I think this will end up being the longest, most extensive post I've ever done and the first I've done "live on location" from the Route 66 100 year birthday Festival in HOT AS HELL Amarillo, Texas.
But if the time we're having (a blast, apart from feeling like we're melting) is any indication, you might want to take the time to read this whole post.
We highly recommend the annual Route 66 Festival if you're into fun family trips.
The festival runs from June 4th to June 13th. Before it disappears, I'm going to post the entire schedule so you can see what the Festival offers.
Thursday, June 4, 2026
● Coors Ranch Rodeo | Amarillo National Center (Amarillo Tri-State Fairgrounds | 7-10 PM
● Rombauer Vineyard Wine Dinner | Toscana Italian Steakhouse | 6:30 PM
● Cars at the Cove | Cactus Cove Inn | 6:00 PM - 10:00 PM
● First Thursday on 6th Street | Amarillo Route 66 Historic District | 5:00 PM - 9:00 PM
● Your Next Stop, Art Cafe | STOEX Design Gallery | 5 PM - 9 PM
● Route 66 Kick Off Night | Hodgetown Stadium | 7:05 PM
● Paint the Pavement: Retro Revue on Route 66 | Idol Art Studio | 7:30 PM
● Yellow City Comedy Open Mic | Bliss 66 | 8:30 PM - 9:30 PM
Friday, June 5, 2026
● Celebrating 100 Years of Route 66 | The Shops at Wolflin Square | 10 AM - 4 PM
● TX 66 Celebrity Fast Draw Shoot Out | Tri-State Exposition - Rex Baxter Building | 3-4 PM
● Route 66 Grand Prix | Amarillo Motor Sports Park | 4 - 9 PM
● Texas Panhandle Quilters Guild Route 66 Exhibition | Arts in the Sunset | 5-9 PM
● Date Night on Route 66 | STOEX Design Gallery | 5 - 9 PM
● Route 66 Centennial Fireworks Celebration | Hodgetown | 7:05 PM
● Live Music at Smokey Joe’s: Geezers Gone Wild | Smokey Joe’s | 8-11 PM
Saturday, June 6
● Coors Cowboy Club Cattle Drive & Parade | Downtown Amarillo (Parade begins at 10th & Polk) | 10 AM
● Breakfast Rustle-Up: Coffee at the Cattle Drive | Courtyard Marriott Downtown | 7 AM - 12 PM
● Cornhole Kicks on 66 |Senior Citizen 55+ Club Parking Lot | 11 AM - 6 PM
● Route 66 Rally | Amarillo Netplex | 10 AM - 6 PM
● Route 66 Trains, Planes, and Automobiles | 10 AM - 4 PM
● Spirits on 66 | Bomb City Distillery | 6 PM - 12 AM
● Route 66 Night at the Speedway | The Route 66 Motor Speedway | 7 PM
● Live Music at Smokey Joe’s | Smokey Joe’s | 8 PM - 12 AM
Sunday, June 7, 2026
● The Jericho Gap 5k/10k Fun Run or Walk | The Jericho Gap | 9 AM - 1:00 PM
● Live Music at Smokey Joe’s: Ace Rodriguez | Smokey Joe’s | 3 - 6 PM
● Lowrider Cruise on Old Route 66 | 600 E Amarillo Blvd | 6 - 8 PM
Monday, June 8, 2026
● Amarillo Film Society Screening: Samantha Brown’s Places to Love | Doors 6 PM
● Live Music at Smokey Joe’s: Gabe Martinez | Smokey Joe’s | 6 PM - 9 PM
Tuesday, June 9, 2026
● Live Music at Smokey Joe’s: Ace & Stace | Smokey Joe’s | 6 - 9 PM
● June Jazz | Amarillo College Clocktower | 7 PM - 9 PM
Wednesday, June 10, 2026
● Texas 66 West Bus Tour | Tour West Texas Route 66 (Meet at 1000. S Polk) | 8 AM - 5 PM
● High Noon on the Square | Potter County Courthouse Lawn | 12 - 1 PM
● Live Music at Smokey Joe’s: Solano Project | Smokey Joe’s | 6 - 9 PM
● Live Music at Mama Jo’s | Mama Jo’s (Vega, TX) | 6 - 8 PM
● Big Texan Soiree | Big Texan Steak Ranch & Brewery | 6 - 8 PM
● Truckin’ on Route 66 with St. Andrew’s | St. Andrew’s Episcopal |6 - 8 PM
Thursday, June 11, 2026
● Route 66 Drive to the Green at the Occunet Classic | Tascosa Golf Club | Sunrise - Sunset
● The Great American Roadsite Rally at the Dream Maker Station |307 West Historic Route 66 | Adrian, TX | 8 AM - 1:15 PM
● Texas 66 East Bus Tour | Tour East Texas Route 66 (Meet at 1000 S. Polk St) | 8 AM - 5 PM
● Tin Can Tourists Route 66 Centennial Rally Parade | Downtown Amarillo - Big Texan RV Park | 2:30 PM
● Route 66 Mixology Class | Paramount Recreation Club | 5:30 - 7:30 PM
● Live Music at Smokey Joe’s: Richie Dorman Band | Smokey Joe’s| 6-9 PM
● Rockin OT Centennial Car Show & Karaoke Night|Old Tascosa Brewery | 7-9 PM
● TEXAS Outdoor Musical Opening Night | Pioneer Amphitheater Palo Duro Canyon | 8 - 10 PM
● Yellow City Open Mic Comedy Finale | Bliss 66 | 8:30 PM - 11:30 PM
Friday, June 12, 2026
● A Step Back in Time at the Tascosa Drive-In | Tascosa Drive-In | Begins at Sunset
● Tin Can Tourist Route 66 Centennial Rally Open House | Big Texan RV Park | 11 AM - 1PM
● Texas Route 66 Vintage RV Show | Texas Travel Information Center | 1:30 - 4:30 PM ● En Route to the Courtyard: A Centennial Celebration | Courtyard Marriott Downtown
● DHDC Summer Flicks: Cars | Don Harrington Discovery Center | 5 PM
● Main Street: The Lost Dream of Route 66, The Photography of Edward Keating Exhibition and Talk | Amarillo Museum of Art | 6:30 PM - 8:30 PM
● Giddy Up Go Live | Goldenlight Cantina | 8 PM
● Live Music at Smokey Joe’s: The Obvious Few | Smokey Joe’s | 8 - 11 PM
● 66 Stories from Route 66 Mural Unveiling | Texas Route 66 Visitors Center |6-8 PM
Saturday, June 13, 2026
• Texas Route 66 Festival Finale Sponsored by Amarillo National Bank | Amarillo Route 66 Historic District | 11 AM – 6 PM
As you can see, there's a whole lot to cover! No, I'm not going to cover every single event, just the ones we attended.
