Route 66 Alliance getting out of the festival business

Route 66 sign, Springfield, Missouri

A news release a few days ago reported the Route 66 Alliance and the National Historic Route 66 Federation had formalized their affiliation with each other and bring them under the umbrella of the fledgling U.S. 66 Highway Association.

The merger between the two organizations was announced months ago, as was the revival of the U.S. 66 Highway Association. Alliance co-founder Michael Wallis, federation president David Knudson and the grandson of the U.S. 66 Highway Association, Cyrus Stevens Avery II, all issued statements — one which clarified the new organization’s mission:

Wallis confirmed that the “Preservation, Promotion, and Education” mantras of the Alliance and Federation have segued to remain the U.S. 66 Highway Association’s main mission, but added focuses on Economic Development, as well as a specific emphasis on building a cohesive network of the eight states across Route 66.

But to many longtime Route 66 enthusiasts, one of the most significant nuggets of news was that the Alliance no longer is going to help organize the International Route 66 Festival.

“We never wanted to be in the festival business, but that’s the perception. Long-timers know the original plan was for communities to take them over, and finally, it’s happening. It’s why we’re so pleased with Scott Piotrowski in L.A., spearheading the 2016 festival planning. He has our complete moral support, because it’s what we hoped people would do. He’s taken the bull by the horns.”
Wallis continued, “But yes, we’re out of the festival business. Beyond being involved in ‘special events,’ our heads are more fully focused on what the Association can do for the whole road. Because I know what’s been discussed for the US 66 Highway Association, I know we’re going to provide a real practical purpose for the road that can take care of every hard-working waitress, gas pumper, museum curator, and every day fan in a way that’s never been done before. It’s exciting.”

Piotrowski, to clarify, is trying to plan a Route 66 festival in Los Angeles. A steering festival for the event is meeting April 14.

This confirmation of the Alliance getting out of the festival business might disappoint some Route 66ers, as the festival has been an ongoing annual event under the federation’s, then the Alliance’s, umbrella for about 15 years. But Wallis is right — plans were in the early days were to move the festival around the country and planting a seed at each event, with the hope the host city will make Route 66 an annual event.

And that has happened in Springfield, Illinois; Clinton, Oklahoma; and, most recently, Kingman, Arizona. It also has inspired others — especially Springfield, Missouri — to launch their own Route 66 festivals.

Fifteen years ago, there were hardly any Route 66 events in the country at all. Now there are more than a dozen. With an abundance of options now available, one cannot blame the associations for deciding to channel their energies into other things.

The news release may be read in full, after the jump:

Cyrus Avery’s US 66 Highway Association Takes Another Step Toward Reality After four decades in mothballs, the re-establishment of Cyrus Avery’s historic 1927 “US 66 Highway Association,” has taken another step toward legal reality. Convening in Tulsa in March, its directors formalized an “Affiliation Agreement” between the “Route 66 Alliance,” headed by Michael Wallis and the “National Historic Route 66 Federation,” run by David Knudson in California.

As separate organizations, the process of affiliation involves repositioning to bring both organizations under Cyrus Avery’s original “US 66 Highway Association” banner.

“We’re pleased with the results,” Knudson stated. “It’s a complex process obviously, but so far, so good.” Avery’s grandson, Cyrus Stevens Avery II, went further stating, “We couldn’t be happier. I’m quite certain if my Grandfather were here, he’d be thrilled at what’s being discussed. I know how important this highway was to him, but almost as much was the network of businesses the US 66 Highway Association represented. While our work continues my grandfather’s legacy, it’s a labor of love for everyone involved. We appreciate everyone’s patience as we put it together.”

Clarifying further, Author and Route 66 Alliance co-founder Michael Wallis stated, “After our January announcement of the Association’s rebirth, people were confused. We have its corporate structure in place…The process of reactivation just takes time. But we’re not letting any grass grow. From lobbying to education to preservation, you name it…the Association’s plans will outlive us now.”

