The Route 66 Centennial is the party you don’t want to miss! Now with spring on the horizon, things are really going to start heating up. March signals the beginning of road trip season. Here’s everything you need to know about Mother Road happenings, courtesy of the Historic Route 66 Association of Arizona. At least for the first half of 2026, the Association will continue to send out supplemental newsletters each and every month to keep travelers informed.
I’m Roger Naylor, Arizona author and travel writer, and it’s my privilege to pen these monthly newsletters that we hope will inform and entertain. Please remember, you can find all Centennial information and events on the Association website.
Flagstaff recently finished installing 36 signs across the city’s nearly 14-mile stretch of Route 66 commemorating the Centennial, ensuring visitors are aware of the historic milestone.
Flagstaff’s signs use the winged logo also found painted on the asphalt at their Visitor Center at 1 E. Route 66, a popular photo spot in the heart of downtown.
Each of the new signs is four feet wide and hung from light poles across the city, with east- and west-facing imagery at 18 locations. The city will keep the signs up for 18 months, adding to the buzz around the Centennial.
Good news for travelers! With winter winding down, a couple of beloved businesses have reopened for the season. After a brief winter nap, the Poozeum in Williams is once again flashing around its expansive collection of fossilized dinosaur doo-doo and related gift items. And Delgadillo’s Snow Cap Drive In, a Seligman treasure, is shaking shakes and grilling cheeseburgers with cheese once again. They say that robins are the heralds of spring. But on Arizona’s Route 66, it’s the dead chickens at the Snow Cap.
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Here’s your chance to be part of an inaugural event. The Topock 66 First Annual Car Show will be held on March 7. Celebrate 100 years of Route 66 in this peaceful community on the banks of the Colorado River, where, chances are, the weather will be idyllic. A live band will be rocking, food trucks and vendors will be on hand, there will be a 50/50 raffle, and of course, prizes and awards will be handed out for some gorgeous hunks of automotive machinery. Attendees will also receive hotel discounts.
Topock 66 serves as the perfect anchor for Arizona’s western edge of the Mother Road. It features a motel, restaurant, swimming pool, party patio, marina, fuel dock, launch ramp, boat rentals, and river store. What else could you possibly need? The March 7 car show will take place from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
March is also the month that kicks off Steam Saturdays at Grand Canyon Railway. From here on out Steam Saturdays take place the first Saturday of every month through October, along with a few additional special days mixed in. Trains depart from Williams and travel to the South Rim of the Grand Canyon. Steam train dates this month are March 7 and March 26. Steam locomotives can be a rare sight in the 21st Century. This is the most authentic, historic, and romantic way to ride the rails. Yet these steam trains feature one very modern and environmentally friendly twist.
Grand Canyon Railway has modified two engines, No. 4960 and No. 29, so that they run using carbon-neutral recycled vegetable oil as fuel. Their work in reducing greenhouse gas emissions and air pollutants associated with steam locomotives, has won the Grand Canyon Railway numerous awards and accolades. Be sure to check the website for more information and to book your tickets. All aboard!
We all know that Angel Delgadillo is a legitimate force of nature. He’s a whirlwind of a man, and one of many, many talents. There really doesn’t seem to be anything he can’t do once he puts his mind to it. So, it should come as no surprise that he wrote a book. And this is no ordinary book, it’s his memoirs. The Road to Happiness: My Life on and for Route 66 by Angel Delgadillo is now a paperback book and should be considered essential reading for anyone with an interest in either the Mother Road or happiness. Because Angel is an expert in both of those particular fields.
This is the life story we all need to hear. Few individuals have made such a profound impact on so many people in such a positive way. Here’s your chance to learn more about this remarkable man, his thoughts, and his life lessons. Grab a copy of The Road to Happiness: My Life on and for Route 66, or better yet several copies to hand out to friends and family, from Angel and Vilma’s Original Route 66 Gift Shop in Seligman.
As the Birthplace of Historic Route 66, Seligman has planned their own special day to celebrate the Route 66 Centennial. It will take place on Thursday April 30. Why on a Thursday, you ask. Because that particular Thursday happens to be the eve of another epic blowout, Route 66 Fun Run.
April 30 is designed to be a great daylong party in the town where history was made. Here are just a few of the highlights to expect.
