Bethany Comes Together for Annual 66 Festival
by Richard Stephens, Jr.
A good variety of activities held the interest of 8,000 visitors attending the 12th Bethany 66 Festival on May 27th, said Ted Snoddy, Bethany Improvement Foundation (BIF) Festival Chairperson for the event.
Besides viewing 126 vehicles in the Car, Truck, and Bike Show, attendees perused merchandise, children marched through the festival area and played in a Kid’s Zone, and many folks relaxed under a canopy tent to hear a variety of music. The festival was free and held during Memorial Day weekend.
There was plenty to like in the Car Show: Ford Fairlanes, Chevrolet Impalas, Dodge and Chevy pick-up trucks, ‘70’s Trans Am’s and Corvettes, and many more. Roy Moser and the Route 66 Cruisers organized the car show that displayed the vehicles from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
The Bethany High School Drum Line led colorfully dressed children in action figure clothes in the Children’s Parade at 11:00 a.m.
Many people came to buy a wide assortment of edible, wearable, readable, hangable, and otherwise usable merchandise. Downtown shops and restaurants relished high customer volume.
Performers entertained the crowd: John the Franklin and the Army Band played music, the Deep Fried Sequins (urban fusion belly dancers) danced, and Brian Lee Dunning, an Elvis Tribute Artist, sang and danced. Dunning’s performance packed the tent: his Elvis-like voice, dance moves, and dress wowed attendees.
Bethany Council Member Chris Powell said the event, “helps promote our businesses and keep them healthy, not to mention improving our tax bottom line.”
At mid-day, Snoddy provided a festival update. “It has been successful and we deem success with the community of Bethany coming together for one Saturday before Memorial Day.”
At 2:00 p.m., car show owners crowded around the tent, hoping for a Top 3 prize (1st, 2nd, 3rd) in one of 18 categories. Moser handed out trophies to almost half of the competitors, pleasing many who came.
Bethany’s 66 Festival, known for bringing Oklahomans together to relax for one carefree, fun day, broke up with engines roaring or sputtering as yesteryear’s classics and today’s cars and bikes turned east or west on Route 66 and headed home.
