Mother Road Rendezvous at Route 66 Road Fest

by Richard Stephens, Jr.

The Oklahoma Route 66 Association's booth was busy with visitors June 21-22, 2025, during AAA Road Fest. Photo by Richard Stephens, Jr.

The faithful and curious came to the fourth AAA Route 66 Road Fest to appreciate, inform and explore Route 66 at Tulsa’s 354,000 square foot SageNet at Expo Square, June 21-22. Downstairs, a collection of 96-years of cars and pick-up trucks held many aficionados’ attention. Upstairs, people learned about Route 66 by walking through cubicles that explained it’s history, gathered information in the Route 66 Community Center, looked at goods and services offered by 80 vendors and played games in a large Kid’s Activity Zone.

Two hundred and twenty vehicles came to the AAA Road Fest in Tulsa, June 21-22, 2025.  There were cars and pick-up trucks from 1929 to 2025. Photo by Richard Stephens, Jr.

Ron Watkins of the Green Country Classic Mustang Club said 220 vehicles checked in for the car show, everything from a 1929 Ford Roadster to a 2025 Ford Mustang. Car owners were happy to explain engines, body panels, tires and paint techniques to admiring guests. Awards were given to the Top 3 in 30 classes of vehicles. Many visitors journeyed into Route 66’s past by visiting seven interactive, eight-foot-tall octagons in exhibits called “The Journey” that explained each decade (1920s - 1990s to Today). Each octagon held one or two vehicles, actors in period clothing, artifacts, historical facts, photographs, and lists of popular music that made up its ten-year period. For instance, the 1950s cubicle showed off a glossy 1959 Ford Galaxie Fairlane and the front end of a diner with a row of stools and a waitress that visitors could talk with.

At the Presentation Stage, seats filled up to listen to a variety of “about the road” topics from writers, photographers and travelers of Route 66. On Saturday, Jim Ross and Shellee Graham discussed their new book, “Route 66: The First 100 Years”; author and historian Michael Wallis shared two personal stories about hitchhiking in the 1980s and 1990s; Richard Rawlings, the star of the popular Reality TV Show “Fast N’ Loud” and who owns Gas Monkey Garage, talked about car culture; Jennifer Rogers, Will Rogers’ great granddaughter, presented “Will Rogers & Route 66”; and Jim Hinckley provided a dark view of the Mother Road with his “Murder and Mayhem on the Main Street of America.”

Hinckley, author of over 20 books, said, “This Road Fest is probably one of the best events on Route 66, blending education with good old fashion family fun. It’s the magic of Route 66 made manifest.”

This 1958 Silver Streak Chico travel trailer looks at home in the Vintage Trailer Resort.  The Trailer Resort was one of several displays at 2025's AAA Road Fest in Tulsa. Photo by Richard Stephens, Jr.

Next to the stage, 19 vintage travel trailers from the 1940s to the 1970s parked in the Vintage Trailer Resort. Lots of families ducked inside them to see original and nearly-original furnishings.

At the Route 66 Community area, people learned about towns on or near it, associations that promote and preserve it, and museums and hotels on its side roads. The Oklahoma Route 66 Association staffed a booth to explain all about Oklahoma’s Main Street. Its President, Rhys Martin, said, “Route 66 has been called a linear village, and the Route 66 Road Fest is a great example of how true that is. [We are] joined by folks from all eight Route 66 states to showcase how special this road is to so many people. We all hope our enthusiasm and education leads people to take road trips of their own.”

Steve Brant operates the Spirit of America museum in Stroud. He also had a booth in the Route 66 Community area. Brant said, “people were delighted to discover the Route 66 Spirit of America Museum exists just down the road from the Rock Café…And they were happy to learn the museum will be launching the ‘American Moonshot Project,’ to help America break free of the culture of hate and division and adopt a culture of love and cooperation instead.”

Children had their own playground, the Kid’s Play Zone. Coupons could be bought for $1 each to participate in a Boy Scout-run Pinewood Derby, Hot Wheels and pedal car races, 18-hole mini golf, learn art or play 21 st century virtual reality games. Although the area was mostly filled with children, a few adults were spotted racing cars and playing mini golf with their kids.

AAA organizers hoped for 12,000 attendees, an increase of 2,000 from 2024. “We really hope our guests experience Route 66, which is celebrating its history and culture,” said Ben Young, Director of AAA’s Brand, Content, and Publications. “Our main goal is to get people exploring all that Route 66 has to offer.” Entrance fees were $10 for adults (13 - 64), $7 for seniors and military, and free for children (12 & Under).

Shellee Graham and Jim Ross sign copies of their new book, “Route 66: The First 100 Years” which sold out at the event. Photo by Rhys Martin.

After picking up travel information about Route 66, it appeared visitors were ready to jump in their vehicles and cruise America’s Main Street upon leaving, perhaps starting in Tulsa, which has 28 miles, then continuing for the rest of Oklahoma’s portion of Route 66, about 400 miles.