An Introduction to Amarillo
Amarillo grew from a small town to a big sprawling metropolis so you'll definitely need a car to get around.
If you're not driving your own vehicle: Rent a car in Amarillo
We had the Beast so needed an RV park. There were 3 top contenders, all with good reviews but two of them were more like concrete parking lots so we opted for The Big Texan RV Ranch.
Premium sites were only $10 more per night than regular sites so we went with the premium site that had trees on either side of it, full hookups, extra long 90 ft. pull throughs, concrete pads, a 15x7 patio with new picnic table. It's conveniently located right off I-40, close to all the action. Free limo shuttle ride to the Big Texan Steak Ranch from 4pm – 9pm.
They also have cabins and Conestoga wagons for rent.
The amenities were fantastic, the park had anything you could possibly want.
If you're not in the market for an RV park...
Stay in Amarillo and make the heart of Texas Route 66 your home base. With more than 7,500 hotel rooms ranging from trusted national brands to locally loved stays, you will find the right fit for your road trip style and budget.
Amarillo puts you minutes from Historic Sixth Avenue, easy access to Interstate 40, and a straight shot to Festival events happening across the Panhandle.
Visit this Amarillo website to see all of the accommodations in Amarillo.
Recommendations from locals:
This duplex on historic Route 66 gets rave reviews from past guests
This stunning ranch home is just 10 minutes from town and sleeps 8 people
Top Campgrounds in Amarillo, Texas
WARNING: You do not want to be camping in anything that isn't air conditioned! Right now there's a heat warning issued and the temperature is 108 degrees F. You will feel like you walked into an oven in Amarillo and temperatures have been in the high 90's or above since we've been here.
They say that if you wear out a single pair of boots here, you’ll never want to leave. With all the things to do in Amarillo, you’ll wear them out pretty fast.
It's not just a saying...we've already been to the leather shop to buy Jay a new pair of cowboy boors.
And were it not for the godawful heat and humidity we may have actually considered staying in Amarillo!
.jpg)
.png)
We arrived a day early (June 3rd) in Amarillo in order to get the choice RV park spot we did as well as rest up from the 984 mile drive and hopefully, beat at least a few of the Festival goers to Amarillo.
Doing so gave us a day's jump on exploring the Route 66 section of Amarillo, where much of the Festival would be taking place.
I have to admit we were a bit tenuous after reading visitor reviews saying it wasn't worth visiting. However, we didn't find that to be the case.
I think one has to approach Route 66 with the perspective of what it really is - a multi state restoration project of buildings that have sat vacant and neglected for decades...and that no one can be expected to renovate 2.448 miles of future roadside attractions to their former glory days overnight. Including many of the ghost towns that currently line Route 66. Kudos to the younger generations attempting this, who didn't live through the glory days of Route 66 like we did, so never truly experienced what Route 66 was before it was decommissioned in 1985.
So yes, there are stretches of Route 66 that look like this...
But if one takes the time to get to know the history behind even these decrepit places you'll enjoy Route 66.
Some buildings you might want to check out along the Amarillo stretch of Route 66:
-
Cadillac Ranch (We'll cover this later)
-
Historic 6th Street District (SW 6th Avenue): Mile‑long stretch of antique shops, art studios, boutiques, cafés, and retro diners.
-
The Natatorium (“The Nat”): Once an indoor swimming pool, now a large antique mall.
-
The Big Texan Steak Ranch & Brewery: A classic Route 66 dining stop with Western flair, famous for its 72‑oz steak challenge. (We'll cover this later too)
-
GoldenLight Café & Cantina: Oldest continuously operating restaurant on Route 66 in Amarillo. (Covered later)
-
2nd Amendment Cowboy – Giant cowboy statue near Cadillac Ranch.
-
Slug Bug Ranch – Half‑buried VW Beetles covered in graffiti.
-
Texas Route 66 Visitor Center – Maps, memorabilia, and travel tips. (Covered later)
June 3rd - Wednesday
Texas Route 66 Visitor Center
1900 6th Ave., Amarillo Phone 806-310-9503
If we're visiting a destination for the first time our first stop is normally that location's Visitor Center.
The people at the Amarillo Visitor Center couldn't have been nicer. They gave us the lowdown on everything we were interested in - information we wouldn't have known otherwise. We also picked up some maps.
Note: You're going to want to pick up some maps as Route 66 was decommissioned in 1985 so only appears on paper road maps!
You can't count on your GPS!
The interior of the Visitor Center was pretty unique to explore as well!
The festival didn't officially kick off until the 4th but High Noon on the Square was held from noon to 1 pm at the Potter County Courthouse on June 3rd.
Free outdoor concert with lunch. Lunch is $12.00 but you are welcome to bring your own. We met some very nice locals who gave us the scoop on everything we wanted to see and do in Amarillo.
Amarillo Scavenger Hunts
An entertaining way to get to know Amarillo is through one of its several scavenger hunts. It's also a good way for we Northerners to acclimate our way into the Texas heat and humidity! (Thank heavens for splash pads!)
Amarillo has some great scavenger hunts that really teach you about the city. Not only do you find items as you do in a typical scavenger hunt, but the hunt includes trivia questions about Amarillo. You and your team score points for each correct answer and the items found.
We chose Operation City Quest's scavenger hunt as we got 50% off our tickets in a flash sale so only paid $20 for the both of us. (use code SAVE50 at checkout!)
The company also offers different versions of the hunt - date night, birthday, bachelorette, etc.
We had a great time and a crack team. The hunt was made even more interesting in that several of Amarillo's businesses offer small promotional-type prizes when you visit them during the scavenger hunt - a bonus.
The hunt lasted 2 hours and covered 2 miles of walking. Nor are you committed to a specific date and time. Once you have your ticket you can show up and play whenever you want.
(And if you start getting heatstroke you can drop out any time...)
There's also a kind of DIY scavenger hunt you and the kids can do while exploring Amarillo. Find all the painted horse statues you'll see around Amarillo, especially downtown.
Hoof Prints is a community-wide public art display celebrating the history and the spirit of the American Quarter Horse. With dozens of life-size horses around town, there is art from local artists everywhere. Each horse is sponsored by a local business, so take a “Hoof Prints Tour” of the city to see all of the beautiful horses. They even have their own website!
