The City of Edwardsville is jump-starting its Route 66 centennial celebration this month with a week’s worth of fun activities for all ages, including concerts, a movie under the stars, a pickleball tournament, a 10K race, a visit by Lightning McQueen of “Cars” fame and, of course, the extravaganza that is the Edwardsville Route 66 Festival on Saturday, June 13.
And it’s just the beginning, with additional concerts, a movie premiere and speakers planned for the months ahead as the 100th anniversary celebration of Route 66 in Edwardsville continues this fall.
“Route 66 had a huge impact on Edwardsville, and we enjoy celebrating that every year,” Mayor Art Risavy said. “We’re especially excited to expand our celebration with the help of some community partners to honor the historic route’s 100th anniversary.”
The celebration gets underway on Saturday, June 6, with a third birthday party for the West End Service Station. This former Route 66 business at 620 St. Louis Street was restored as a free visitor center dedicated to sharing the story of the historic highway that debuted in 1926. The event is hosted by Great Rivers & Routes, the City’s tourism partner, which helped secure grant funding to restore the site. It runs from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., with birthday treats for all, children’s activities and a book signing and presentation by Route 66 author and expert Cheryl Eichar Jett.
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On Thursday and Friday, June 11-12, the Alumni Players!, in collaboration with the Friends of the Wildey, will perform at the Wildey Theatre, 252 N. Main Street, taking audiences on a musical journey related to Route 66. Tickets are on sale now for the 7 p.m. shows on the Wildey website: www.wildeytheatre.com
A first-time pickleball tournament, the Route 66 Open, will be hosted by the One More Game Pickleball Club from June 11-14 at Edwardsville’s Plummer Family Park, 3501 Sports Park Drive. Learn more at: https://www.facebook.com/OMGpickleball. The Metro Milers will also once again host their traditional Route 66 10K race on Saturday, June 13, before the festival. Learn more and sign up at https://www.route6610k.com/.
Fans of the family favorite flick “Cars” can enjoy a Parks & Recreation free movie under the stars at Leclaire Park, 900 Hale Avenue, at 8 p.m. Friday, June 12. This event also will include movie snacks, courtesy of sponsor Madison Mutual Insurance Company.
Saturday, June 13, will bring Route 66 mania to downtown Edwardsville, as live music; food and beverages; a classic car show and cruise plus “cars through the decades” display; Taste of 66 dining specialties; a vendor market; trolley tours and history exhibits; a kid zone with bounce houses; face painting and petting zoo, and much more fill City Park, 101 S. Buchanan Street. This Parks & Recreation event runs from 10 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. New this year: The classic car show will set up in the parking lot across South Kansas Street from City Park, giving fans an easy opportunity to shift between the festival grounds and vehicles. Find a full schedule, list of sponsors and other details at: www.edwardsvilleroute66.com.
