Festival 66 set for June 9-10

Edwardsville's City Park will once again be the place to go for great food, exciting entertainment, a walk or cruise down memory lane, and family fun on Friday, June 9 and Saturday, June 10, when the 10th Annual Festival 66 returns to the park.

Festival 66 is organized and hosted by the Edwardsville/Glen Carbon Chamber of Commerce and a group of dedicated volunteers.

Events and booths are sponsored by chamber members, local businesses, service organizations and the city of Edwardsville. The Festival recognizes and commemorates historic Route 66 as it passes through the city, and all those who drove the route in its heyday.

The Festival begins on Friday 4 p.m. with entertainment throughout the afternoon and evening, food and beverage vendors will be open for business so nobody has to go hungry or thirsty.

Young children will have a larger play area and activities that include educational and hands-on experiences. The play area will open on Friday at 4 p.m. and re-open on Saturday morning at 11 a.m.

Collectors of fine art also will find items of interest at Festival 66 in the "Road Flair Art Fair." Shoppers can pick up hand-crafted gifts or browse for "newest" regional art.

The art fair, food vendors, beverage vendors and children's play area will open for business on Saturday morning at 11 a.m.

The ever-popular "Route 66 Talent Showcase" moves into the spotlight at noon.

Dog demonstrations also will return to Festival 66 this year so get "Spot" and "Molly" groomed and ready to watch Jo Ida show time.

A new program that will be added this year is the Poker Run. This is a fun and exciting event that will be offered from 3-6 p.m. Participants will travel to five different locations throughout the city including Crushed Grapes, Dairy Queen, Auto Tire, and Royal Office Supplies.

At each location, a playing card will be given. At the fith and final location, the Festival, the cards will be handed in. The best poker hand wins.

For everyone's enjoyment the car cruise leaves Lincoln Middle School at 7 p.m., travels down West St. and St. Louis Street and will cruise around City Park.

The evening will end with a Cruise Night located on N. Kansas St. located across from the Edwardsville Post Office, just one block north of the Festival.

The musical lineup for the Saturday should appeal to young and old, and all those in between. Be sure to bring your dancing shoes along with the lawn chairs.

Plan on two fun-filled days of music, games, food, cool cars, more food, beverages, classic cars, crafts, even more food and friends at the 10th Annual Festival 66 in City Park.

Anyone wishing to volunteer to help throughout the two-day event can call the Chamber of Commerce office at 656-7600.