Each of these horses have their own name and there's over 90 of them to find!
Evening: Dinner at the Big Texan Steak Ranch. 7701 E I-40 Amarillo.
The infamous 72 ounce steak challenge
Dinner at the Big Texan Steak Ranch isn't about the quality of the food. (No matter how you order your steak it comes out well done.)
It's about the atmosphere, decor and notorious 72 ounce Steak Challenge.
Eat a 72 ounce steak, salad, rolls, shrimp cocktail, and potato within an hour's time to get your meal for free. If not, cough up $72 for your meal.
Since it's beginning in 1960 and as of the end of 2025, 99,208 customers have attempted the challenge. Only 12% or 10,631 patrons have successfully completed the challenge.
(We talked to one Texan who attempted it years ago and he said he hasn't been able to even look at a steak since without getting nauseous. LOL)
Even if there's no one attempting the steak challenge while you're there the Big Texan Steak Ranch is a fun place to go. They have an awesome indoor shooting gallery decorated like an old West town!
.jpg)
The Big Texan also features a unique gift shop full of souvenirs (including a live rattlesnake), from cowboy hats to Texas-themed memorabilia.
Live music performances often entertain diners, enhancing the fun dining experience. The friendly staff is always there to ensure you have a great time, whether you’re taking on the steak challenge or simply enjoying a hearty meal. The restaurant itself is a lively atmosphere, making it ideal for family gatherings.
In the evening go next door to the Starlight Ranch Event Center to enjoy live music under the stars. It serves as a venue for concerts, festivals, and fun events throughout the year.
In the evenings, the ranch often hosts concerts featuring both local and national artists. These performances create an energetic vibe where music lovers can gather and enjoy great entertainment.
During the day families can participate in many daytime activities - outdoor games, picnics, and delicious food vendors.
.png)
June 4th - Thursday
June 4th officially kicked off the Route 66 Festival. All of the day's events we were interested in were scheduled for the evening hours so we did some sightseeing.
You want to get your tickets and make any reservations needed well in advance because people from not only all over Texas but all over the country come to this Festival.
Admission to the Festival:
-
Adults 15+ $30.00
-
Children Ages 7–14 $20.00
-
Ages 6 & Under Free
Your admission to the Festival includes:
Meal Served: 5:00 PM – 6:30 PM inside the Commercial Exhibits Hall
(free with ticket).
-
ANC Doors Open: 6:00 PM
-
Rodeo Begins: 7:00 PM
-
Coors Banquet Bar Opens Outdoors: 9:00 PM
Morning: Breakfast at the Girasol Cafe.
3201 Coulter St S, Amarillo,
This is a great spot for breakfast and lunch options.
Another bonus of this cafe? The pastry case is loaded with sweets.
Without a doubt, the gooey iced homemade cinnamon roll is a must-order!
Jack Sisemore RV Museum
14501 I-27, Amarillo
Jay having become a diehard RV'er since buying the BEAST, for 984 miles I listened to how he couldn't wait to check out this RV museum. I wasn't about to hear about it again at mile 985 so we got this puppy out of the way right off the bat so he could get it out of his system. Although I do have to admit it was pretty interesting in an RV kinda way and admission is FREE so what the hell...
Jack began collecting old RV's years ago and then his son, Trent caught the bug and joined him in the endeavor, the two of them turning their collection into the museum they have now. I have to admit they have some pretty impressive RV's in their collection, including the RV Robin Williams drove in the movie RV and the world's oldest Airstream, the 1935 Torpedo. They also have some really old motorcycles (1918) and antique cars.
They've done a terrific job staging the museum too! All of the displays are interesting to look at, including an old gas station and camping sites around the RV's. The best part is they'll let you walk inside the RV's and look around!
Even if you're not into RV's I think you'll find this place and the evolution of RV's kind of interesting.
Museum Hours
Sun-Wed: Closed
Thur, Fri, Sat: 10am-3pm
Palo Duro Canyon
Palo Duro Canyon State Park lies about 30 minutes outside of Amarillo.
($8 entry fee per person, free for kids 12 and under)
Most people don't realize that Palo Duro Canyon State Park is America's second largest canyon - 800 feet deep covering 30,000 acres. A full 15 acres of that are trails to hike and bike. You can also go horseback riding to see the canyon on its equestrian trails.
We decided to take a Humvee tour into the canyon at the Palo Duro Creek Ranch.
Palo Duro Creek Ranch offers exceptional outdoor adventure experiences, specializing in exhilarating jeep tours through the breathtaking Palo Duro Canyon. The signature service is the jeep ride, providing a thrilling (read that "heart stopping") journey across the rugged terrain of the canyon, reminiscent of a real-life roller coaster. The tours are designed for all ages, with an emphasis on making each ride unforgettable. The ranch's knowledgeable and friendly tour guides offer rich insights into the history, geology, and wildlife of the area, ensuring a truly immersive experience. Whether it's the steep climbs or the stunning views, each jeep tour guarantees excitement and awe-inspiring landscapes.
WARNING: If you're going to tour the Canyon, do it first thing in the morning! When you get into the Canyon, temperatures can quickly reach 120 degrees F!
I'll warn ya...this is no leisurely sit back and enjoy the scenery ride!
You're in a military style Humvee holding on for dear life while hoping your driver doesn't roll the thing with you in it! I spent the ride expecting IUD's to be going off around us the entire way down to the canyon!
Choose between three different tours, each one showcasing the canyon in a slightly different way.
The most basic among them, the Black Hawk Tour, lasts for about an hour and slowly descends into the canyon from the rim. This excursion is offered on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday-Sunday.
The "in-between" tour is known as Hidden Spring Canyon, and it's two hours long.
From ancient plant life to sweeping canyon vistas to a majestic waterfall, you'll see a little bit of everything - including an abandoned graveyard and authentic Plains Indian Tipi. This tour is offered Thursday-Sunday.
Finally, the Spirit of Palo Duro Canyon tour offers the most immersive experience.
This three-hour excursion leads from the rim to the canyon floor, letting riders marvel at unique rock formations, 360-degree panoramas, native wildlife, and even learn a bit of history.
Afternoon: Lunch at Duro Trading Post at the bottom of the canyon. We weren't expecting much being the canyon is in a park overseen by the Natl. Park Service...but not that you have much of a choice being out in the middle of nowhere. I'd venture to guess there wasn't another restaurant around for a good 20 miles!
Tourist trap prices?
But we didn't get the puny burger we were expecting - see middle photo above. While it wasn't the best burger we've ever eaten, it was good enough.
