begins on June 18 in Oklahoma City and ends on June 26 in Tulsa.                 

            Weekend events in Oklahoma City and Tulsa will feature historical journeys through the decades, allowing visitors to travel through time from the 1920s to futuristic visions of the Great American Road Trip. There will be food, music, and an assortment of family attractions. A major highlight will be the automobile itself, a Route 66 icon that transcends generations. The event will include RVs, motorcycles, and especially cars, ranging from classic cars and remote-controlled cars to tomorrow’s automated vehicle technology.

            While the Road Fest will be in Oklahoma, it is not just for Oklahomans. This will be the beginning of a four-year countdown to the Route 66 Centennial in 2026, a national celebration that will capture international attention. 

            Even though the U.S. Interstate Highway System bypassed Route 66 a long time ago, tens of thousands of tourists still travel the Main Street of America every year, and nearly half of them are from outside of the United States. That’s because Route 66 is the most famous highway in the world, through songs, movies, television shows, and books that have inundated popular culture for decades.

            So, don’t be surprised next June when crowds from inside and outside of our state descend on Oklahoma City, Tulsa, and spill into Catoosa, Miami, Arcadia, Clinton, and towns up and down the Mother Road to relive the nostalgia. It’s an exciting time for Route 66, and where better to celebrate its history than the place where East meets West.

Ken Busby is executive director and chief executive officer of the Route 66 Alliance.  He is also known as the cultural czar of Northeast Oklahoma.   

AAA Oklahoma Resumes Route 66 Centennial Countdown

Start your engines and get ready to travel because the AAA’s Route 66 Road Fest centennial celebration is out of the garage and back on course. Postponed for one year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, planning has resumed for the event, now set for June 18-26 of 2022.

The Road Fest will be a weeklong celebration of the highway’s history and the event will initiate a five-year-long ramp-up to the highway’s 2026 centennial, which will be observed in cities across the country and draw visitors from around the world.

“As disappointed as we were to delay our event, we are as excited as ever to be moving forward with planning for 2022, when families, car enthusiasts and Route 66 lovers from around the country will begin the celebration,” said Jared Peterson, president of AAA Club Alliance Great Plains Region.

The nine-day event will begin on June 18 at OKC Fairgrounds, and it will end in Tulsa’s SageNet Center at Expo Square on June 26. Meanwhile, all 420 miles of Route 66 in Oklahoma will be at center stage as visitors join the celebrations in OKC and Tulsa, then experience the Mother Road’s historic charm first-hand along the way.

“Ever since Tulsa’s Cyrus Avery helped pioneer the U.S. highway system in the 1920s, Route 66 has been intrinsically connected to Oklahoma and its early history,” said Tulsa Regional Tourism President Ray Hoyt. “It’s only fitting that Oklahoma will be first in line to begin a national celebration. After all, Tulsa has been celebrating the historic highway since it was built.”

Weekend events in Oklahoma City and Tulsa will feature immersive historical journeys through the decades, allowing visitors to travel through time from the 1920s to futuristic visions of the Great American Road Trip. No family friendly festival would be complete without food, games, live music and more. All types of vehicles will be represented, including RVs, motorcycles, and especially cars, ranging from classic cars, and remote-controlled cars to automated vehicles destined for the future of mobility. Go to Road Fest to see a video that gives a taste of what is to come at next year’s centennial celebration.

“Travelers can view our state capitol from Route 66 as they pass through Oklahoma City, so it’s been a part of our fabric for as long as this iconic road has been in existence,” said Zac Craig, president of the Oklahoma City Convention and Visitors Bureau. “We can’t wait to kick off the celebration next June and show the nation and the world why the Mother Road is such an icon.”

The event has been endorsed by major stakeholders, such as the National Park Service, the nationally recognized Road Ahead Partnership, the Oklahoma Department of Tourism and Recreation as well as the Oklahoma Route 66 Alliance and the Oklahoma Route 66 Association, all dedicated to furthering the importance of the Mother Road. Proceeds from the event will be used to help fund the Route 66 Revival Fund, established by AAA Oklahoma to support improvements.

Vendor booth spaces will be available at both event locations to provide Route 66 enthusiasts an opportunity to purchase unique Route 66 souvenirs as reminders of this inaugural event. Contact Ronda Adkisson for more information about booths.