Blue Carpet Corridor weekend festival June 11-12

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Here's this year's press release about our 2nd annual Blue Carpet Corridor festival weekend! It's BCC II !

Visit the Blue Carpet Corridor on Saturday-Sunday, June 11-12, and experience Midwest Americana on 100+ miles of Illinois Route 66! From Chatham to Collinsville, 13 communities will be welcoming visitors to their events, attractions, and Passport Stops. Joining in the fun for this second annual event are the following communities: Chatham, Virden, Girard, Carlinville, Gillespie, Staunton, Hamel, Edwardsville, Glen Carbon, Litchfield, Mt. Olive, Troy, and Collinsville.

From internationally-known attractions like the World's Largest Catsup Bottle, Henry's Rabbit Ranch, and Soulsby Station, to long-running festivals like Chatham's American Legion Homecoming and Edwardsville's Route 66 Festival, Blue Carpet Corridor weekend is the perfect weekend family trip. From vintage stops like Doc's Soda Fountain and Weezy's Route 66 Bar and Grill to quirky new attractions like murals and CM Studios' A Walk with Dinosaurs, from a Cannonball Jail to a Heritage Museum to the 66th year in operation of the Sky View Drive-In, the Blue Carpet Corridor has it all.


Begin your self-guided tour anywhere along the corridor and pick up your free souvenir passport at any of our 13 official Passport Stops. Travel to all the stops to get all 13 unique stamps. Passport Stop hours are Saturday 8 am – 5 pm and Sunday 8 am – 3 pm. Many of the stops will offer local tourism information and directions, souvenir merchandise, work by local artisans, raffles, and/or refreshments.


Festivals and events in many towns will also feature evening entertainment. And several communities will begin their weekend festivities on Thursday or Friday evening. Watch for the white and blue signs in each community to direct you to the Passport Stop and other activities.

Photo ops will be plentiful at the corridor's numerous attractions, including museums, theaters, historic sites, monuments, murals, and charming town squares. Take time for some shopping at the many vendor booths, antique stores, yard sales, and mom 'n pop businesses. Enjoy a meal or a snack at a cook off, food booth, soda fountain, or roadhouse. Let the kids play at the many children's activities. See a movie, go on a carnival ride, take a tour, ride a trolley, and watch a parade. Meet-and-greet an author and get a book autographed, admire classic cars, and take a selfie with a costumed character. Listen to a variety of live music and maybe do a little dancing. Collect passport stamps, souvenir t-shirts and coins, and fun family memories.

You'll also find a complete schedule of events and the 2016 rack card/community map to download at www.bluecarpetcorridor.org.Watch for updates at www.facebook.com/BlueCarpetCorridor. For more information, call (618) 307-5049.




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