The Duro Trading Post is like a one-stop shop where you can find just about anything. Across from the cafeteria-style dining area is a convenience store/gift shop. I especially loved the Indian (3rd photo above) in that his headdress is all candy suckers you can buy! Pretty clever display idea!
The canyon is located at 11450 State Park Rd 5, Canyon, TX
After that rough and tumble Humvee ride we were ready for something a little more tame so our hearts could return to normal sinus rhythm. (At our age one can't be too careful)
But we could only continue our itinerary after a break at the RV as Jay saw I was exhibiting symptoms of heatstroke from being in the Canyon. Take my warning about Canyon temps seriously PLEASE!
Cadillac Ranch
Located on the outskirts of Amarillo, this art installation (free entry) features almost a dozen old Cadillacs half-buried nose-first in the dirt. It was created in the mid-70s by artists who were part of an art group called the Ant Farm, and funded by eccentric local millionaire Stanley Marsh III (who later was convicted of sexual assault of minors).
You can paint your own graffiti on the car by either using one of the spray paint cans left by the dars or you can buy some on site. Decades worth of spray paint hang like little stalactites off the cars.
They're very colorful so a great photo op background. Texas is usually hot and dry but be aware if there's been a recent rain the cars could be sitting in a big pool of muddy water!
Located right off Interstate 40, Cadillac Ranch is easily accessible. It’s a popular stop for road-trippers traveling through Texas. The installation is open all day, every day.
Admission to Cadillac Ranch is FREE.
Evening: Dinner at Yellow City Street Food. 916 Wolflin Ave, Amarillo
Photo credit: Rebecca and the World
What started out as a food truck is now a chef-run hipster space selling fun street food that’s even been featured on the Travel Channel. Not your average restaurant! Yellow City Street Food is all about the experience and embracing the weird.
Serving UNIQUE & BOLD New American Style Food - Tacos, Burgers, Daily Chef Specials! And Brunch every Saturday!
Mon Closed
Tue 11:00 am – 08:00 pm
Wed 11:00 am – 08:00 pm
Thu 11:00 am – 08:00 pm
Fri 11:00 am – 08:00 pm
Sat 11:00 am – 02:00 pm
Sun Closed
Aunt EEKS Books & Curiosities
We love bookstores so wanted to check out Aunt EEKS Books & Curiosities.
What an awesome bookstore! We explored every nook and cranny of the place as it had some really unique antique stuff in there.
There was also a tarot card reader there doing readings as part of the Festival activities.
June 5th - Friday
Morning: Breakfast at the Brunch Truck.
213 SW 7th Ave, Amarillo
Good news for all you Vegans out there...there's only one menu item the Brunch Truck can't serve Vegan so you won't have trouble finding Vegan items on the menu.
.png)
.jpg)
.jpg)
A unique feature of the Brunch Truck is its Build Your Own Mimosa Bar. $3 per Mimosa.
Lots of different fruits and juices to make your own Mimosa creation!
The food is excellent, the service fast. Brunch Truck deserves the 5 star rating it has.
CLOSED Monday & Tuesday
Wednesday-Friday 6:30am-2pm
Saturday & Sunday Brunch 9:00AM-3PM
You have a choice of things you can do today as far as Festival events:
-
Spend a day at Wolflin Square with your family browsing stores, enjoying sales and stopping by the petting zoo from 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. and 1 p.m. – 3 p.m.
-
Kid Zone outside of Little Bee’s
-
The TX 66 Celebrity Fast Draw Shoot Out brings Amarillo’s local legends to the firing line for some friendly (and fast!) competition. Held during the Xtreme Fast Draw Competition, this crowd-favorite event features well-known Amarillo personalities testing their speed and aim in the ultimate Wild West-style face-off. The free event kicks off at 3 p.m. at the Rex Baxter Building.
-
Experience real working ranch competition at the Coors Ranch Rodeo, where teams of cowboys and cowgirls from across the region compete in traditional events that reflect everyday ranch life. 7 p.m. – 10 p.m. at the Amarillo National Center.
We planned an easy fun day (a.k.a. in air conditioning) until the Xtreme Fast Draw Competition at 3 pm.
Cinergy
9201 Cinergy Square, Amarillo
Cinergy Amarillo features: - 10 state-of-the-art auditoriums with enhanced JBL sound - Cinergy EPIC, large format presentation to ‘Experience Perfection in Cinema’ - Spacious, luxury electric recliner seats with an attached swivel tray table - More than 110 interactive, virtual, and video games - 16 lanes of upscale bowling - Full-service bar - Escape Rooms - Covered patio with outside bar - A multi-level Laser Tag arena - Chef-prepared menu with expansive dining options - Sky Walker (overhead ropes course with a zip line feature).
We saw a movie, played a little Laser Tag then played a couple of games of HyperBowling.
HyperBowling is a revolutionary new bowling-based attraction that is the perfect blend of bowling and gaming. The lights on the bumpers create moving targets that players aim to hit or avoid! Each game has its own unique set of challenges and levels and includes video-game elements never seen in bowling. No more gutter balls- every shot counts every time. It's far more fun than regular bowling!
Afternoon: We had lunch at Cinergy while we bowled as we wanted to attend the Fast Draw Competition at 3 pm.
Xtreme Fast Draw Competition
The Texas 66 Fast Draw Championships brings competitive fast draw shooters to Amarillo for a weekend rooted in cowboy heritage, quick hands, sharp focus, and old west showmanship.
3 p.m. at Amarillo National Center
The admission cost to compete is $85 for the full three-day competition period (June 5–7, 2026).
Admission covers all days of the Xtreme Shootout competition, including the main matches, finals, and special events.
Spectator entry is $30 for adults (ages 15+) and $20 for children aged 7–14. Ages 6 and under are free.
If you plan to attend other festival events, check the Texas Route 66 Festival’s official site for combined ticket options.
Evening:
Dinner: Indian food at It's A Punjabi Affair. 4201 Bushland Blvd, Amarillo.
Top notch award-winning Indian food!
Quick service as well and the ambiance inside is great. Pricing very reasonable.
They also have a little covered patio in back that you can eat at.
They only serve non-alcoholic drinks but you're welcome to BYO.
After dinner visit Paramount Recreation Club
located in the basement of the Barfield Hotel. It's the most legitimate Speakeasy I've been to. Also the most upscale, complete with moving bookcases that hide secret rooms.
Photos credit: Paramount Recreation Club
June 6th - Saturday
Morning: Breakfast at Courtyard by Marriott Amarillo Downtown. 724 S Polk St, Amarillo
Downtown Cattle Drive & Parade
Our favorite part of the festival so far...the cattle drive and parade through downtown.