Wallis confirmed that the “Preservation, Promotion, and Education” mantras of the Alliance and Federation have segued to remain the U.S. 66 Highway Association’s main mission, but added focuses on Economic Development, as well as a specific emphasis on building a cohesive network of the eight states across Route 66. He also addressed the ballyhooed festivals that have been a regular Route 66 staple these past many years. “We never wanted to be in the festival business, but that’s the perception. Long-timers know the original plan was for communities to take them over, and finally, it’s happening. It’s why we’re so pleased with Scott Piotrowski in L.A., spearheading the 2016 festival planning. He has our complete moral support, because it’s what we hoped people woould do. He’s taken the bull by the horns.”

Wallis continued, “But yes, we’re out of the festival business. Beyond being involved in ‘special events,’ our heads are more fully focused on what the Association can do for the whole road. Because I know what’s been discussed for the US 66 Highway Association, I know we’re going to provide a real practical purpose for the road that can take care of every hard-working waitress, gas pumper, museum curator, and every day fan in a way that’s never been done before. It’s exciting.”

(Image of a Route 66 sign in Springfield, Illinois, by Brian Lewis via Flickr)

5 thoughts on “Route 66 Alliance getting out of the festival business

  1. I know hopes are high for the new organization, but it’s very disappointing that there will no longer be one special, focused national/international festival to attract and support Route 66 enthusiasts from all over. The past festivals were an opportunity for authors, photographers, artists, vendors, and collectors from many parts of the country to offer their wares to a wide audience in a single location, and I fear that will no longer be the case with scattered local festivals. These newer local/regional festivals have certainly promoted the road very well, probably attracting people who would not attend a national event. They are a great example of the new significance communities are discovering in Route 66, and they are certainly a positive development. Nevertheless, the absence of a single and unique national/international festival leaves a void. I think such an event will be sorely missed. Having said that, I would be the first to support the efforts of the new Association — a truly national organization uniting supporters of 66 and channeling that support into positive new ways of promoting the road.

    1. Fortunately, Bob, Cheryl in Edwardsville has stepped up to make their festival this year in October the big festival. Likewise, the 90th anniversary celebration being planned in Los Angeles in 2016 is already being discussed as the big event that year. So while the consistency of support of one organization will be missed, I am confident that the newer, younger blood along 66 will step up to fill the void more than adequately. (I look forward to seeing you in Downtown Los Angeles in November, 2016!)

  2. If the new national association wants to do something useful, it can give the city of Chicago a good shove to finally DO something appropriate about marketing itself as the eastern terminus of Route 66. Perhaps even install an Illinois Route 66 Scenic Byway infohub on the SE corner of Michigan and Jackson, where the route began, so that tourists can finally get that bit right. Read this for details: wp.me/p2FKYn-ww

  3. We would love to be your official festival – Route 66 Cruisin’ Reunion! The Route 66 Cruisin’ Reunion®, is the Southern California ultimate weekend celebration of America’s love affair with the automobile! Known as the Main Street of America or The Mother Road, world-famous highway, Route 66 from Chicago, Illinois to Santa Monica California was established in 1926. In celebration The Route ’66 Cruisin’ Reunion embraces three days of cruising, contests, live entertainment, fabulous food and revelry making it one of the nation’s most extended long-playing events of its kind. Held annually on the third weekend of September along the historic, tree-shaded Euclid Avenue in Ontario, California, the route is over two miles. Created by the 501(c)3 Route 66 Reunion, organized by the Greater Ontario Convention & Visitors Bureau, this annual event draws thousands of visitors and classic car enthusiasts to the area. The Route 66 Cruisin’ Reunion is where thousands of people gather to enjoy classic cruisers, convertibles, hot rods, and wicked Woodies fuel a jam-packed weekend of fun. http://www.route66cruisinreunion.com

    1. But we would prefer to have it ON the road instead of so far off of it, and in 2016 the festival will be held in Downtown Los Angeles at the original terminus anyway. (See up there above where it even mentioned that in the press release from the Alliance?)

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