Celebrating 100 Years
of Kicks on Route66
On November 11, 1926 - US Highway 66 was established. In 2026, the road turns 100 - and big celebrations are in the works!
The Oklahoma Route 66 Association is planning a series of events to commemorate this fantastic occasion - and we even have our own Centennial logo, designed by the one and only Shellee Graham! Many thanks for her partnership on this; check it out at our Shop link below.
In addition to serving on the Oklahoma Route 66 Centennial Commission, we are a member of the Route 66 Road Ahead Partnership, a nationally-focused non-profit that is working on a variety of Route 66 projects from a national perspective. This group includes representation from all eight states that Route 66 calls home.
We will continue to update this page as more information is available!
Events and Celebrations
The most frequent question we get is: when are you celebrating the Centennial in 2026? Well, that IS the big question! Oklahoma has more drivable miles of Historic Route 66 than any other state - so celebrations will be going all year long! We are planning to have several events in 2026 to celebrate the road and its history. More to come!
We expect that many communities along Route 66 will heavily incorporate the Centennial into existing annual celebrations - but we’re encouraging them to do something special for Route 66, too!
Here is a list of other existing annual Route 66-focused events in each community and the month they typically occur. This should provide a general idea of what will be going on in Oklahoma throughout the year. Lines in bold are confirmed for 2026! We’ll update this with more information as it comes in.
The best way to check out what’s happening in 2026 is to check out our full Event Calendar and sort by Centennial!
| City | Event Name | Month | Note | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arcadia | Classic Cars A-Round the Barn | April | 2nd Saturday of April | |
| Miami | Route 66 Mural Fest | April | Last Weekend of the Month | |
| Tulsa + OKC | State Route 66 Events TBD | May | Saturday, May 30th | |
| Davenport | Nettie Davenport Day | May | Saturday before Mother's Day | |
| Bethany | Route 66 Festival | May | Memorial Day Weekend | |
| El Reno | Onion Burger Day | May | First Saturday in May | |
| Clinton | Route 66 Festival | May | ||
| Weatherford | Heartland Cruise Car Show | June | Weekend of June 19 & 20 | |
| Tulsa | AAA Route 66 Road Fest | June | Weekend of June 27 & 28 | |
| Commerce | Commerce Days | June | ||
| Stroud | Summerfest | June | ||
| Chandler | Ice Cream Social | June | ||
| Warr Acres | "Triple Tour" Route 66 Festival | June | ||
| Elk City | Route 66 Festival | June | ||
| Quapaw | Quapaw Tribal Festival | July | 4th of July Weekend | |
| Miami | Miami OK Route 66 Heritage Fest | July | Last Weekend of the Month | |
| Catoosa | Art Show and Cultural Festival | July | ||
| Sayre | Dust Bowl Days | July | ||
| Tulsa | Mustangs on the Mother Road | July | MCA National Car Show July 24-26 | |
| Bristow | Western Heritage Days | August | ||
| Hydro | Free Fair | August | ||
| Yukon | Rock the Route | August/September | Thursday, September 3rd | |
| Sapulpa | Route 66 Blowout | September | Saturday, September 12th | |
| Geary | Native 66 Festival | October | ||
| n/a | Route 66 Centennial Date | November 11 | ||
| Luther | Pecan Festival | November | ||
| Edmond | Cycle 66 | November |
Projects
Many projects are underway to help prepare for the 2026 Centennial. Here is a list of some of the work that is currently happening across the state.
ODOT Pavement Shields available to aid in way-finding.
Project 66 Commission Grants - While not officially tied to Oklahoma’s Route 66 Centennial Commission, this separate body awards money for projects across the Route 66 corridor in Oklahoma. Through this Commission, the Oklahoma Route 66 Association was able to secure funds for multiple neon signs (both restoration and new construction) in Oklahoma.
The US 66 Centennial Commission has also recognized a number of projects for the Centennial. Once their website goes live in 2025, we’ll post a link here so you can see what else is being planned!
Support the Association
Help us with our mission to preserve and promote Route 66 in Oklahoma by picking up some of our exclusive Route 66 Centennial merchandise!
The US 66 Centennial Commission is accepting submissions for projects to be recognizes as official Route 66 Centennial activities, projects, events, and programs. Although this is not a source of funding, it is a way to bring a bit of renown to whatever is being planned! Check out their submission portal here - if you have an event or project that receives this recognition, let us know and we can list it on this page!
You can also follow along with the national Centennial Commission’s updates via their Facebook page. A national Route 66 Commission website is coming in 2025; stay tuned!
From the National Trust for Historic Preservation:
While Route 66 still captures the imagination of people around the world, its historic places—and their stories—continue to be lost every year. We believe that many of these stories along Route 66 remain untold and we need your help in amplifying them to the wider world!
We invite you—community members, travelers, historians, and enthusiasts—to share your stories and photos about Route 66. Whether it's a quirky roadside attraction, a treasured business, a piece of family history, or a personal memory, every contribution helps piece together a more complete picture of Route 66’s history. Together, we'll tell a more complete story of this iconic highway, ensuring that no story, no place, and no memory along Route 66 is left in the shadows.
Have a story about a place you'd like to share? Submit a photo and a short description below. Thanks for helping us tell the full American story!
