First Annual Route 66 Weekend in Lincoln Illinois June 7th thru 9th

 

[May 31, 2019] 

LINCOLN 

The public is invited to the 1st Annual Route 66 Weekend in Lincoln, Illinois from Friday June 7th through Sunday June 9th. This unique all-inclusive community event combines several ongoing activities into the framework of a new major event for the city of Lincoln that will be held annually leading up to the 100th Anniversary of Route 66 in 2026.

Five major components make up this exciting weekend that promises to be fun for the whole family.

1.) Mill 90th Anniversary

The 90th Anniversary Celebration at The Mill Museum on 66 in Lincoln, which opened on the original alignment of Route 66 in Lincoln in 1929. The Mill is now open for its 3rd year as a museum, and has quickly become one of top 20 Route 66 attractions to see in Illinois. The iconic bar and restaurant in its day, now includes an impressive collection of artifacts from The Mill, The Tropics Restaurant, The Pig Hip Restaurant and many other unique artifacts from Lincoln & Logan County and Route 66. Mill & Route 66 t-shirts and souvenirs are available in the gift shop. Admission is free but donations are suggested and needed.

The Mill will be open extended hours during Route 66 Weekend in Lincoln – Friday through Sunday from 9am to 4pm. The weekend event will kickoff with an official ribbon cutting at The Mill on Friday at 9am. The Mill Museum gift shop will have Route 66 Specials along with several participating Lincoln businesses including in the Historic Downtown Lincoln District. A Limited Edition Mill 90th Anniversary T-Shirt will also be available for the anniversary weekend, with proceeds as a fundraiser for The Mill (special thanks to Route 66 T-Shirt expert Marie Fiedler). There is also a Mill Raffle leading up to the big weekend, with the drawing on Sunday June 9th. Raffle items include an authentic Route 66 road sign, 2 Limited Edition Mill 90th Anniversary t-shirts and several gift cards from local businesses – a total of over $500 worth of items. Tickets are $3 each or 6 for $15 and are available at The Mill Museum and Logan County Tourism Bureau.

2.) David G. Clark Mill Library

On Saturday at Noon at The Mill will be the dedication of The David G. Clark Mill Library, with two presentations of “Al Capone & the Route 66 Connection” at Noon and 2pm by David G. Clark himself. David is a Route 66, Chicago and Al Capone historian. He conducts Windy City Road Warrior tours from his home base of Chicago. David has been prolific and generous in his donation of Route 66 magazines and books to The Mill since it opened as a museum in 2017. On display as part of the library is a recently acquired collection of rare materials from the Pig Hip Restaurant & Museum (special thanks to Jude Harms and family). Rare document from The Mill, The Tropics and Lincoln/Logan County will also be featured. Saturday at The Mill is also the official Celebrity Autograph Day – pick up a list at the door and see if you can find them all. An informal gathering of classic cars from Railsplitter Antique Auto Club will gather at The Mill Museum between 11am and 3pm. All classic and sporty vehicles are welcome to come and go during the event. There is no registration fee, but donations are always welcome.

3.) Route 66 Motor Tour passport stops

On Sunday, June 9th, from 9am-10am, The Mill Museum will be one of three Lincoln, IL passport stops for the Route 66 Association of Illinois Motor Tour. The other stops during that same hour will be the World's Largest Covered Wagon and the newly restored Tropics Sign. The public is encouraged to stop out at any of the three locations and greet the Motor Tour participants from all over the state and beyond.

4.) Route 66 Association of Illinois Motor Tour Hall of Fame Banquet

Speaking of the Route 66 Association of Illinois Motor Tour, Logan County Tourism is pleased to welcome back the 30th Annual Route 66 Motor Tour Hall of Fame Banquet, to be held at the Lincoln American Legion on Saturday evening June 8th. This is a $25 per person ticketed event and seating is limited (tickets and information is available on the Route 66 Association of Illinois website located at www.ilassoc.org). President, Cathie Stevanovich will host the event and introduce this year’s inductees into the Hall of Fame. Hall of Fame inductees from Lincoln and Logan County include The Mill, The Tropics, Postville Courthouse, Lewis “Zoo” Barrick, Pig Hip Restaurant and Atlanta Public Library.

