BUZZ MAGAZINE – The iconic Mother Road is turning 100, and it’s getting a soundtrack to match. Legendary rock band STARSHIP featuring Mickey Thomas has been announced as the headliner for The Route 66 Centennial Celebration, taking place on November 11, 2026.
The historic event will be hosted at the Route 66 Motorheads Bar & Grill, Museum & Entertainment Complex in Springfield, Illinois. The concert will serve as the grand finale for a full day of events, including the annual Illinois Route 66 Scenic Byway Statewide Conference. Rather than a massive, impersonal arena, STARSHIP featuring Mickey Thomas will take the stage inside Motorheads’ intimate Motordome, bringing high-energy, arena-level rock to a personal, close-up setting for a limited number of fans.
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“Having STARSHIP featuring Mickey Thomas take the stage at our Route 66 Centennial Celebration brings a level of prestige and musical legacy that truly matches the significance of 100 years of Route 66,” said Casey Claypool, Executive Director of the Illinois Route 66 Scenic Byway. “This is the kind of iconic performance that transforms the occasion into something momentous.”
STARSHIP featuring Mickey Thomas, known for defining a generation of rock with massive, chart-topping hits like “We Built This City,” “Sara,” and “Nothing’s Gonna Stop Us Now,” promises to deliver a landmark performance befitting the highway’s centennial milestone.
A Day of Progress and Preservation
Before the music starts, Route 66 leaders, tourism professionals, and community stakeholders will gather for the Illinois Route 66 Scenic Byway Statewide Conference, held from 8:00 AM to 3:00 PM at Motorheads. The daytime sessions will focus heavily on preservation, economic development, and charting the future of the historic highway. Tickets for the conference are priced at $75 for Illinois Route 66 Scenic Byway members and $125 for non-members. Anyone is welcome to attend the conference; you do not have to be a Route 66 professional to attend. Tickets will go on sale for the conference in early June.
An Exclusive, All-Inclusive Evening
The Route 66 Centennial Celebration kicks off later that evening at 6:00 PM. Because the organizers opted for an intimate, small-capacity venue over a crowded arena, a very limited number of tickets are available to keep the atmosphere personal and exclusive. Tickets for the evening celebration are $150 per person. The ticket price includes dinner, dessert, late-night appetizers, non-alcoholic drinks, and the concert experience. Tickets are now on sale for the Centennial Celebration Concert; purchase online at IllinoisRoute66Centennial.org.
Beyond the entertainment value, the evening celebration serves a vital cause. The event functions as a fundraiser for the Illinois Route 66 Scenic Byway, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Ticket prices have been kept as low as possible to cover production costs, with all proceeds directly supporting the ongoing mission to preserve, protect, and promote the legacy of Illinois Route 66 for the next century.
About the Illinois Route 66 Scenic Byway
Route 66 in Illinois was designated as a National Scenic Byway by the United States Department of Transportation in 2005, a recognition reserved for roads of special significance to the American people. As a non-profit organization tasked with the responsibility for managing this historic route, the Illinois Route 66 Scenic Byway works extensively through three active alignments. Each of these segments carefully preserves the unique evolution of the automobile and the enduring stories of the travelers who journeyed across the historic roadway during its peak.
The core mission of the Illinois Route 66 Scenic Byway is to enhance and promote economic opportunities for each community along the route by preserving its vibrant heritage and increasing heritage and cultural tourism. The organization achieves this by helping local attractions, small businesses, and communities take full advantage of their Route 66 resources. Through these collaborative efforts, they provide visitors from around the world with the best possible experience while offering essential travel information to help adventurers plan their ultimate journey down the Mother Road. For more information on the conference or to purchase tickets, visit the IllinoisRoute66Centennial.org website. To learn more about the Illinois Route 66 Scenic Byway, visit IllinoisRoute66.org.
This story originally ran in the June 2026 issue of The Prairie Land Buzz Magazine: http://www.thebuzzmonthly.com
