Heat Doesn’t Dampen Elk City’s Block Party & Route 66 Festival

by Kathy Schones

The heat didn’t prevent the community from showing up for Elk City’s Block Party and Rt 66 Festival June 14-15 at the city’s Ackley Park. Activities included a Friday night car cruise, Music in the Park, food trucks and vendors.

The cruise was a huge success with hundreds of spectators lining up on Third Street, part of the city’s Route 66 corridor. Even a horse and rider was spotted galloping along with the cruise.

A large crowd showed up for the bands that played in the park on Friday night. 9-Mile Hill started the evening and the Slim Pickins’ band wrapped up the night’s festivities.

Saturday was a busy day with a well-attended car show at the park. The event was bolstered by free admission to the National Rt 66 Museum, which also included an Art Show. The event as a whole included 30 vendors and food trucks along with nearly 70 businesses that either participated or sponsored the festival.

The two-day event was organized by Suzie Cupp and Karen Touchstone of the Elk City Chamber and Visitors Bureau. They deemed the weekend a big success. Suzie Cupp added, “Our community supports us, and they always show up.”

Fifty cars, trucks and motorcycles entered the cruise & car show, with all net proceeds and car show entry fees going back to the participants.

The event also served as an opportunity to create a larger awareness of the Oklahoma Route 66 Association in Western Oklahoma. Our booth at the festival brought quite a bit of interest and potential future members.

With the Centennial just a short year and a half away, it’s important that our Association does what we can to support our 40+ communities across the state and let folks know there’s so much to see and do throughout Oklahoma on Historic Route 66.