Gathering Place Kicks Off Route 66 Centennial Celebration

Gathering Place will join the Route 66 Centennial celebration with a lineup of experiences honoring the history, culture, nostalgia, and spirit of adventure that define the Mother Road. Running through November, the celebration will feature immersive art installations, themed fitness classes, family-focused programming, and the park’s signature summer festival.

“The Route 66 Centennial is an opportunity for people from across the country and around the world to connect with Tulsa through the legacy of the Mother Road,” said Julio Badin, Executive Director of Gathering Place. “As the Capital of Route 66, Tulsa has a unique story to tell, and Gathering Place is proud to serve as a key destination for celebrating that legacy, working alongside partners across the city to bring it to life through a free festival, immersive art, and experiences that highlight the nostalgia, culture, and sense of adventure that make Route 66 an enduring American icon.”

At the center of the park’s celebration is the Route 66 Festival: Tales of the Mother Road, a free, all-day festival taking place Saturday, July 18, from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., sponsored by the Public Service Company of Oklahoma Foundation. Designed to transport guests on a journey across America’s most famous highway, the festival will transform Gathering Place into an immersive celebration of Route 66 culture, history, and community.

Festival programming will feature live music and performances, cultural demonstrations, themed activities, authentic food, and interactive storytelling inspired by the people, traditions, landmarks, states, and roadside attractions that define the historic route. Experiences throughout the festival will explore Route 66 through the lenses of nature, art, science, transportation, history, geology, space, and more, offering guests a fresh way to experience the historic highway. Additional festival details, including the evening’s headlining performance, will be announced soon. Those interested are encouraged to learn more and claim their free ticket on Eventbrite.

Surrounding the festival, Gathering Place will host a variety of themed programs and experiences across the park, including:

• Route 66-inspired fitness classes, including Western swing dance on Wednesdays in May at 6 p.m. and line dancing on Wednesdays in September and October at 6 p.m.
• Road trip-themed films during Cox Movie Night, including A Goofy Movie on May 22, Cars 20th Anniversary on June 12, and Toy Story 4 on September 11, accompanied by interactive pre-show activities.
• Lifesize sand sculptures at Willow Beach from June 25-28, featuring detailed scenes inspired by the iconic Mother Road, available daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• The “Get Your Kicks!” Shoe Art Competition from June 25-July 18, featuring Route 66-inspired sneaker designs created by local artists, with public voting leading up to the Route 66 Festival.
• Exclusive curated Route 66-themed experiences available for purchase in August.

Art in the park will also play a central role in the centennial celebration. Near ONEOK Boathouse and QuikTrip Great Lawn, guests can explore larger-than-life recreations and interactive installations inspired by classic roadside attractions. Installations include oversized Adirondack chairs, Canoe Ranch (Gathering Place’s creative interpretation of Cadillac Ranch), a retro diner experience, a 10-foot-tall neon Muffler Man, and more. Inside ONEOK Boathouse, guests can explore an exhibit highlighting Tulsa’s identity as the Capital of Route 66. Art installations and exhibits will remain on view through mid-November.

Throughout the season, Gathering Place will also bring the centennial to life through a unified digital storytelling and in-park experience theme: Neon, Nature, and Nostalgia. The storytelling experience began this spring with cherry blossoms glowing neon. During the summer months, Gathering Place will highlight the roadside wonders of Route 66 through seasonal blooms, wildflowers, living landscapes, and ecological experiences that reflect the scenic beauty travelers encounter along the Route. In the fall, pollinator-inspired experiences will draw connections between the journeys of pollinators and the spirit of Route 66 road trips, encouraging exploration, curiosity, and environmental awareness.

Many Route 66 Centennial programs and events at Gathering Place are free and open to the public. For more information, visit the website or follow Gathering Place on Instagram and Facebook.