I'm going to post 2 videos here. The first one is a full screen 2021 version so you can really see this cattle drive because it's something to watch! This first video also includes the 4 cowboy shootouts staged during the parade.
The second video is one of those stupid reel formats of this year's cattle drive and parade.
What struck us about those 60 Longhorned cattle was how mellow they were...like "Ho hum, okay let's entertain these hooman goofballs and then we can get back to grazing..."
Watch as 60 Texas Longhorns parade through Downtown Amarillo, a nod to Amarillo’s rich ranching heritage. In the past two years, the event has become even more exciting with the addition of classic cars and other unique floats.
Don’t forget to bring your camera—the annual photo contest invites attendees to capture the parade fun. Whether it’s capturing the Longhorns/western heritage or the stunning classic cars, the perfect shot could win you cash prizes!
For lunch grab a chuckwagon meal of:
-
Chicken Fried Steak
-
Mashed Potatoes & Gravy
-
Beans
-
Rolls
-
Peach Cobbler
The chuckwagon lunch features live music. Admission is $25 per person for the lunch.
Cornhole Kicks on 66
For our fellow Seniors out there...
We entered the cornhole tournament just to meet and hang with others our own age and we met some really nice people participating in the tournament.
The tournament isn't limited to Seniors, any age and skill level are able to attend and compete.
The tournament runs from 11 am to 6 pm.
It is held outdoors so you want to bring a lawn chair, something to give you some shade and plenty of water to stay hydrated.
Just a note: We had the foresight to pack our pop up canopy to bring along which worked out beautifully.
We invited other contestants who needed some shade to join us and ended up having one heck of a party going on under the canopy.
Afternoon: Lunch at GoldenLight Cafe. 2906 SW 6th Ave, Amarillo
If you want a burger that's next level and like a burger from years ago, that tastes like a real burger used to and is supposed to taste and hand-cut fries that are addicting you have to give GoldenLight Cafe a try. They sure don't skimp on the portions! A small order of fries will feed 2-3 people easily. And you may as well cut your burger in half and ask for a to-go container right off the bat because odds are, you won't finish the whole burger unless you're on the verge of starvation. And the prices are super reasonable!
Trains, Planes and Automobiles
Photo credit: Amarillo Railroad Museum
The Amarillo Railroad Museum recreated the Santa Fe Railroad across the Texas Panhandle from Canadian, TX, to Clovis, NM, by construction of an HO-scale railroad layout set in the 1950-1970s era. In addition, they have an extensive G-scale garden railroad that will be operating during the event. They have real railroad cars from the Department of Energy nuclear transport train. Kids and adults can run model trains on the G-scale layout, tour the HO-scale layout, visit the real railroad cars.
3160 I Avenue, Amarillo. This event runs from 10 am to 4 pm. 4pm.
Admission to the Amarillo Railroad Museum is FREE.
Normal Museum Hours
Thursdays 7:30pm to 9:00pm
2nd and 4th Saturdays of each month from 10am to 3pm
Evening: If you want to try something a little different on the fine dining front, check out Metropolitan Steakhouse. 9181 Town Square Blvd., Suite 1201, Amarillo Reservations highly recommended.
Start with their shrimp cocktail appetizer. I don't know how they came up with the recipe - shrimp coated in peanut butter, then crusted with bacon and Panko bread crumbs. It's fried and served with Thai chili sauce.
It's phenomenal!
Then order the Japanese A5 Wagyu that's served tableside on a piping hot rock along with raw slices of the steak. Diners get to sear, season, and sauce their beef right at the table. The steak even comes with a certificate of authenticity! It's a different kind of restaurant experience and one that was kind of fun!
MONDAY - THURSDAY
4:00PM – 10:00PM
FRIDAY - SATURDAY
4:00PM – 11:00PM
SUNDAY - CLOSED
June 7th - Sunday
Amarillo (and the Festival) pretty much roll up the sidewalks on Sundays and to a degree on Mondays and Tuesdays as well in that not a lot of Festival events are scheduled for these days.
So Sunday is a free R&R day to do as you please as not a lot is open on Sundays.
.png)
For breakfast we returned to the Brunch Truck as they have a Sunday brunch from 9 am to 3 pm.
On the way back to the RV park we hit the grocery store to pick up dinner goodies to make at the RV as we were ready for some homecooked food.
The RV park had a wonderful indoor pool so after breakfast we went for a leisurely swim out of the Texas heat. Refreshing!
(They also have a sauna but the Texas heat and humidity had been enough of a sauna for us.)
Afternoon: Lunch at
112 SW 6th Ave, Amarillo
Don't let the small size and simplicity of this restaurant fool
you! It pumps out some phenomenal food at super reasonable prices.
Beignets
Crawfish Grilled Cheese sandwich
We were intrigued by their fare, seemingly a mix between New Orleans and Mexican prepared by Chef Ron.
A crawfish grilled cheese sandwich?!! Never heard of it...
OMG TO DIE FOR!
Jay said his West Texas Cheesesteak was fantastic - so good he ordered a second one!
There was a bit of a wait for the food to come out but it was well worth the wait.
West Texas Cheesesteak sandwich
Amarillo Botanical Gardens
1400 Streit Dr, Amarillo
This may be a small garden but it packs one heck of a big punch. There are 5 different themed gardens, each one more beautiful than the next.
The different themed gardens are laid out so well they blend together seamlessly and you really feel as if you're part of the gardens walking through them. They also have inviting benches and swings where you can relax and just enjoy the views.
There are plenty of birds and critters making themselves at home in the gardens too. Of course, the koi pond was my favorite. For 50 cents you could buy a bag of koi food and feed them. (As I said to Jay, "Those koi look AWFULLY HUNGRY to me!" Buy like 4 bags of koi food as Jay rolls his eyes, knowing we're going to spend at least the next hour in the blazing Texas sun feeding a bunch of fish. LOL)
But if you're in Amarillo be sure to put the Amarillo Botanical Gardens on your bucket list! You can tour the entire garden in about 1 to 2 hours - unless you go on a koi feeding frenzy like I did. And they're a great place to get a respite from the Route 66 Festival crowds.
ADMISSION
-
General Admission: $10
-
Senior (60+): $8
-
Military/Veterans: Free
-
Children Under 5: Free
Open Monday through Saturday 9 am to 5 pm
Sunday: 1 pm to 5 pm
By the way, watch for the Purple Flamingo Pops cart while at the Garden.
