Few roads are as deeply woven into the story of American travel as Route 66. When the highway was officially designated in 1926, it connected hundreds of communities across the country, creating new routes for commerce, migration, and tourism and helping transform the American West.
A century later, the Mother Road is getting a year-long celebration across the country! And here in SoCal, Barstow is marking the centennial with one of its biggest Route 66 weekends yet: the 27th Annual Main Street USA Festival & Car Show, taking over Historic Harvey House and Downtown Main Street.
What to expect at the Main Street USA Festival
The free, two-day celebration will bring thousands of travelers, car enthusiasts and locals to Barstow for a packed weekend of Route 66 history, cars, entertainment and community.
The event kicks off on Friday, October 9, with the National Miss Route 66 Pageant at the Historic Harvey House at 4 p.m. Later that evening, from 6 to 9 p.m., guests can enjoy dinner and dancing, a Route 66 Museum tour, a silent auction and an evening celebrating the stories and legends of the Mother Road. There will also be a live production of John Steinbeck’s The Grapes of Wrath, whose story follows a family traveling west along Route 66 during the Great Depression.
Then on Saturday, October 10, the festival moves to Downtown Main Street from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. for the main celebration, which will include:
- 🚗 Classic, modern and OHV car displays celebrating the road’s automotive legacy.
- 🎶 Live music and entertainment, including a performance by local singer Ryan Bodine.
- 🍔 Food, drinks and local vendors, plus a beer garden.
- 🎨 Art, culture and family-friendly activities.
- 🎯 Kids’ Zone with activities for younger visitors.
- 💃 Pin-up contest.
- 🏜️ Main Street experiences and Route 66 commemoratives.
- 🏆 A special appearance by Max Eddy Jr., a two-time Dakar Rally Champion.
A brief history of Route 66
Route 66 was officially designated in 1926, connecting Chicago with Los Angeles across eight states. The iconic highway linked small towns with major cities, fueling tourism, commerce and migration while becoming a defining route during the Dust Bowl and the rise of the American road trip.
Although Route 66 was decommissioned in 1985, its legacy lives on through historic road segments, roadside attractions, museums and communities like Barstow that continue to celebrate the Mother Road.
