For decades, the Illinois State Fair in Springfield has featured a butter-cow sculpture inside a refrigerated case. This year, the butter cow is back, but with a new Route 66 element. The State of Illinois reports the sculpture is titled "Take a Spin on Route 66": While the iconic Butter Cow remains the centerpiece of … Continue reading Annual butter cow sculpture at the Illinois State Fair adds a Route 66 twist
Tag: Springfield IL
25-foot neon corndog erected at Route 66 Experience at Illinois State Fairgrounds
A 25-foot-long neon corndog -- condiments included -- was erected Monday at the Route 66 Experience park near the southeast entrance of the Illinois State Fairgrounds in Springfield. The big corndog serves as a salute to the landmark Cozy Dog Drive-In restaurant along Route 66 in Springfield. More from the Illinois Route 66 Scenic Byway: … Continue reading 25-foot neon corndog erected at Route 66 Experience at Illinois State Fairgrounds
Illinois State Fair in Springfield going all out for Route 66
The Illinois State Fair in Springfield announced that not only will there be an ice cream flavor saluting the Mother Road, but Route 66 itself will also be a grand marshal of the fair's opening parade. Route 66 has taken on a more prominent role at the fair in recent years, including the establishment of … Continue reading Illinois State Fair in Springfield going all out for Route 66
Route 66 Centennial Drone Show to light downtown Joliet’s new City Square
Downtown Joliet, Illinois, will host a Route 66 Centennial Drone Show on Friday as part of the statewide commemoration of Route 66's centennial. Produced by Sky Elements Drone Shows in partnership with the Illinois Route 66 Centennial Commission and the Illinois Office of Tourism, the display will feature 400 drones lighting up the night sky with Route 66 animations and Joliet imagery. … Continue reading Route 66 Centennial Drone Show to light downtown Joliet’s new City Square
Starship Featuring Mickey Thomas to headline Route 66 Centennial Celebration at Route 66 Motorheads
Legendary rock band Starship Featuring Mickey Thomas will go knee deep in the hoopla and headline the Route 66 Centennial Celebration on Nov. 11 at Route 66 Motorheads Bar & Grill, Museum & Entertainment Complex in Springfield, Illinois. As part of the Illinois Route 66 Scenic Byway Statewide Conference and Route 66 Centennial Celebration, the day will culminate in an evening concert inside the Motordome, bringing arena-level rock to the heart … Continue reading Starship Featuring Mickey Thomas to headline Route 66 Centennial Celebration at Route 66 Motorheads
Route 66 exhibit opening on May 23 at Illinois State Museum in Springfield
The “Miles of Memories: Stories of Route 66” exhibit at the Illinois State Museum in Springfield is scheduled to open to the public on May 23. According to the Springfield State Journal-Register, it will show "what it was like to live, work and travel along U.S. Route 66 during its peak years, drawing on personal … Continue reading Route 66 exhibit opening on May 23 at Illinois State Museum in Springfield
Oklahoma Route 66 Association’s official centennial T-shirt features Bob Waldmire artwork
The Oklahoma Route 66 Association recently announced that its 2026 Route 66 centennial T-shirt features artwork from late Route 66 artist Bob Waldmire. Waldmire, a well-traveled hippie whose intricate pen-and-ink drawings were beloved by the Route 66 community, was also the inspiration for Fillmore the Volkswagen minibus in Disney-Pixar’s 2006 "Cars" film. He was also … Continue reading Oklahoma Route 66 Association’s official centennial T-shirt features Bob Waldmire artwork
Big Boy locomotive to make several stops in Route 66 towns in Illinois, Missouri in July
The legendary Union Pacific Big Boy No. 4014 steam locomotive is scheduled to make stops or pass through several Route 66 towns in Illinois and Missouri in mid-July. According to Big Boy's schedule, it will pass through or stop at these Route 66 municipalities: July 18, depart at 8:15 a.m. from Bloomington, Illinois (no public … Continue reading Big Boy locomotive to make several stops in Route 66 towns in Illinois, Missouri in July
Route 66 Motorheads to host Centennial Cultural Program honoring journey of ultramarathoner
As part of celebrating Route 66's centennial, Route 66 Motorheads in Springfield, Illinois, will host a centennial cultural gathering on June 6 centered around the journey of endurance runner Tomasz Sobania. The day begins with the independently organized Route 66 Centennial 5K Footrace at the Illinois State Fairgrounds and continues at Motorheads with an invitation-only … Continue reading Route 66 Motorheads to host Centennial Cultural Program honoring journey of ultramarathoner
“Submerged Route 66” boat tours in Springfield will start in June
Visit Springfield (Illinois) and Lake Springfield Marina, starting in June, will offer "Submerged Route 66" tours of the highway that was inundated by the creation Lake Springfield in the 1930s. Tours will start on Mondays and Fridays three times a day in early June and will run through early October. Those who wish to participate … Continue reading “Submerged Route 66” boat tours in Springfield will start in June