In addition to the Hall of Fame presentations, there will be a special video presentation by Geoff Ladd, who received the Route 66 Association of Illinois President's Award in 2013. Also speaking will be Tami Goodrich, representing The Tropics Restaurant.

A delicious supper will be prepared and served by Chef Wendlandt and the wait staff from Lincoln College. Dinner music will be provided by local favorite guitar picker, Danny Tackett. The event, along with the Route 66 Garage Sales held during this same weekend, is expected to bring over 100 hotel room overnights to Lincoln.

5.) Route 66 Garage Sales

This is the 13th year for the Route 66 Garage Sale of Lincoln & Logan County, which began as a fundraiser for The Mill by volunteer and board member Bruce Huskins. The event has evolved and is now operated by Lincoln Printers and features hundreds of garage sales in the city of Lincoln and throughout Logan County. In addition, vendor locations will be at Postville Park and VFW Post 1756 in Lincoln. Maps with all the locations will be available at Lincoln Printers, and there is still time to sign up for your garage sale location or business special to be listed on the official Route 66 Garage Sale map. There is still time to sign up with your garage sale or business special. Contact Lincoln Printers at 217-732- 3121.

Additional goings on for the weekend include the Human Society of Logan County Annual Route 66 Garage Sale in the yellow building at the Logan County Fairgrounds. Preview Night- Thursday, June 6 5pm-7pm $5.00 admission. Sales Dates - 7-9 Friday & Saturday 8:00am-3:00 Sunday 10:00am-1:00pm Free admission.

Sorrento's 50 year anniversary ribbon cut and celebration weekend

On June 7th and 8th, Sorrento's Pizzeria of Downtown Lincoln will be celebrating 50 years of serving pizzas to the Lincoln community. Join Sorrento's that weekend for a very special celebration. They are honored to have been able to serve this community since 1969! A ribbon cutting marking Sorrento’s 50th anniversary will be held at 4pm on Friday, June 7th.

Abe's Carmelcorn year-long anniversary celebration

Abe’s Carmelcorn Shoppe is in the middle of a year-long celebration of 36 years in business in October of this year. The Rainforth family established the business in 1983, and their son, Lance, spear-headed renovations using local companies to complete the project. Abe's will have Route 66 Specials during the big weekend.

BBQ, Brews and Tunes

On Sunday night, June 9th, come check out some tunes and amazing brews during Spirited Republic and Limerick Brewing Company's BBQ, Brews and Tunes from 1-4pm, featuring the acoustic music of Kyle Olsen.

Be sure to also take in Lincoln’s many Abraham Lincoln attractions, which will be open for their regular hours during the weekend, including Postville Courthouse, Lincoln Heritage Museum, Lincoln Christening Scene and the Historic Downtown Walking Tour.

There are in fact many participants in Route 66 Weekend in Lincoln, Illinois. Many businesses will be offering Route 66 Discounts while others are participating in the Route 66 Garage Sales and others have made donations for the Mill Raffle.

Participating Historic Downtown Businesses and Organizations:

• Logan County Tourism Bureau

• Logan County Genealogical & Historical Society

• Lincoln Printers

• Abe’s Carmelcorn Shoppe

• Sir Renna Tea

• Flossie & Delzena’s

• Copper Penny

• Guest House

• Debbie’s Downtown Floral

• Make it Sew

• Alley Bi Saloon

• Mama’s Cafe

• Small Town Creations

• Sorrento’s Pizzeria

• Mary Todd’s Hallmark

• Guzzardo’s

• Spirited Republic

• Lincoln Family Theater

• Neal Tire

Additional Participating Lincoln Businesses and Organizations:

• The Mill Museum on 66 (Route 66 Heritage Foundation of Logan County)

• VFW Post 1756

• Humane Society of Logan County

• American Legion Post 263 (Banquet hosts)

• Lincoln College (Banquet meal and servers)

• Postville Courthouse

• Lincoln Heritage Museum

• PrimaryColours Retro Relics

• Family Video of Lincoln

• Café Billiards

For more information, contact Logan County Tourism Bureau at 217-732-8687 and stay tuned for updates at www.lincolnroute66.com.

[Geoff Ladd
Assistant Director
Illinois Route 66 Scenic Byway]