"ROAD TO THE CENTENNIAL"

SCHEDULE -- OCT. 9-11, 2025

THREE DAYS THIS YEAR!

SPEAKERS, NETWORKING, AND SO MUCH MORE!

A detailed schedule showing titles, times, and locations will be posted as it is finalized.

Thursday, October 9

Singo (music bingo with prizes) 6:30-8:30pm - at the Illinois Rock and Roll Museum on Route 66, 9 W. Cass St., Joliet

Friday, October 10 -  Joliet Area Historical Museum (JAHM), 

204 N. Ottawa St., Joliet, IL

Registration 8:00-11:00am 

Conference – 9:00am-4:15pm

Speakers:

Keynote: Rhys Martin, Oklahoma travel writer, photographer, Route 66 preservation advocate

Bob Navarro, President and CEO of Heritage Corridor Destinations

Jim Hinckley, researcher, author, raconteur, with a 65-year relationship with Route 66

Greg Peerbolte, Chief Executive Officer, Joliet Area Historical Museum

Peter and Tracy Flucke, Route 66 tandem bike riders

Amy Steidinger, Historian and author of two Old Joliet Prison books

OPTIONAL:

--Old Joliet Prison guided tour – 4:45-6:15pm ($20 charge – register on website) Location: 1125 Collins Street, Joliet 

--Flatbed Fords (Eagles Tribute band with Ron Romero, Founder and Executive Director of the Illinois Rock and Roll Museum on Route 66) -  Location: Roxy, 1017 S. State Street, Lockport 

Saturday, October 11  Joliet Area Historical Museum (JAHM),

204 N. Ottawa St., Joliet, IL

Registration – 8:00-11:00am 

Conference 9:15am-4:45pm

Speakers:

David Schwartz, Route 66 photographer

Amy Bizzari, Freelance journalist, writer, and storyteller

Jim Featherstone and Olivia Golaszewski, Cybersecurity Experts

John Weiss, 30-plus years of Illinois Route 66 preservation

Scott Dahl, Director of Springfield Convention and Visitors Bureau

Saturday evening - OPTIONAL

Pay-your-own, informal gathering at a local restaurant – Place and time TBA