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Five communities have been designated Official Satellite City status for the Route 66 Centennial Kick-Off on April 30, 2026. The five satellite cities will join the live, online media event combined with Route 66 Centennial Kick-Off celebrations in Springfield, Missouri, the Official Host City. The five Official Satellite Cities include Joliet, Illinois; St. Louis, Missouri; Amarillo, Texas; Albuquerque, New Mexico; and Santa Monica, California. The five Official Satellite Cities were selected through an RFP process to promote themselves and attract visitors to their Route 66 Centennial Kick-Off events and activities. Joliet, Illinois Joliet will host its satellite city celebration at the historic 1858 Old Joliet Prison Site. Joliet Area Historical Museum chief executive officer Greg Peerbolte said, "The 'Joliet' in Joliet Jake, was made famous in The Blues Brothers and Prison Break movies and was known for many years as 'America's Toughest Prison.’ The property is now an economic development engine and community gathering space, welcoming nearly 100,000 visitors since the project's inception.” St. Louis, Missouri St. Louis will celebrate a century of the Mother Road with concerts, car displays, a 6.6-mile bike ride, documentary screenings, presentations, and family activities. Amarillo, Texas Amarillo's iconic 6th Street will feature archived photos, recordings, and Route 66 memorabilia during its kick-off event by day. At night, festivities will explore the evolution of Route 66 and Amarillo's role in shaping American travel. The city is also planning the installation of a commemorative monument in Amarillo's Historic Route 66 District. Amarillo, Texas, executive director Kashion Smith said the city is classic Texas: cowboy boots, wide-open skies, and friendly, down-to-earth people. "But there's more beneath the surface. Discover the awe-inspiring beauty of Palo Duro Canyon, the retro charm and local flavor along Amarillo's Historic Route 66 District, and a community proud to preserve and promote its Route 66 heritage." Albuquerque, New Mexico Albuquerque's celebrations will feature music events downtown at the historic KiMo theatre, incorporating the nearby crossroads at 4th and Central, where the original and then final Route 66 crossed. The city will also feature an art-fueled road trip, which will have four stops within a two-block radius of the KiMo. Santa Monica, California Santa Monica will host its kick-off ceremony at Mel's Diner on Lincoln Boulevard, featuring live performances by California musicians. Santa Monica travel and tourism president and chief executive officer Misti Kerns said Route 66 holds a significant place in Santa Monica's history. "As the 'End of the Trail' for Route 66, Santa Monica became emblematic of the American Dream and the promise of the open road. The highway officially concluded at the intersection of Olympic Boulevard and Lincoln Boulevard, near the Pacific Ocean. This final stretch of Route 66 represented the culmination of countless journeys across the United States, embodying the spirit of adventure and exploration that defined an era." The virtual Route 66 Centennial Kick-Off will feature a Centennial Kick-Off concert with a-list entertainment in Springfield, Missouri, a two-hour simulcast of the live-streamed event worldwide, and cut-ins during the simulcast from each Official Satellite City. Satellite Cities will also benefit from recognition on the Route 66 Centennial website and in all publicity for the Route 66 Centennial Kick-Off event. Bill Thomas, chairman of Route 66 Road Ahead Partnership, said, "We are so excited for our Official Satellite Cities to join Springfield, Missouri, the Official Host City, in kicking off our year-long celebration."  The Route 66 Road Ahead Partnership is a national nonprofit dedicated to revitalizing and sustaining Route 66 as a national icon and international destination. It is responsible for the Route 66 Centennial website, a key component of the Route 66 Centennial Communications Plan recommended by the Route 66 Centennial Commission. The website focuses on Route 66 preservation success stories and spotlights future needs.
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