The 6th Annual Red Carpet Corridor Festival will be held May 5 & 6, 2012. All along the 90-mile stretch of historic Route 66 - from Joliet to Towanda, IL - there will be a wide variety of events. Each of the 13 towns located along this portion of the "Mother Road" will offer its unique collection of activities associated with the festival.
In Joliet, the Route 66 Visitor's Center at the Joliet Area Historical Museum will be open from 8AM to 5PM on Saturday and noon to 5PM on Sunday. Admission to the Route 66 Experience portion of the Joliet Area Historical Museum will be free during the festival. Discounted rates will be available on these days for RCC attendees desiring to experience the Museum's galleries. Joliet Area Historical Museum is located at 204 N. Ottawa St., Joliet, (815) 723-5201 ext 226.
Saturday in Elwood will be "Are You Elwood?" day. The festival organizers there will be searching for a favorite Blues Brother and calling all Elwoods to the stage at Lloyd Erickson Park. Live & DJ Entertainment all day at Lloyd Erickson Park will be followed by an evening of live Blues entertainment. Bring your roller skates and have a blast from the past at the Bobby Sock Skate at Lloyd Erickson Park. There will be children's activities and food vendors all day long and visitors can cruise the village to see the historic homes of Elwood. On both Saturday and Sunday there will be a special Children's Garden at Lloyd Erickson Park. 815-423-5011.
Wilmington will be encouraging festival travelers to stop and take a photo with the Gemini Giant, Dino the Sinclair Dinosaur, Elvis cutouts and more. A 20-mile bike Red Carpet Ride begins/ends downtown at 9 AM and there will be flea markets, music, Hula & hound contests, cockroach races, RC car racing, and food all day. On Sunday there will be a baby back rib cook-off, morning worship service, a Twinkie decorating contest, children's games and more. 815-476-5991
Braidwood will celebrate the Mother Road with an extended flea market, baked goods, beautiful hanging baskets, craft displays, food, bounce house, a clown on both Saturday and Sunday. The Polk a Dot, member of Rt66 Hall of fame, will be celebrating 25yrs in business. On Saturday only, Braidwood will serve as a stop on the 20 mile Exelon Red Carpet Bike Ride on Rt 66. For more information, call Angie 815-353-3053.
In the village of Godley, Saturday will be highlighted by the Cruisin' Rt 66 Motorcycle Show & Rodeo. Sunday will feature the Cruisin' Car Show, and a Sunrise Breakfast. On both Saturday and Sunday there will be Flea Markets, an Automotive Swap Meet, a Children Pavilion w/ Touch-A-Truck, a bicycle rodeo, a Motorcycle Cowboys Stunt Show, Music, Food, and Entertainment. The Illinois Rt 66 Mining Museum will be open as well.
Braceville will offer festival-goers an opportunity to see the historic town and talk to Alice Creech, historian of Braceville, on Saturday. There will also be fossil displays available for viewing, and great baked goods from the church. Stop by Mazonia State Park for some great scenery. For more information contact the Village of Braceville at 815-237-8655.
Historic Gardner will hold a "Meet & Greet" on both Saturday & Sunday at the diner car & historic jail.
In Dwight on Saturday there will be fun, games, and food, including the 2nd Annual BBQ Cook-off at Bassett Park. On both Saturday & Sunday there will be town-wide garage sales, and open house at the Texaco Welcome Center. Call 815-584-3077 for more information.
In Odell, visitors are encouraged to celebrate historic Route 66 with a visit to the historic 1932 Standard Oil gas station where they will find souvenirs, soda & nostalgia!
Pontiac's Red Carpet Corridor Festival will include the grand opening of a new, special exhibit at the Route 66 Association of Illinois Hall of Fame and Museum. The display, "Remembering the 1940's" will open on Saturday for the first time. Around the downtown area there will be a carnival, an Art Festival, food, and entertainment. Chinese Artist Tang Dongbai will be creating colorful, original art on city sidewalks, and the Pontiac Jolly Trolley will be giving guided tours. On both Saturday and Sunday there will be City-Wide Garage Sales and the Livingston County Humane Society will sponsor a Flea Market at the Old Log Cabin. On Saturday morning only, a Touch-A-Truck event for kids will be held at the Pontiac Rec Center. For more details, call: 815-844-5847.
Chenoa will feature a Saturday Carnival, vendors, live bands and the Chenoa 4th of July Committee's Pork Chops. Sunday will see the Carnival continue as well as a performance by entertainer Anjanel Folkens. Everything is happening at Chenoa Swimming Pool Park -located directly on Old Route 66. 815-945-7779.
Lexington's Saturday events are being held at Mounce Automotive 302 S Spencer on Old 66. The Lexington Vintage Tractor Show will kick off at 8AM on Rt 66 walkway. The Zoo Lady will entertain children from Saturday 10AM.- 3PM. At the entertainment tent Elvis is back in town with Lexington School band and singers, featuring Chris Corkery. On Sunday there will be free Unique Twist Balloons from 10AM to 3PM, and a children's parade at 11AM. All are welcome to join in! Garage sales both days! 309-365-3331.
On both Saturday and Sunday in Towanda there will be a Flea market, area garage sales, antiques, food, entertainment and Route 66 memorabilia at the North Park. On Sunday only, a car show will be held on old Route 66. The Cattle Bandits Band will play at 1PM at North Park. Come visit for 2 days of family fun, and check out Schenk's Route 66 Garage! For information on Towanda's festival call 309-728-2169.
This year's Festival Collectable will be a set of decorative keys. Each of the thirteen towns along the Red Carpet Corridor will have a limited number of its own "key to the city" which they will give to Red Carpet Corridor Festival travelers. By stopping at each of the towns and collecting all 13 keys, the traveling festival attendee will be awarded a special commemorative key chain to hold the keys. Supplies of the keys are very limited and will be distributed only in person on a first-come, first-served basis. No telephone, mail, or email requests please.
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