We spotted this popsicle cart at the Botanical Garden and loved the watermelon and pickle juice (!) flavors - and rumor has it they sometimes sell boozy pops.
Don Harrington Discovery Center
Being Sunday entertainment options were limited and the Discovery Center is on the same street as the Botanical Gardens we decided to scope out the Discovery Center.
This would be a great place to take the kids - lots of interactive exhibits and kids programs.
They also had a summer exhibit of 7 animatronic dinosaurs which was pretty cool.
For the Route 66 Festival they had special showings of Disney's Pixar movie, Cars.
They had 2 different showings:
Family Night $5 per person
Doors open at 4:30 pm movie starts at 5 pm in the Space Theater.
Adults 21+ only showing: The movie starts at 8:00, doors open 30 minutes before. Tickets are $10 each. Purchase the Ticket + Concession Wristband option for $25 for unlimited specialty cocktails.
YOU MUST have the all-you-can-eat/drink wristband to enjoy the open bar. Drinks will not be for individual sale.
Evening: We decided to BBQ dinner ourselves at the RV park. It was easier than trying to find a restaurant that was open and we were ready for a home cooked meal.
Lowrider Cruise on Old Route 66
From 6 pm to 8 pm there was a Lowrider Cruise being held on Route 66 so for lack of anything better to do we went to check it out.
From 7:30 to 8:00 PM, you could watch the cruise come to life as the cars rolled up and down Amarillo Blvd, starting at 600 E Amarillo Blvd, heading east, turning around at Ridgemere, and continuing the loop throughout the evening.
June 8th (Monday)
Morning: If you're wondering why you're looking at a photo of the Amarillo Police Department, it's where breakfast is being served at the City Cafe.
200 SE 3rd Avenue, Amarillo
.png)
There were only Festival evening musical events scheduled for the next 2 days so time to do more sightseeing.
Texas Air and Space Museum
10001 American Dr, Amarillo
Located at the Rick Husband Amarillo International Airport, the Texas Air & Space Museum is a tribute to the pioneers of flight and the Panhandle’s important role in aviation history, particularly during World War II and the Cold War. It houses an impressive collection of aircraft and artifacts that detail decades of air travel and military service.
The museum features both indoor and outdoor exhibits, allowing you to get up close to various vintage aircraft.
You can even sit in the cockpits of some of the aircraft. They have quite the collection for a small museum:
one of the first bicycle-styled gliders, nose cones from NASA, an original photo of the Wright Brothers first flight, a training plane astronauts used as an approach simulator so they could prepare for bringing a shuttle in at the right attitude, military planes and helicopters and more.
Healthy salads, smoothies and wraps at fantastic prices. Everything was fresh.
Definitely a locals spot, it gives you a little bit of the Amarillo feel.
Open Monday through Friday from 10 am to 3 pm.
Closed Saturdays and Sundays.
The volunteer docents there are fabulous - very knowledgeable and have stories about each aircraft.
They'll take you on a 2 hour FREE tour. There is no admission fee to the museum but donations are greatly appreciated.
Afternoon: Lunch at FAVs.
706 SW 16th Ave, Amarillo
Wonderland
2601 DUMAS DRIVE,AMARILLO
Texas Tornado roller coaster / Photo credit: Wonderland
I tell it like it is, the not-worth-your-while along with the good. I don't want my viewers spending good money on something that isn't a good attraction - as is the case with Wonderland in our opinion.
The Wonderland website advertises UNDER NEW OWNERSHIP, which can be a good thing or a bad thing.
The idea for a nostalgic theme park is great...but I can honestly say it was the first theme park we were in that one had to pay a $4 upcharge to ride the park's biggest attraction (Texas Tornado above) and they wouldn't run the ride unless they had a full roller coaster of riders. We actually saw visitors running around trying to recruit other park goers to ride the Texas Tornado just to get the ride running! It never moved the entire time we were at the park, it sat there empty and parked. Talk about a Marketing disaster!
Especially when this is what you post on your website:
It states your all-inclusive Ultimate Ride ticket includes premium attractions - including the Texas Tornado.
In fact, on the ticket purchase page it specifically states your ticket includes the Texas Tornado and one ride on the Fantastic Journey. Yet when you get to the park you discover there's a $4 upcharge above your ticket price to ride the Texas Tornado and NOWHERE does it mention they won't run the ride at all until it's full.
Nor does it mention a full 1/3 of the other rides are shut down. I'm amazed no one has nailed Wonderland for false advertising.
By comparison, for 2026, a Six Flags Great America’s all‑inclusive admission — which typically bundles park entry, unlimited ride access, and often a meal/snack plan — is in the $64–$89 range for a single day.
Wonderland is already charging half that price for no meal/snack plan included, for rides that are antiques compared to the majority of amusement parks these days, and you certainly don't walk into any of those amusement parks and pay an upcharge to ride their premium rides or discover the ride is not running unless it's full. Nor do you find 1/3 of the rides non operational unless the park is being hit by a tornado or hurricane.
Our advice? Skip Wonderland. It's a sketchy mess not worth your money or your time unless you have very small children that can ride the kiddie rides.
Evening: Dinner at Tyler's Barbecue. 3301 Olsen Blvd, Amarillo.
There's nothing pretentious about Tylers, it's counter service but serves some of the best darned BBQ in Amarillo.
You can choose from several sandwich, meat platter, and main dish options. We did two 2-meat platters with two sides each: the peppercorn sausage, the BBQ chicken breast, pulled pork, and smoked brisket. Sides were green beans, baked beans, potato salad, and jalapeño cream corn.
The brisket was falling apart and so juicy, the chicken was moist, the sausage packed a punch and the pulled pork was savory. It was BBQ done to perfection and their sauce enhanced the smokiness of the meat.
You might want to plan on doing an early bird dinner at Tyler's as they're only open until 7 pm or until they run out of that day's stock.
Amarillo Film Society Special Film Screening
At Golden Light Cantina 2906 SW 6th Ave, Amarillo
Join the Amarillo Film Society at GoldenLight Cantina for a special film screening of Samantha Brown’s Places to Love: Oklahoma and Texas episode at one of Route 66’s most iconic venues. The screening runs 27 minutes.
Doors at 6:00pm. Screening at 7:00pm Admission was free.
Food and Beverage available for purchase.
I'm a paragraph. Click here to add your own text and edit me. It's easy.
June 9th - Tuesday
.png)
Great breakfast menu plus you can build your own breakfast bagel sandwich.
They also offer breakfast burritos and tacos and portions are large.
Open Monday through Saturday 6 am through 3 pm.
