Route 66 Anniversary Events

There will be 75th-anniversary celebrations and events this year in all eight states that Route 66 crosses.

One of the biggest is the National Route 66 Diamond Jubilee Festival, a three-day celebration starting July 20 in Albuquerque. For information, call event coordinator Deanne Howland, (505) 222-4342, or see the organizers’ Web site, https://www.rt66nm.org.

In California, events will start next month in Azusa and continue through the winter. They include:

June 2: Azusa “Blast to the Past”

Sponsored by the Route 66 Drive-In Committee to benefit several Azusa and Duarte nonprofit groups. Buffet dinner, live music, classic car show, Route 66 memorabilia. Tickets are $30 in advance, $35 at the door. For information, call (626) 357-3333 or (626) 334-1507. E-mail inquiries to Mary Barrow, barrowhoffman@telis.org.

Sept. 13-16: San Bernardino “Route 66 Rendezvous”

Sponsored by the San Bernardino Convention & Visitors Bureau. Annual street festival and car cruises downtown draw huge crowds--500,000 people and 2,200 registered cruising vehicles last year. Organizers are limiting entries to 2,448 vehicles this year--one for each mile of Route 66. For information and to register a car for the cruises, call (909) 889-3980 or (800) 867-8366; https://www.route-66.org.

Sept. 22: Duarte “Salute to Route 66” Parade

Sponsored by the city of Duarte. Actor Martin Milner, co-star of the 1960s TV series “Route 66,” will be grand marshal. Events include parade, picnic and classic car show. (626) 357-3333.

Nov. 9-11: Needles “75th Anniversary Celebration”

Sponsored by the East Mojave Historic Route 66 Assn. Car show, “poker run” rallies, golf tournament, tours of the Harvey House hotel building, USO show and dance, Veterans Day parade. E-mail inquiries to Elaine Downing, emhr66a@yahoo.com.