Event Attendance Up Across Oklahoma Route 66
by Rhys Martin and Richard Stephens, Jr.
Classic cars line Historic Route 66 in downtown Bethany, Oklahoma.
The temperatures outside are a definite indicator that summer is in full swing. Although the official Centennial Year of Route 66 isn’t until 2026, many community events are already seeing a positive impact from that upcoming milestone in the form of stronger attendance and greater excitement around their local events.
Bristow held their 36th annual Tabouleh Fest on May 11th. The festival pays homage to the Lebanese immigrants who came to the area in the late 1800s; Kristen Weaver, a fourth-generation Lebanese-American resident and community advocate, said, “Bristow has celebrated Lebanese culture as an important part of our history. Lebanese people are known for their hospitality and sharing food is a wonderful way to embrace this heritage.” The local Lions Club estimated attendance at around 7,000 people and Mayor Kris Wyatt confirmed that it had a strong, positive impact on the town.
The same weekend, the Southern Plains Mopar Fest took place in Creek County to raise funds to help relocate, restore, and relight the 102-foot tall Chrysler tower in Bristow. 65 racers took part in drag racing, with participants coming from as far away as Des Moines, IA. According to officials, their numbers more than doubled this year.
Bethany’s Route 66 Festival took place on May 25th and brought 8,000 people to town. More than 130 vehicles spanning 93 years of automobile history lined Historic Route 66 while Brian Lee Dunning performed his Elvis tribute act. Todd Snoddy, Festival Chairman, said the event was a complete success with net proceeds going towards the Bethany Improvement Foundation.
Stroud’s Summerfest on June 8th reported attendance of 2,500 - which is 2,000 more than they had in 2023. They also had a 57% increase in classic car registrations and twice the number of vendors, including five wineries and two distilleries. Steve Brant, Lincoln County Board Member, showed folks around his Spirit of America Museum where he is gathering artifacts from the 1946 “American Freedom Train” that toured the nation.
Other festivals in June that took place in Elk City, Weatherford, and Tulsa also reported stronger attendance and engaged crowds eager to celebrate the legacy of the Mother Road and each community’s unique place within it. The Oklahoma Route 66 Association is working on plans for several events to celebrate the Centennial in 2026 and we look forward to sharing those details as we get closer.
If you are a member of the Oklahoma Route 66 Association and have an event you’d like to add to our calendar, just log in and submit that event here - we’ll help get the word out!