Closed Sunday.
Harrington House
1600 S. Polk Street, Amarillo
Photo credit: Harrington House
The turn of the century saw rapid development of the Texas Panhandle. ranging from the growth of the cattle industry to the discovery of oil and gas. Harrington House represents both eras. The house was built in 1914 by cattlemen John and Pat Landergin.
Tours are given by appointment only on Tuesday and Thursday on the half hour, 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., early May through mid-December. The house is not handicapped accessible - crutches, walkers and canes are not allowed. See the website for specific tour details.
Admission and tours are FREE.
Alley Katz Unique Emporium
2807 SW 6th Ave, Amarillo
.jpg)
Alley Katz is a 30,000 square foot, two story shop that consigns vintage, new and craft items, It's located in the heart of Historic Route 44. We love browsing through shops like this and the ladies staffing the store are wonderful.
The shop is divided into several rooms full of all kinds of things - dishes, books, toys, clothes, pictures, some furniture, tea sets, some fiesta, glass and much more.
Open Monday through Saturday 10 am to 5:30 pm
Open Sunday 1 pm to 5 pm.
Evening: Dinner at My Thai. 2029 S Coulter St, Amarillo,
Photo credit: Travel Texas 365
As the name suggests, the restaurant serves Thai food. But they also have a selection of Chinese menu options to choose from if you aren’t a huge fan of Thai food. It’s a fun fusion between two different Asian cuisines that have made My Thai one of the local’s favorite Amarillo restaurants.
My Thai has a pretty expansive menu, especially since they offer two different styles of Asian cuisine. There are several varieties of Fried Rice, Pad Thai, Lad Na, and Chow Mein. You can also try Koaladnakai, Shanghai Noodles, and Pineapple Curry Shrimp. If you’re more in the mood for Chinese options, try their Cashew Chicken, Beef Broccoli, Sweet and Sour Shrimp, or Pepper Steak.
Open 7 days a week from 11 am to 3 pm, then from 5 pm to 9 pm.
June 10th - Wednesday
Morning: Breakfast at OVR-EZE.
5700 S Georgia St, Amarillo
.jpg)
.jpg)
.png)
Amarillo's newest breakfast/brunch restaurant with a modern twist on traditional recipes, a full bar, and upbeat atmosphere.
We ordered the Elvis waffle and the Flat iron steak and poached eggs w/chipotle hollandaise and cheesy potatoes. Both excellent. The chef told me they make their waffles by crushing up croissants in the waffle iron. I never would've thought of that but their waffles are delicious.
House-made English Muffins Great Panini Sandwiches Breakfast, Lunch and Brunch Pizza's.
Attentive, friendly service with hustle and style.
Texas 66 West Bus Tour
Amarillo Office & West Texas Route 66, 1000 S Polk St., Amarillo
This is an all day event that runs from 8 am to 5 pm.
Climb aboard for a guided journey through the West Texas stretch of Route 66. Your ticket includes a step-on tour guide, lunch, snacks, drinks, and a Texas 66 Coin Cruise Album.
This 2025 video will give you some idea of what this tour is like:
The tour begins with a city tour of Vega and stops at Magnolia Station, Milburn Price Culture Museum, Dot’s Mini Museum, and the Bent Door Cafe.
We had lunch at the Midpoint Cafe, a really cute retro diner right at the midway point of Route 66.
Try the homemade Ugly Crust Pecan Tennessee Whisky Pie! Oh...and don't forget to put your John Hancock on the Signature Truck in the parking lot on the way out. It contains the autographs from people all over the world who stopped at the Midpoint Cafe.
From the cafe we continued on to Dream Maker Station, Russell's Car Museum, and Glenrio Ghost Town.
The day wraps up with a sweet treat at Mama Jo's Pie & Sweets and live music on the Courthouse Lawn.
The Texas Route 66 West Bus Tour from Amarillo to Vega and other West Texas stops was priced between $55.20 and $81.88 USD depending on the ticket type and booking.
This bus tour overthrew the cattle drive as our #1 favorite Festival event. We thoroughly enjoyed ourselves.
We didn't stay for the music on the Courthouse Lawn as we had tickets to another event.
Texas Outdoor Musical
Texas Outdoor Musical is an outdoor musical drama performed at the Amphitheater in Palo Duro Canyon. Tickets must be bought ahead of time and cost $22-38 for teens and adults, $17-33 for children 12 and under, and $18-34 for seniors and the military. The prices range based on seating.
The show starts at 8 pm and runs until 10 pm.
The show is a fictionalized dramatization of Texas History and is a lot of fun.
Come prepared though...Texas thunderstorm or not the show goes on and is rarely cancelled due to weather!
You can eat before going or pay extra for dinner beforehand. The locals warned us to eat beforehand as the food isn't that great so we grabbed something on the road on the way to the venue.
Dinner is about $18 with tax for anyone over 12 years old (teens, adults, and seniors) and about $9 for kids 12 and under.
If you are interested, they also offer backstage tours for an extra $5 per ticket holder.
11450 State Hwy Park Rd 5, Canyon, TX
June 11th - Thursday
Morning: Breakfast at Calico Country Restaurant.
6201 I-40 W, Amarillo
This charming spot offers homestyle cooking with a Southern twist. The menu features classic breakfast options like omelets, pancakes, and biscuits. Signature dishes include chicken-fried steak and hearty breakfast burritos.
Their cinnamon rolls are YUM! They are huge, fluffy, and drizzled with icing.
Each dish is made from fresh ingredients.
.jpg)
.png)
The staff is attentive and eager to make your dining experience enjoyable.
Open Monday through Saturday from 6:30 am to 9 pm and Sunday from 6:30 am to 3 pm.
They do serve breakfast all day.
Texas 66 East Bus Tour
Today is another 8 am to 5 pm bus tour but this time we're headed east on Route 66 rather than west.
Tour begins at the Visit Amarillo office 1000 S. Polk, Amarillo.
Ticket includes: step on tour-guide, lunch, snacks, drinks, and Texas 66 Coin Cruise Album.
On the East Texas Route 66 Bus Tour, enjoy a day filled with quirky Route 66 attractions like Britten Leaning Water Tower, and landmarks of deep cultural significance such as The Cross of our Lord Jesus Christ.
.jpg)
The Britten leaning water tower was deliberately built this way to encourage those passing through
to stop and spend some time in town
The Cross of Our Lord Jesus Christ
We also stopped at Jerricho Ghost Town...
...and the Devil's Rope Museum, which is a museum of barbed wire.
(Who knew there were so many different varieties of barbed wire?)
