8th Annual Route 66 Festival in Lebanon MO

Lebanon Missouri played host to the 8th Annual Route 66 Festival on Saturday, September 20th, 2008.

The event actually kicked off on Friday night with a Cruise-In sponsored by Steak-n-Shake of Lebanon.

Then on Saturday, from 9 am until 4 pm, the Cowan Civic Center, located on Historic Route 66, played host to a classic car show, motorcycle show, vendors and new vehicle exhibits. DJ's proved music in the morning and a live band hit the stage at noon. One of my favorite Lebanon caterer's, Maria's Route 66 Cafe, provided the concessions.

My Lebanon MO United Country office is right across the street from the Cowan Civic Center, so the kids and I were able to see a few of the classic cars before the rain sent us indoors. Since we were in the mood to get our "Kicks on Route 66" we drove over to the Lebanon/Laclede County Library - home of the Route 66 Museum and Research Center. My 11 year old daughter had been there before with school; for my 8 year old son, this was his first glimpse inside the museum.

Waking into the museum, you are transported to a different time - certainly a different way of life. A gas station of yester-year, where the attendant pumped your gas, checked your oil, washed your windshield, knew your name and the name of your children. Family owned diners were common place along the two-lane highway and to make a call, a real live operator put you through.

The Route 66 Museum is located just a few blocks off the historic "Mother Road"' -- cutting through Lebanon as a popular route to haul apples to the larger markets. The Museum is open six days a week; closed on Sundays. The museum houses many collections, the latest being a huge salt/pepper shaker collection; and the displays change occasionally.