Community enrichment director previews Pontiac’s Route 66 centennial events and marketing push

Liz Vincent, Pontiac’s Community Enrichment Director, told the council on Feb. 16 that 2026 will center on a full calendar of Route 66 centennial events and related community programming.

Vincent listed certified Route 66 centennial events that Pontiac will host or support, including a certified Skoolie Swarm during Red Carpet Corridor weekend, an expanded Swinging Bridges Arts Festival, a DIVCO (restored milk truck) centennial convention in July, a Midwest Stilettos on Steel motorcycle meetup, and multiple locally organized commemorations connected with 1926-founded institutions such as Old Log Cabin and Pontiac Motor Division anniversaries. She said parts of the statewide centennial program received funding from the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) and that some Pontiac events received state support.

On promotion, Vincent said the city secured a marketing partnership and promotions match grant and will work with McDaniels Marketing for digital campaigns and with Sherpa to host vetted content creators. She cited a prior Sherpa collaboration that produced 157 photos and 42 videos from a creator group, and said the city plans to host multiple content creators this year. Vincent encouraged residents to consult the community calendar at visitpontiac.org and downtownpontiacil.com for updates.

Council members asked clarifying questions about dates and vendor coverage; Vincent said many event dates are set and that the centennial events are a "breathing document" that will be updated through the year. She closed by inviting councilors to follow up with questions after the meeting.

What’s next: Staff will publish updates to the community calendar and proceed with the marketing plan funded by the match grant.