Oklahoma Route 66 Centennial Commission launches Kickstart 66 Tour

OKLAHOMA CITY – With the centennial celebration of America’s “Mother Road” — Route 66 — approaching in 2026, members of the Oklahoma Route 66 Centennial Commission are teaming up and hitting the road with the goal of driving development along Oklahoma’s stretch of the historic highway. Beginning April 4, staff of the Oklahoma Arts Council and Oklahoma Main Street Center will embark on the Kickstart 66 Tour, making a series of stops in communities along Route 66 to introduce resources community stakeholders can use in revving up local planning and development efforts. Tour stops will include Miami on April 4, Clinton on May 9, Sapulpa on September 12, and Arcadia on October 3.

Business owners, municipal and county officials, nonprofit organizations, museums, historical societies, artists, members of convention and visitor bureaus, chambers of commerce, and other local stakeholders are encouraged to attend. Each tour stop program will have a heavy emphasis on networking and facilitating conversation among attendees as they consider their community’s goals.

In addition to the Oklahoma Arts Council and Oklahoma Main Street Center, representatives from a variety of statewide organizations including the Oklahoma Tourism and Recreation Department, Oklahoma Film and Music Office, Oklahoma Museums Association, Oklahoma Agriculture Department, Oklahoma Department of Libraries, and others will present on resources and funding community stakeholders can access. The tour is designed to assist communities to fully leverage economic opportunities from the Route 66 centennial and to prepare communities to build from the legacy of the byway, traveled by an estimated two million people from around the globe each year.

“I’m excited for the economic development opportunities that will be discussed with communities on the Kickstart 66 Tour,” said Lt. Governor Pinnell. “Fifty two percent of sales tax collected in Oklahoma is from towns along Route 66. We have great resources to share with community stakeholders, and with the centennial celebration quickly approaching, there has never been a better time to invest in Route 66.”

Led by Oklahoma Lieutenant Governor Matt Pinnell, the Oklahoma Route 66 Centennial Commission’s goals include economic development, historic preservation, and marketing of The Mother Road. The commission is tasked with planning, coordinating, and implementing statewide efforts to celebrate the 100th anniversary of Route 66 in 2026. The year-long celebration will welcome thousands of national and international travelers to the state.

Kickstart 66 Tour Dates:

April 4, 1:00 to 4:00 p.m., Coleman Theatre

May 9 in Clinton

September 12 in Sapulpa

October 3 in Arcadia

To reserve a seat at any of the tour stops, visit arts.ok.gov. There is no cost to attend. For more information, contact molly.oconnor@arts.ok.gov.