You may think a museum of barbed wire would be HO HUM YAWN! but the history of barbed wire and the museum were actually pretty interesting! I mean who even knew such a thing as DECORATIVE barbed wire fencing even existed?! We sure as heck didn't. We were trying to envision who came up with this idea...
Rancher: "Only the best for my herd! I'm going to give them a great view of DECORATIVE barbed wire fencing from their pasture!" ???
Our lunch was at the historic Conoco Tower Station and U-Drop Inn. 105 12th Street, Shamrock, TX
The journey includes stops at iconic spots like the Jerricho ghost town, Devil’s Rope Museum, and a delicious lunch at the historic Conoco Tower Station and U-Drop Inn. The tour concludes with a happy hour and live music at The Big Texan.
Another really cool restored Route 66 diner and the food isn't half bad either!
.webp)
Built in 1936, the U Drop Inn has welcomed travelers along Route 66 for generations. Originally serving as a café and service station, it quickly became a cornerstone of life on the Mother Road.
It is listed on the National Register and has remains a must see destination for visitors exploring Route 66.
The cost of the bus tour was the same as that of the westbound Route 66 bus tour - between $55.20 and $81.88 USD depending on the ticket type and booking.
Photo credit: Shamrock Chamber of Commerce
Yellow City Open Mic Comedy Finale
2511 SW 6th St, Amarillo
Evening: Since our bus tour ended with Happy Hour and live music at the Big Texan Steak Ranch we decided to grab a quick dinner there in order to catch the Yellow City Open Mic Comedy Finale that ran from 8:30 pm to 11:30 pm.
.jpg)
El Manantial is truly a "Piece of Mexico" because everything serve is authentic. One of the more popular dishes is the Plato Jalisco, which is similar to traditional fajitas. Fresh bell peppers, jalapenos, onions and tomatoes are cooked with beef, chicken or shrimp and served with tortillas, beans, rice and guacamole. Birria Estilo Jalisco is another favorite, featuring tender beef simmered in mom's special red sauce. El Manantial is known also for its homemade corn tortillas.
Mon 9:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Tue 9:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Wed 9:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Thu 10:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Fri 9:00 AM - 9:00 PM
Sat 9:00 AM - 9:00 PM
Sun 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Tin Can Tourists Route 66 Centennial Rally Open House
Big Texan RV Park
1414 Sunrise Dr., Amarillo
This took place in the RV park we were staying in. Jay was in his glory - 65 more vintage RV's to inspect!
YAHOO! The Tin Can Rally lasted from 11 am to 1 pm.
I left him to it while I stayed with the BEAST due to the crowd present and made lunch for us.
There was a second vintage RV show that took place at the Texas Travel Information Center from 1:30 pm to 4:30 pm. but we decided to lay low and catch our breath.
Evening: Dinner at Lazy Gator.
6103 Hillside Rd, Amarillo
If you're in the mood from some good Creole seafood Lazy Gator is the place to go.
We offer a seafood driven menu with a little Cajun flare. Scallops, shrimp, fresh fish, oysters, gumbo, alligator, po boys are
65 vintage trailers fill Big Texan RV Park for Tin Can Tourists open house
served daily along with burgers, nachos, quesadillas, wings and much more.
Jay talked me into trying an alligator steak. (By "talked into" I mean dared me.)
It was actually pretty good! It must've been since they ran out of it by the end of the evening.
Lazy Gator is a family friendly venue with a grill & bar neighborhood feel to it.
Mon 11:00 AM - 9:00 PM
Tue 11:00 AM - 9:00 PM
Wed 11:00 AM - 9:00 PM
Thu 11:00 AM - 9:00 PM
Fri 11:00 AM - 10:00 PM
Sat 11:00 AM - 10:00 PM
Sun 11:00 AM - 9:00 PM
Main Street: The Lost Dream of Rt. 66, The Photography of Edward Keating Exhibition and Talk
Amarillo Museum of Art 2200 S. Van Buren St. Amarillo 6:30 pm– 8:30 pm
Speakers: Carrie Boretz Keating (Photographer and wife of the late Edward Keating) and Caitlin Keating (Journalist, Filmmaker, Producer, and daughter of Carrie and Edward Keating). The talk will begin at 7:15 p.m.
In conjunction with the exhibition, Main Street: The Lost Dream of Rt. 66, Photographs by Edward Keating, join us for a conversation about the life and work of the Pulitzer Prize winning photographer Edward Keating.
Main Street is the result of 11 years of travels along Route 66 — the 2,400-mile stretch between Chicago and Santa Monica. Keating approached the highway as both a journalist and memoirist. His photographs bring attention to the lives and myths scattered along the stretch of Route 66 and serve as a metaphor for the deterioration of middle-class America. The exhibition and this conversation will reflect on stories and personal mythology constructed from the artist’s recollections of the road. Edward Keating served as a photojournalist for nearly 40 years for such publications as New York Times, Forbes and Business Week.
In 2001, Keating received the Pulitzer Prize for Breaking News Photography, as well as the John Faber Award for International Reporting, Overseas Press Club, for his series of photographs on the September 11 attacks. He additionally shared the 2000 Pulitzer Prize for National Reporting with New York Times staff for the series, “How Race is Lived in America,” and was nominated for the Pulitzer Prize for the 1997 series “Vows,” co-authored with Lois Smith Brady. In 2003, Keating joined Contact Press Images photography agency. MAIN STREET was Keating’s sixth monograph.
Tragically, Keating died of cancer in Sept 2021 as a result of his many months long exposure to toxic materials, while photographing at Ground Zero.
AMoA Members Free | Non-Members $10
Tickets available for purchase at the door and online
Both the talk and Keating's photos were phenomenal. We were glad we attended. Brought back a lot of memories of how Route 66 used to be in our day.
.png)
June 13th - Saturday
Festival Finale
The Texas Route 66 Festival Finale is the Centennial’s can’t-miss grand sendoff. From 11am – 6pm Amarillo’s Route 66 Historic District will be filled with live music, classic cars, vendors, pin-up flair, and bold happenings.
The Texas Route 66 Festival Finale wraps up at 6 PM, but the celebration doesn’t stop there. Amarillo’s Route 66 Historic District will remain open, inviting visitors to keep the evening going in the district’s bars, restaurants, and locally owned shops.
Many of the Finale events are repeats of what already happened during the Festival so we decided to take one last look around and hit the road for the 984 mile trip home.
We thoroughly enjoyed our 11 days in Amarillo (except for the heat) and recommend visiting the annual Historical Route 66 Festival.