Upcoming Route 66 Centennial Events in Arizona: Fall 2026

Arizona's Route 66 Centennial celebration is not finished yet.

Route 66 turns 100 on November 11, 2026, and some of Arizona's biggest centennial events are still ahead. From vintage Thunderbirds in Flagstaff and a street dance in Williams to live music in Winslow, drag racing in Kingman and a 140-mile ultramarathon from Seligman to Topock, the Mother Road is heading into a busy final stretch.

This guide focuses on confirmed events taking place after August 21, 2026. Earlier Arizona centennial celebrations are preserved in a shorter section near the end.

Last verified: August 21, 2026. Event schedules can change. Always confirm dates, admission policies and travel details through the official event websites before venturing out.

Upcoming Route 66 Centennial Events in Arizona

September 2026

1.) All Thunderbird International Convention (September 8–13, 2026)

The Vintage Thunderbird Club International is bringing Ford Thunderbird owners and enthusiasts to Flagstaff for six days of displays, concours judging and driving tours. The convention theme is Legends on the Mother Road: Thunderbirds Celebrating the Route 66 Centennial.

Route 66-themed tour opportunities include Lowell Observatory, the Museum of Northern Arizona and Riordan Mansion. This is primarily a registered convention rather than a general street festival, so check the participation requirements before making plans.

Event Details:
Where: Little America Hotel, Flagstaff
When: Tuesday, September 8 through Sunday, September 13, 2026
Website: Vintage Thunderbird Club International Convention

2.) Williams Rendezvous Days (September 18–20, 2026)

Williams will look farther back than the automobile age during this family-friendly celebration of mountain men and the American fur trade. The weekend includes primitive shooting competitions, traders' row, interactive demonstrations, camping and vendors.

A street dance on Route 66 brings part of the celebration onto the Mother Road in downtown Williams.

Event Details:
Where: Buckskinner Park and downtown Williams
When: Friday, September 18 through Sunday, September 20, 2026
Website: Official Route 66 Centennial event listing

3.) Standin' on the Corner Festival (September 25–26, 2026)

Winslow's signature music festival becomes part of the city's Route 66 Centennial celebration. Expect two days of live music, food trucks, vendors, drinks and games near the famous Standin' on the Corner Park.

This is one of Arizona's strongest remaining options for travelers who want a community music festival rather than an event focused primarily on cars.

Event Details:
Where: Historic downtown Winslow
When: Friday, September 25 and Saturday, September 26, 2026
Website: standinonthecorner.org

October 2026

4.) Route 66 Street Drags (October 9–11, 2026)

Kingman closes part of Route 66 and turns the historic highway into an eighth-mile drag strip. Cars and motorcycles compete on Andy Devine Avenue while food, craft and exhibition vendors fill the event area.

Spectator parking is planned at the Mohave County Fairgrounds, with trolley service to the west entrance. Check the organizer's website for tickets, racer registration, parking instructions and the final daily schedule.

Event Details:
Where: Andy Devine Avenue, Kingman
When: Friday, October 9 through Sunday, October 11, 2026
Website: kingmanrt66streetdrags.com

5.) Route 66: The Main Street of America Documentary Screenings in Flagstaff (October 10–11, 2026)

The Arizona premiere of the official Route 66 Centennial Commission documentary arrives at Flagstaff's historic Orpheum Theater. The traveling production is designed as more than a film screening, with local entertainment, special guests and participants from the documentary tour.

The Sunday presentation is scheduled as a matinee.

Event Details:
Where: Orpheum Theater, Flagstaff
When: Saturday, October 10 and Sunday, October 11, 2026
Website: Historic Route 66 Association of Arizona screening page

6.) Route 66: The Main Street of America Documentary Screening in Kingman (October 15, 2026)

The documentary road show continues west to Kingman for a Thursday screening at the restored Beale Street Theater. A car-show block party is planned as part of the community celebration, making the screening a natural opening act for I ♥ 66 Fest the following two days.

Event Details:
Where: Beale Street Theater, Kingman
When: Thursday, October 15, 2026
Website: Historic Route 66 Association of Arizona screening page

The National Trust for Historic Preservation has also identified Holbrook, Winslow and Seligman as Arizona stops for the Main Street of America Road Show. As of August 21, complete individual dates and venue information for those stops had not been published on the principal Arizona event calendar. They are not included as confirmed events here until organizers release those details.

7.) I ♥ 66 Fest (October 16–17, 2026)

Kingman's two-day centennial festival combines live music, regional craft beer, food and craft vendors, Route 66 displays, classic and modern car shows, vintage trailers, a pinup contest and live art.

The 2026 music schedule includes Michael Monroe Goodman, the Brodie Stewart Band, Ashley Wineland and Reverend Horton Heat. Families can purchase activity wristbands for attractions including inflatables, train rides, roller skating, a zipline and a Cadillac Ranch painting experience.

