GRANITE CITY — Downtown Granite City is preparing to welcome hundreds of visitors on Saturday, June 6, 2026, as communities along Illinois’ historic Route 66 come together for a regional celebration centered on tourism, local business support, history, and community involvement.
The event, culminating in a downtown Granite City celebration in Civic Park and extending to the Neon Sign Park area, is expected to bring visitors from across Illinois and surrounding states into local restaurants, businesses, attractions, and gathering spaces while showcasing the hospitality and character of communities along the Mother Road.
Throughout the day, participants will travel the final 100 miles of historic Route 66 in Illinois, visiting museums, restaurants, landmarks, roadside attractions, and small businesses in communities that continue to preserve the spirit and history of America’s most famous highway.
But organizers say the goal extends far beyond simply bringing vehicles together.
“This has always been about community, tourism, and celebrating what makes Route 66 special,” said Matthew Walburn, founder and organizer of the Illinois Route 66 Heritage Jeep Run: 100 Miles of History. “We wanted to create something that encourages people to stop in these communities, eat local, explore local history, support businesses, and experience the incredible people and places that make this region special.”
The event was intentionally designed to encourage respectful tourism and spread visitors throughout multiple Route 66 communities, helping avoid overcrowding while highlighting destinations, downtown districts, restaurants, museums, and local attractions.
The day’s activities will conclude in downtown Granite City as participants roll into the city for the Granite City Centennial Celebration, taking place from 5:00 PM to 11:00 PM in Civic Park and extending to the Neon Sign Park area. Residents and visitors alike are encouraged to attend the celebration, which will feature food, community gathering spaces, downtown activity, live entertainment from Case 44, and an evening centered on community pride and Route 66 spirit. Roads between Civic Park and the Neon Sign Park area will be barricaded to provide safe travel between the two celebration areas and create a welcoming, pedestrian-friendly downtown experience. Niedringhaus Avenue will remain open to help maintain normal traffic flow and accessibility through downtown Granite City.
Organizers say the downtown celebration is intended to bring positive visibility and economic activity to Granite City while giving residents an opportunity to welcome visitors traveling the historic corridor.
“We’ve been welcomed by local leaders, tourism partners, businesses, first responders, and communities that understand what bringing people together can mean for local pride and local economies,” Walburn said. “When visitors stop for lunch, shop local, visit attractions, or spend time downtown, communities benefit — and Granite City will be an exciting place to end that journey.”
All proceeds from the event will benefit the Wounded Warrior Project as part of the event’s mission of helping bring warriors all the way home and honoring those who have sacrificed for our country.
“At the heart of this event is community,” Walburn said. “If we can celebrate Route 66, support local communities, and help make a difference for veterans and their families, then we’ve done something truly meaningful.”
At the center of the celebration is a traveling convoy of Jeeps journeying the historic Route 66 corridor — not simply as a ride, organizers say, but as a way to connect communities, celebrate local history, and shine a spotlight on the businesses and destinations that continue to keep Route 66 alive.
The Illinois Route 66 Heritage Jeep Run begins Saturday morning in Litchfield and concludes with the Granite City Centennial Celebration later that evening. Community members are encouraged to come downtown, enjoy the festivities, and help welcome visitors to Granite City.
