Holbrook will host the annual Route 66 Festival and Gunslinger Car Show on Friday and Saturday, June 9 and 10, in the downtown area.
This year the event will start a day early and feature a burnout competition, live music by Triple Play and a Color the Route Dance Party for teens, where they will be showered with colored powder while they dance to music provided by L’n L JAMZ, all on Friday.
On Saturday, Hopi Drive will be blocked off and lined with classic cars for the public to view. The day will feature terrific food, a variety of vendors offering their wares, including Route 66 memorabilia, and a Native American artist marketplace. There will be entertainment featuring Jessie McPherson, Artie Gillespie and Friends, and Rick Lenzi and Roustabout, who will be performing musical impersonations of Elvis and Buddy Holly.
Other festival highlights include a throwback to a favorite with the original Herbie, the Love Bug from the film Herbie Goes to Monte Carlo to be featured at the car show. Other events include a cornhole toss competition, Hot Wheels competition, Get Your Pics scavenger hunt, Native American dancers and Mexican Folkloric dancers.
To help visitors dress the part, makeup artist Sonya Brinkerhoff will provide free vintage hair styling to add to that ‘50s look. Get your look together and she’ll make it complete. There will also be a Min Pin competition for girls.
There will be a beer garden during the festival, the Route 66 Dolls will be on hand to talk to visitors about events in the area and the Harvey Girls will also be in attendance.
As part of the celebration, the Route 66 Relics Tour will take place on Friday. This rare treat features stops at the remains of the numerous trading posts built within Petrified Forest National Park boundaries. This guided tour lasts about four hours and bus transportation is provided. The cost is $20, and includes a sack lunch, water and an ice cream treat at the Painted Desert Inn ice cream shop. Seating is limited, so contact Kathleen Smith at (928) 524-6225 to make reservations.
