13 Communities Celebrate 100 Years Of Route 66 In Southwest Illinois Oct. 9-11, 2026
One-of-a-kind commemorative Route 66 trading cards will be available in each community during the festival
ALTON – 13 southwest Illinois communities will celebrate the legacy of Route 66 Oct. 9-11, 2026 with Great Rivers & Routes Last Hundred Miles Festival, a three-day series of events marking the highway’s anniversary and highlighting the history and communities along its final 100 miles in Illinois.
From Virden in the north to East St. Louis on the Mississippi River, the festival will bring together communities, businesses, organizations and Route 66 enthusiasts for events that showcase the people, places and stories that shaped the Mother Road.
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Pick up a one-of-a-kind commemorative trading card celebrating the history of each community on the Mother Road at festival stops throughout the weekend. Trading cards will only be available during the festival.
Activities throughout the weekend include a barbeque cook off, music and stories, art, a themed market and shopping experience, vintage car show and more.
“There is so much to see and do along The Last 100 Miles of Route 66 in southwest Illinois,” Cory Jobe, President/CEO of the Great Rivers & Routes Tourism Bureau noted. “Our Route 66 communities have developed great celebrations for the Last Hundred Miles Festival that showcase their connections to the Mother Road. This festival weekend is a great time to take a road trip along the Last 100 Miles of Route 66 and experience the charm, history and fun in our communities.”
As part of the Last Hundred Miles Festival, the Great Rivers & Routes Tourism Bureau created commemorative trading cards highlighting each community’s connection to Route 66. A limited number of the trading cards are available at specific pick up locations at each festival. For more information on the trading cards locations, please download the Great Rivers & Routes app in the Apple or Google Play Stores and follow the Last Hundred Miles Fest Trail.
Here is a complete list of festival events and activities:
Granite City
Granite City’s Sizzlin’ on 66 Celebration takes place at Civic Park Oct. 9 -10. This BBQ showdown heats up things between pitmasters for an Amateur Series Backyard Pork Steak Throwdown on Friday and a Pro Series BBQ Competition on Saturday. There will be BBQ vendors available for public consumption. Live music, food and drink vendors, family-friendly activities and more.
Trading Card Pick Up Location: Civic Park, 1301 Niedringhause Ave., Granite City
Edwardsville
A Weekend of Songs and Stories takes center stage in Edwardsville at the iconic Wildey Theatre and City Park starting Friday, Oct. 9 and through Sunday, Oct. 11. The ticketed Wildey events include The Buckinghams in concert on Friday; Illinois Poet Laureate Mark Turcotte on Saturday; and the Ides of March featuring Illinois native Jim Peterik on Sunday. For a free, outdoor concert experience, head to City Park for singer Mike Sonderegger on Friday; and The Blooze Brothers concert energy on Saturday.
Trading Card Pick Up Location: West End Service Station, 620 St. Louis St.,
Edwardsville
Collinsville
The City of Collinsville will host a free family drive-in movie night at D.D. Collins House on Saturday, Oct. 10 featuring the movie "Cars”. Families can enjoy an evening of themed, family fun including games, a bounce hour, snacks, photo ops and trophies for decorated DIY cars before the screening of the movie.
Trading Card Pick Up Location: D.D. Collins House, 703 W. Main St., Collinsville
Mt. Olive
Head to Mt. Olive Oct. 9 - 11 and take a step back in Route 66 history. The celebrations begin at the iconic Soulsby Service Station on Friday with live music and entertainment and a bounce house for kids. The event moves to the United Miners Cemetery on Sunday, Oct 11 with a Mother Jones reenactor, live music, speakers and more.
Trading Card Pick Up Location: Soulsby Service Station, 201 Historic Route 66, Mt. Olive
Carlinville
Enjoy three days for a Route 66 themed market and shopping experience during the festival weekend. Brave Days Festival will be held on the historic Carlinville Square Oct. 9 – 11 where the square will be transformed into a Route 66 Harvest Hub. Live music, vendors, decorated store fronts and more.
Trading Card Pick Up Location: Brave Hazel Boutique & Visitor Welcome Center on the Square: 254 S. Side Sq., Carlinville
Staunton
Slow down and wander through Staunton during the Rabbit Roadside Art Crawl Friday, Oct. 9 and Saturday, Oct. 10. The grassroots art crawl honors the creative spirit of Route 66 sponsored by and in memory of Henry’s Rabbit Ranch. Visual artists will be demonstrating their work at a variety of businesses. There will also be live music.
Trading Card Pick Up Location: The Macoupin Art Collective, 115 E. Main St., Staunton
Hamel
Celebrate the vehicles that made road tripping an art at the Third Annual Route 66 Car & Bike Show in Hamel, Saturday, Oct. 10. Explore the cars and bikes from across the decades, grab a snack and visit with craft vendors and more.
Trading Card Pick Up Location: Hamel Community Center, 111 South Old Route 66, Hamel
Farmersville
Bring the family for a day of fun in Farmersville at the Kickin’ on Route 66 Fun Fest on Saturday, Oct. 10. Activities for all ages include bounce houses, live music, magician and balloon artist, classic cars and food and drinks available. The Uptown Saloon will also serve drinks in a commemorative Route 66 cup.
Trading Card Pick Up Location: The Rooted Home, 516 Elevator St., Farmersville
Litchfield
The historic Route 66 community of Litchfield will celebrate 100 years of the Mother Road with An Iconic Stop on the Mother Road on Saturday, Oct. 10. Explore the impact of the highway on the community with a full day of explorations throughout the city. Pick up a map highlighting Route 66 sites, visit them and get your map stamped and collect a special souvenir. There will also be live entertainment, food trucks, food specials and classic cars on display.
Trading Card Pick Up Location: Litchfield Museum & Route 66 Welcome Center, 334 Old Rt. 66 N, Litchfield
Girard
Celebrate Route 66 with the Girard Pumpkin Fest on Saturday, Oct. 10 and Sunday, Oct. 11. Activities include a pumpkin patch and petting zoo, inflatables, a chili cook-off, costume contest and more.
Trading Card Pick Up Location: Doc’s Just Off 66, 133 S. 2nd St., Girard
Virden
Halloween comes early to Virden with it’s Halloween Bash as part of the Last Hundred Miles Festival on Saturday, Oct. 10 and Sunday, Oct. 11. Enjoy community games, a costume contest, Halloween photo booth and more.
Trading Card Pick Up Location: The Sly Fox Bookstore, 123 N. Springfield St., Virden
Livingston
There’s something spooky going on along Route 66 in Livingston Saturday, Oct. 10 and Sunday, Oct. 11. Head to the Pink Elephant Antique Mall for Livingston’s Route 66: The Haunted Hundred celebration. The family-friendly event combines spooky Route 66 legends with Route 66 fun including a daytime haunted house, a youth egg haunt and more.
Trading Card Pick Up Location: Pink Elephant Antique Mall, 908 Veterans Memorial Dr., Livingston
East St. Louis
Celebrate the 100th anniversary of Route 66 and the 100th birthday of jazz great Miles Davis at LOVE’S Tavern in East St. Louis, Saturday, Oct. 10. Enjoy live music and celebrate the honors Route 66’s influence on travel, commerce and local stories that continue to define the city today.
Trading Card Pick Up Location: LOVE’S Tavern, 1314 St. Clair Ave., East St. Louis
For more information on The Last Hundred Miles Festival, visit: https://www.riversandroutes.com/things-to-do/route-66/last-100-miles-festival/?page=1
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