10 a.m.: Opening ceremony in Seligman Park.
11 a.m. to 1 p.m.: Route 66 book signings starring Angel Delgadillo (and I’ll be hanging out, too).
11 a.m. to 2 p.m.: DJ and vendors at Seligman Park.
Noon to 5 p.m.: Food trucks serving on Route 66.
2 p.m. to 5 p.m.: Party time! Live music, dancing, food trucks, and a Mother Road Brewery booth, all on the original alignment of Route 66.
5 p.m.: Angel Delgadillo receives a proclamation from Yavapai County Supervisor Chris Kuknyo.
Make your plans to attend now! And check the website for the full schedule of events.
This seems like the perfect place for this important reminder. The Centennial edition of Route 66 Fun Run kicks off the very next day after the Seligman festivities! This is your chance to be part of history. Fun Run will take place from May 1-3. Friday May 1 is registration day, with hundreds of vehicles pulling into town, rumbling up and down the boulevard, and capped by an impressive evening cruise. On Saturday May 2, the colorful caravan pulls out of Seligman and travels the longest intact stretch of Route 66, with festivities at every stop. All are welcome to ride along but for those that want to register for the car show in Kingman, you can do so on the Association website. Remember, this is a fundraising event with the proceeds going back into the Route 66 community. It finishes up on Sunday May 3 in Topock, on Arizona’s West Coast at the edge of the Colorado River. Sign up today!
The Fun Run is growing! This year, Flagstaff is joining the fun with their Centennial Car Show and Weenie Walk on Tuesday, April 28th! Local businesses offering Route 66 specials for $0.66 or $6.60. From 4pm to 8pm, cruise Downtown Flagstaff, enjoy the classic cars, and support the local businesses!
Arizona’s second oldest bowling alley has been keeping Flagstaff residents entertained since 1957. It’s always been a great community gathering spot, owned by local families. Ron and Karen Getto are the fourth owners. While the interiors have been well maintained through the years, now the exterior is slated to receive a sweet vintage makeover, aided by a cost share grant from the Historic Route 66 Association of Arizona.
The Gettos are restoring authentic period signage that feature the words COCKTAILS SNACK BAR above the portico. The signs were clearly visible in old postcards of the original business but somehow, were removed years ago. Starlite has always been known for some pretty tasty grub and a full bar so it will nice to see that stylish display again. YESCO is the sign company that will be doing the fabrication and installation. Once the city approves the design—and how can they not? —it will take 11 to 14 weeks to complete the job. Be sure to stop by Starlite Lanes next time you’re in the area to roll a few games, and sample the food and drink.
There’s also a new addition to the Flagstaff entertainment scene. The Porch is a restaurant and sports bar known for their elevated pub menu and relaxed retro vibe. They already have three of the establishments thriving in the Phoenix area so these are folks that know what they’re doing. Each has carved out a niche as a great neighborhood hangout spot. They mix a mean cocktail and are also known for spacious patios full of yard games. That will be a welcome addition to the mountain town of Flag as the weather warms up. No one wants to stay inside on a balmy summer day. Plus, they’ve got an exciting lineup of burgers I’m anxious to try. The Porch is located at 360 W. Forest Meadows.
Even though my book, Arizona Route 66 Road Trip has only been out for a few months, here comes the next one. Now out on the shelves is Arizona Boots and Burgers: A Guide for Hungry Hikers. This is my love letter to Arizona disguised as a hiking and dining guide. It features 70 trails and 70 eateries, including ones in Flagstaff, Williams, Ash Fork, Seligman, and Kingman. Along with dozens of mouthwatering burgers, I highlight some great hot dogs, barbecue, tacos, burritos, and pizza—with vegetarian options at each location.
You can find both Arizona Route 66 Road Trip and Arizona Boots and Burgers: A Guide for Hungry Hikers in stores across the state. They are also available on Amazon, and signed copies may be purchased through my website.
Well, that’s it for now. Embrace this historic year and head out for many Route 66 Arizona adventures.
If you have items of interest you’d like to share in upcoming newsletters, you can email them to me, Roger Naylor, at [email protected], or to Nikki Terlesky, Director of Operations at Historic Route 66 Association of Arizona, at [email protected].
Thanks for being part of the Route 66 family. Happy motoring! 🚗💨