NEWS

Route 66 Festival begins Thursday in Amarillo - here's a rundown of 10 days' events.

From Staff Reports

The Texas Route 66 Festival begins Thursday, June 1 and continues through June 10 this year to kick off the upcoming Route 66 Centennial celebrations in 2026. The festival will highlight the local portions of Route 66, along with a series of annual events in June.

Kicking off the 10-day celebration of Route 66 will be the Coors Ranch Rodeo on Thursday and a celebration at Hodgetown in downtown Amarillo on Friday. There will also be the Coors Ranch Rodeo Cattle Drive through downtown Amarillo, bus tours, a Green Book Event, Summer Free for All and more.

Memorabilia celebrating Route 66 is on display at a January press conference announcing the Route 66 Festival, being held in Amarillo from June 1 to June 10.

“Here is our time to highlight and shine a light on our Route 66 history; Route 66 is truly a hidden gem in this city that brings travelers from all over the world,” Christy King, director of Tourism for Amarillo, said in an earlier story announcing the festival. “Many people locally do not realize the impact that Route 66 has on bringing visitors to this city, and we want to celebrate it.”

For more information, visit https://www.visitamarillo.com/events/route-66/ .

Here is the planned schedule of events:

Texas Route 66 Festival Events

Thursday

  • Coors Ranch Rodeo at Amarillo National Center
  • First Thursday on 6th Avenue, 4-7 p.m., at Historic Route 66 District - enjoy local art, music, shopping and more

Friday

  • Official Route 66 Kick-Off Celebration, 4 p.m., at Hodgetown - block party, specialty food, in-game promotions, fireworks and more
  • Brett Young concert, 6 p.m., at the Starlight Ranch Event Center

Saturday

  • Amarillo Coors Cowboy Club Cattle Drive & Parade, 10 a.m., downtown Amarillo - 60 Texas Longhorns make their way through downtown, and spectators will cheer on the cattle and riders as they make their way to the fairgrounds
  • Amarillo Crawfish Festival, 3 p.m. at Starlight Ranch Event Center

Sunday

  • Low Rider Cruise, 6-7:30 p.m., on Amarillo Boulevard - Flamingo's Restaurant to Route 66 Inn - free open-call/come-and-go event for lowrider groups and classic car clubs from the Autozone Parking lot to Route 66 Inn.
  • Toast & Jams, 10 a.m.-2 p.m., Starlight Ranch Event Center - live music, brunch items from food trucks, shopping

Monday, June 5

  • Amarillo Film Society presents 1999 documentary "Route 66: A Journey Through Texas," 6 p.m., at Goldenlight Cafe & Cantina

Tuesday, June 6

  • Ruth Ellen Lynch and Jazz Plus in concert, 7-9 p.m, at Starlight Theater in Sam Houston Park, Western & Line
  • Jim Laughlin June Jazz Series featuring The Martinis with Chuck Alexander, 7 p.m., Amarillo College Washington Street Campus

Wednesday, June 7

  • Texas Route 66 East Bus Tour - East, 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m., with stops at iconic landmarks and hotspots through Groom, Jericho, McLean, and Shamrock. (Buses will depart from the Bivins House at 1000 S. Polk St. at 8:30 a.m.)
  • High Noon on the Square featuring music by Ed Montana and hamburgers by Coors Cowboy Club Cook Team, noon, Potter County Courthouse Lawn, presented by Center City of Amarillo
  • Texas Route 66 Visitor Center Event, 6 p.m., Texas Route 66 Visitors Center - live music, food trucks, and more.

Thursday, June 8

  • Route 66 West Bus Tour - 8:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. with stops at iconic landmarks and hotspots through Vega, Adrian, Glenrio, New Mexico, including the historic Midpoint Cafe, Dot's Mini Museum and Cadillac Ranch. (Buses will depart from the Bivins House at 1000 S. Polk St. at 8:30 a.m.)
  • "The Green Book: The Untold Story of Route 66" featuring Candacy Taylor, 7-9 p.m., Amarillo College Concert Hall; doors open at 6:30 p.m. - the acclaimed author and culture documentarian gives a thought-provoking lecture.

Friday, June 9

  • Michelangelo's Sistine Chapel: The Exhibition," exhibit opening night, showcases 34 frescoes using licensed high-definition photos on view at Amarillo Arts on the Sunset.

Saturday, June 10

  • Amarillo Community Market, 8:30 a.m.-noon, opening for the season on Downtown Polk Street - local artisans, growers, and bakers every Saturday until Sept. 9th at the Historic Bivins Mansion, with live music and unique goods.
  • Starlight Ranch concert TBD at Starlight Ranch Event CenterEvent details coming soon
  • Summer Free for All, 5 p.m., at Sam Houston Park - Amarillo Parks & Recreation event features carnival games, food trucks, music, and more, with free trolleys running from the Summer Free for All to Amarillo National Bank's Route 66 Celebration.
  • Amarillo National Bank’s Route 66 Celebration, 11 a.m.-7 p.m., Route 66 Historic District (6th Ave.) - a wide range of attractions, including vendor booths, food options, live music, Elvis impersonators, Miss Texas Route 66 Pinup Pageant, kids' activities, corn dog eating contests, a car show, and more. Full schedule coming soon.