6-26-26 Jubilee
Friday, June 26, 2026 · 7:00 AM · Macoupin County Courthouse
Huge Celebration to Feature Vintage Cars and Games, Storytelling The excitement is already building for a major festival in Carlinville this June that will celebrate the 100th anniversary of Route 66. The Route 66 Jubilee, which will feature old-fashioned cars, games, costumes, and storytelling, is scheduled for June 26 on the lawn of the Macoupin County courthouse. Planning for the event, one of the more significant small-town Route 66 events during the anniversary, has been going on for two years. Even the date of the event – June 26, 2026 — is significant. Spelled out numerically, the day is 6-26-26 – similar to the Carlinville ZIP code of 62626. “When highway and hometown align only once, we celebrate!” laughed Mary Tinder, a member of the Jubilee Steering Committee that is organizing the event. “We expect this to be a really big deal, with something unique for everyone.” The Jubilee will harken back to the days of Route 66, which rolled through Carlinville from 1926-30 during its original alignment, with old-time games like sack races and kick the can. Storytelling and historical presentations, including local authors, songwriters, and musicians, will add to the flavor of the event. One of the top attractions of the Jubilee will be a display of classic Ford Model A automobiles, which were one of the few cars on Route 66 when it passed through Carlinville. The Model A, which replaced the iconic Model T in Ford Motor Company production, was one of the top-selling cars in the United States during its production from 1927-31, though they are increasingly rare today. A group of Model A collectors from the Missouri Valley Region of the Model A Restorers Club (MRV-MARC) from the St. Louis area will be on hand with their cars at the Jubilee to show off their beautifully restored vehicles. Talks are being scheduled for the public to learn more about automotive and transportation history. “That is really going to be something to see,” said Tinder.