Five communities have been designated Official Satellite Cities for the Route 66 Centennial Kick-off on April 30, 2026.
The virtual Route 66 Centennial Kick-Off will feature a Centennial Kick-Off concert with a-list entertainment in Springfield, Missouri, a two-hour simulcast of the live-streamed event worldwide, and cut-ins during the simulcast from each Official Satellite City.
Below is information regarding the Centennial Kick-off satellite location celebrations on April 30, 2026.
The five satellite cities will join the live, online media event at the Route 66 Centennial Kick-Off celebration in Springfield, Missouri, the Official Host City. The five Official Satellite Cities include Joliet, Illinois; St. Louis, Missouri; Amarillo, Texas; Albuquerque, New Mexico; and Santa Monica, California.
Joliet will host its satellite city celebration at the historic 1858 Old Joliet Prison Site, featured in the 1980 Blues Brothers movie. The property is now an economic development engine and community gathering space, welcoming nearly 100,000 visitors since the project’s inception.
St Louis will celebrate a century of traveling on the Mother Road with four days of events at the Missouri History Museum in Forest Park. Explore everything from the stunning natural scenery and quirky roadside attractions in both winding rural towns and big cities, to the challenges and inequities faced by some travelers. Enjoy live music, car displays, film screenings, presentations, neon and memorabilia displays, and family activities!
Amarillo’s Historic Barfield Hotel will host a one-of-a-kind evening featuring invite-only experiences inside the Barfield, including a lively western rockabilly sock hop dance in the ballroom with Jimmy Dale Richardson, Route 66 story recordings in the speakeasy, and live rockabilly music at Patio Vista. Outside, everyone is welcome to join in the fun with storytelling, vendors, interactive activities like a rotary phone to share personal Route 66 memories, and plenty of festive photo ops. It’s a chance to honor the rich history of the Mother Road while creating brand-new memories in the heart of Amarillo.
Albuquerque‘s celebration unfolds in the heart of downtown with live music at the nearly 100-year-old KiMo Theatre. Steps away, an augmented reality experience awaits at 4th & Central, the crossroads where Route 66 once intersected. In addition, there will be three other creative stops within a two-block walk of the KiMo, all part of Route 66 Remixed, an art-fueled road trip spanning the city’s 18-mile stretch of the Mother Road.
Santa Monica is excited to host its kick-off ceremony at the historical end of the Mother Road – Mel’s Diner on Lincoln Boulevard, featuring California-themed entertainment. Route 66 holds a significant place in Santa Monica’s history, having been an important thoroughfare for travelers to visit the beachside city for the last 100 years, and continues to offer a memorable experience for those who enjoy the road to the sea.
