The City of El Reno, the El Reno Chamber of Commerce and the Route 66 Collaborative are launching a yearlong series of events in celebration of the 2026 Route 66 100th anniversary. 

Labeled the “Route to Freedom: 12 Months of Celebration,” the activity officially begins with the El Reno Chamber of Commerce Veterans Day Parade on Sunday, Nov. 9, marking the 99th birthday of Route 66, which fittingly aligns with the Veterans Day Parade. 

The Route to Freedom series will continue throughout the next year, culminating on Nov. 11, 2026, the 100th birthday of America’s most famous highway.

Route to Freedom celebrates the enduring spirit of the Mother Road ― freedom, exploration and community ― values that echo both the legacy of Route 66 and the service of America’s veterans, said a statement issued by the organizations. 

The second event in the series will be the El Reno Christmas Parade, themed “Christmas Kicks on Route 66,” set for Saturday, Dec. 6 at 6 p.m. in downtown El Reno.

Local organizations, businesses and community groups are encouraged to take part in the centennial celebration. Anyone planning a special event in 2026 or interested in hosting a Route to Freedom event is invited to contact Lyndsay Bayne, Public Information and Marketing Manager, City of El Reno, at lbayne@elrenook.gov.

Bayne said the Route 66 Collaborative is comprised of local leaders and business owners who formed a group to help organize local events geared toward the Route 66 Centennial Celebration. 

She said the group is incorporating existing planned events into the Route to Freedom: 12 Months of Celebration such as the Christmas Parade, Christmas Kicks on Route 66, Burger Day, A Small Town Weekend, the Fourth of July at Lake El Reno, which is also the 250th Independence Day, and more.

“We are also encouraging businesses to host a monthly event in conjunction with the celebrations. Some examples are National Doughnut Day and St. Patrick’s Day,” Bayne said.

The groups are also creating an El Reno Route 66 Challenge where participants will visit a location significant to Route 66 and win a prize when the challenge is complete.

Board members for the Route 66 Collaborative are Brian Rukes, president, Amy Neathery, Lyndsay Bayne, Christine Morton, Eric Hughes, Jason Pennington, Kamara Gatz, Rosalia Pecina, Larry Nance and Gary Baumwart. 

Route 66 has always represented opportunity and adventure, the group said in a prepared statement. Through the Route to Freedom celebration, El Reno will honor that legacy all year long as it looks ahead to the 100th anniversary of the Mother Road.

For Veterans Parade questions, contact Karen Nance at the El Reno Chamber of Commerce, director@elrenochamber.com. For Christmas Parade questions, contact the El Reno Christmas Parade Committee, parade@elrenook.gov.