Weekend full of Route 66 nostalgia

The historic Odell Standard station shown Saturday during the Red Carpet Corridor Festival on Route 66.

Travelers on Route 66 enjoyed life in the slow lane over the weekend as they experienced a bit of nostalgia in towns along the route during the 18th annual Red Carpet Corridor Festival.

The two-day festival included family fun on the famous highway, sponsored by the different towns which make up the 100-mile linear museum from Joliet all the way to Bloomington.

John Weiss and his wife got the idea years ago for the corridor from a similar event held at Spoon River. They called it the String of Pearls initially.

“Each town as a pearl and the road was like a string,” recalled Weiss. “That’s when we started the Red Carpet Corridor with a lady by the name of Betty Estes.”

Those in charge of the event now have added Bloomington-Normal. Towanda was not involved for a few years but is now part of the corridor.

Weiss is head of preservation for the Route 66 Association of Illinois. He also authored the only guide book of Route 66 in Illinois. He formerly conducted bus tours for many years.

“I give talks and still have my books,” Weiss explained.

Classic autos displayed in Dwight Saturday afternoon during the Route 66 Red Carpet Corridor Festival.