West Hollywood Celebrates 100 Years of Route 66!

West Hollywood got its kicks on Route 66! Hundreds of community members gathered at Plummer Park on Sunday, August 16, 2026, for a joyful celebration marking 100 years of the legendary route.

It was a stunning sunny day filled with classic cars, colorful sights, great sounds, tasty snacks, and plenty of camaraderie. Hot rods, vintage cruisers, and modern classics lined the South Parking Lot, with gleaming chrome, tailfins, whitewall tires, and beautifully restored rides transporting visitors back to the golden age of the American road trip.

Here’s something you may not know: Santa Monica Boulevard through West Hollywood is part of historic Route 66. Established in 1926, Route 66 stretched from Chicago to Los Angeles and became a symbol of freedom, discovery, neon signs, roadside attractions, classic diners, and the promise of adventure.

The celebration also looked to the future. The City unveiled new “WeHo 66” Centennial roadway signage designed by artist Sküt to be installed in the coming weeks, and recognized artists Luciana Abait, Vinnie Hager, and Sylke Meyer, whose Route 66-inspired artworks are being installed along Santa Monica Boulevard as part of the City’s Creative Plan initiative.

A highlight of the day was a trip down memory lane with author, humorist, and pop culture historian Charles Phoenix, whose Big Retro slide show, Los Angelesland: Celebrating the City of Angels, brought Southern California’s colorful past to life to a standing-room-only crowd at Fiesta Hall through vintage photography, stories, humor, and plenty of nostalgia.

The celebration rolled into the afternoon with the final Summer Sounds concert of the season, filling Plummer Park with live music and keeping the good vibes going.

From the cars and art to the music and memories, it was a fitting celebration of a road that has connected people and places for a century. And, a wonderful reminder that Route 66 runs right through the heart of West Hollywood!