Arts & Entertainment
Will County, IL: Free Route 66 Celebration Set for November 12
Lockport, IL – A free celebration honoring 100 years of America's most famous highway is coming to Will County next week, bringing live music, original artwork and Route 66 history to downtown Lockpor
By Lauren Beckett · 2026-11-06T21:06:13.175Z
Lockport, IL – A free celebration honoring 100 years of America's most famous highway is coming to Will County next week, bringing live music, original artwork and Route 66 history to downtown Lockport.
The event takes place Thursday, Nov. 12, from 6 to 8 p.m. at the historic Gaylord Building, offering residents across the Joliet area an opportunity to experience a piece of American history without paying admission.
According to the Gaylord Building Historic Site and Gallery Seven, the celebration marks the opening of Roadside Attractions: Art and History on Route 66 , a new exhibition exploring the highway's cultural influence over the past century.
Free Art Exhibition and Live Music The evening begins with an exhibition reception from 6 to 7 p.m. in the building's third floor Founders' Gallery.
Visitors can explore original artwork and historical displays highlighting Route 66's transformation into a symbol of American travel, adventure and roadside culture.
From 7 to 8 p.m., the celebration moves to the second floor banquet room for a special presentation titled "Stay on Route 66."
Ron Romero, founder and CEO of the Illinois Rock & Roll Museum on Route 66, will join musician and storyteller Skip Griparis for an evening of music and highway history.
Griparis has performed with the New Colony Six, toured with Olivia Newton John and appeared in the Major League films.
Exhibit Continues Through March 2027 Residents unable to attend opening night can visit the exhibition through March 24, 2027.
The Gaylord Building, constructed in 1838 along the Illinois & Michigan Canal, is located at 200 W. 8th St. in downtown Lockport .
Admission to the Nov. 12 opening celebration is free, although advance registration is encouraged.
Registration: https://RoadsideAttractions.eventbrite.com
Additional visitor information is available at gaylordbuilding.org.