Learn more about the Upcoming Byway Centennial Celebration & the Illinois Route 66 Experience at the State Fairgrounds
![IL Rt 66 Byway - State Fair Experience.LOGO[80999]](https://illinoisroute66.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/IL-Rt-66-Byway-State-Fair-Experience.LOGO80999-1024x525.png "IL Rt 66 Byway - State Fair Experience.LOGO[80999]"){kind=logo}
Featured Illinois Route 66 Scenic Byway Member
Springfield, IL
The 25th Annual International Route 66 Mother Road Festival rolls into historic downtown Springfield, Illinois, from September 25th to 27th, 2026. This year’s celebration coincides with the 100th anniversary of Route 66, drawing over 2,000 vintage cars and an expected 80,000 passionate spectators. The three-day event kicks off with the legendary Friday night "Route 66 City Nights Cruise for Crime Stoppers," creating a spectacular miles-long parade of hot rods and classic vehicles navigating the city's iconic streets. With live music stages, a Miss Mother Road contest, and a burnout competition, the festival offers an energetic dose of mid-century Americana nostalgia that is completely free for public spectators.
International Route 66 Mother Road Festival
Historic Downtown
Springfield, IL 62701
(217) 553-5271
Events on Illinois Route 66
Events
-
-
Route 66 Submerged: A Sunken Road. A Story Resurfaced.
Lake Springfield Marina 17 Waters Edge Blvd, Springfield, IL, United StatesStep aboard Route 66 SUBMERGED, a 45-minute interpretive boat tour on Lake Springfield that reveals a hidden chapter of America’s most iconic highway. Beneath the surface lies a stretch of Springfield’s original Route 66 alignment, submerged when Sugar Creek was dammed in 1933. Guided by local storytellers this immersive journey blends history, nature, and narrative—offering…
-
Bicycle Illinois Route 66 Ride
Illinois Route 66 IL, United StatesBicycle Illinois is excited to introduce the Route 66 Ride, a new week-long cycling tour traveling from the St. Louis area to Chicagoland along the legendary Old Route 66. This…
-
Richrath Project REO at Route 66 Motorheads Mother Road Festival Kickoff
Route 66 Motorheads Bar-Grill-Museum 600 Toronto Rd, Springfield, IL, United StatesThis is going to be one for the books! Motorheads proud to be included in the 100 year celebration of the Route 66 Mother Road Festival! We’ll be headlining the…
-
Tammi’s Treasures Antiques & More and Sweet Pea’s Antiques & More Fall Sale
Tammi's Treasures Antiques & More 490 Illinois Highway 104, Divernon, IL, United StatesTammi’s Treasures Antiques & More and Sweet Pea’s Antiques & More Fall Sale! Sept. 25-27 10% Off Everything! Register to win a tabletop Blackstone! Open Daily 10-5:30 Exit 82 Off…
-
Lincoln: The Man, The Myth, The Legend – Rick Klindinst
Horsefeathers/Wild Hare Cafe 104 Governor Oglesby St, Elkhart, IL, United StatesThe Elkhart Illinois Historical Society invites the public to Lincoln: The Man, The Myth, The Legend, a dinner lecture presented by Rick Klinedinst, exploring the many myths and conflicting stories about the…