Event Details:
Where: Lewis Kingman Park, Kingman
When: Friday, October 16, 2:00 p.m.–9:00 p.m.; Saturday, October 17, 10:00 a.m.–9:00 p.m.
Admission: Free for spectators; some activities require paid wristbands
Website: 66fest.com

November 2026: Route 66's 100th Birthday

8.) Celebrate the Route 66 Centennial with Roger Naylor (November 11, 2026)

U.S. Highway 66 was established on November 11, 1926. On the exact 100th anniversary, Arizona author and travel writer Roger Naylor will discuss the Mother Road's history and cultural importance at the Museum of Northern Arizona.

Naylor's latest book, Arizona Route 66 Road Trip, provides the starting point for a program focused on the highway's places and stories.

Event Details:
Where: Museum of Northern Arizona, Flagstaff
When: Wednesday, November 11, 2026, 1:00 p.m.–2:00 p.m.
Website: Museum of Northern Arizona event page

9.) Route 66 UltraRun (November 14–16, 2026)

The Route 66 UltraRun follows approximately 140 miles of historic highway across western Arizona. Athletes can attempt the full route as supported or journey runners, or divide the distance among relay teams.

The course connects Seligman, Kingman and Topock along the longest remaining continuous stretch of historic Route 66. This is an endurance event rather than a casual road race. Prospective runners, crew members and spectators should consult the organizer for registration rules, aid information, road access and the final schedule.

Event Details:
Course: Seligman through Kingman to Topock
When: Saturday, November 14 through Monday, November 16, 2026
Website: route66ultrarun.com

Ongoing Route 66 Exhibits & Cultural Experiences

1.) Wagon Road to Mother Road Exhibit (Through January 31, 2027)

This exhibition traces northern Arizona travel from the Beale Wagon Road through the rise of Route 66. Maps, photographs, objects and roadside stories explain how transportation reshaped the region's landscapes and communities.

Because the exhibition remains open beyond the centennial year, it is one of the easiest Route 66 experiences to include in a Flagstaff trip.

Event Details:
Where: Museum of Northern Arizona, Flagstaff
Dates: Through January 31, 2027
Website: Museum of Northern Arizona exhibition page

2.) Route 66 to the Grand Canyon

Theatrikos commissioned this original comedy for the centennial year. After a traveler's car breaks down outside Flagstaff, a personified Mother Road takes her through northern Arizona's history, characters and roadside culture.

Performance dates vary, so use the live calendar when choosing a show.

Event Details:
Where: Theatrikos Theatre Company, Flagstaff
Dates: Selected performances during 2026
Website: Theatrikos performance calendar and tickets

Earlier Arizona Route 66 Centennial Events

Arizona began celebrating before the official centennial year and continued with events across the state during the first eight months of 2026. These completed events remain part of the story:

• Kingman Route 66 Fest and the Arizona Route 66 Museum's Roaring Twenties centennial kickoff in fall 2025
• The Williams New Year's Eve car drop on December 31, 2025
• The Oatman Bed Races and Peach Springs Centennial Celebration
• Route 66 Bike Week and Seligman's monument-sign unveiling
• Ash Fork Heritage on Route 66 Day and the Holbrook Route 66 Car Show and Festival
• The Williams Historic Route 66 Car Show and Flagstaff Route 66 Centennial Celebration
• The Jack Rabbit Trading Post Car and Bike Show in Joseph City
• The Flagstaff Centennial Electric Vehicle Ride and Drive and Mother Road Classic Car Show

The 2026 Route 66 Fun Run (May 1–3, 2026)

The Historic Route 66 Association of Arizona's Fun Run brought hundreds of vehicles from Seligman through Kingman to Topock during the centennial year. The Fun Run is a driving celebration and is separate from November's Route 66 UltraRun. The next Fun Run is scheduled for April 30–May 2, 2027.


Burros on Oatman's historic Route 66 main street

The 2026 Oatman Bed Races (January 31, 2026)

Teams in costumes pushed wheeled beds down Oatman's historic main street while spectators watched from the old-west boardwalks. The annual event delivered exactly the kind of eccentric roadside celebration that distinguishes Arizona's stretch of the Mother Road.

Planning Your Arizona Route 66 Centennial Trip

Arizona's Route 66 communities stretch from Lupton near the New Mexico line to Topock near California. September and October offer the densest remaining event schedule, while November brings the highway's exact 100th birthday and the UltraRun.

If you plan to connect multiple events, reserve accommodations early and allow time for roadside stops between Flagstaff, Williams, Winslow, Seligman and Kingman.

Explore our Arizona Route 66 collection or browse the complete Route 66 Everytown Collection, with a wearable story for communities from Chicago to Santa Monica.

This guide is updated as organizers publish new information. Always verify dates, times, admission policies and road closures with the event organizer before traveling. Last updated August 21, 2026.