Route 66, Art, Family Fun, Food & Music!
1-4
May2025
A & A Attractions- Carnival!Join us at Vermillion Plaza, right off Route 66 (previously Kmart parking lot) for a weekend of FUN & GAMES! All proceeds go towards the Last Nite New Year’s Eve Celebration.
Vermillion Plaza
Pontiac, IL
Pontiac, IL
3 &4
May2025
Swinging Bridges Art Festival/ Red Carpet CorridorIn conjunction with the 18th Annual Red-Carpet Corridor Festival, will be the 2025 Swinging Bridges Art Festival in Downtown Pontiac, IL! This annual art festival takes place the first weekend of May – Saturday, May 3rd and Sunday, May 4th, 2025, and will span the entire block of Madison Street in Downtown Pontiac. This festival will feature unique art and craft sales by local artists, activities, food, and live music entertainment. We are still looking for artists and food vendors – if interested, follow this link to the Greater Livingston County Art Council’s website: Art Gallery | Pontiac Township | Pontiac Community Art Center.
Red Carpet Corridor: This two-day festival is all about family fun on the most famous two-lane highway in America – Route 66. Sponsored by the fourteen communities which make up the 100-mile linear museum from Joliet to Bloomington, the annual festival invites everyone to experience the good life in the slow lane.
Each community will produce its own events. From full-blown festivals to antique and craft sales, art sales, car and motorcycle shows, live entertainments, and plenty of yard, garage, and sidewalk sales along the way, everyone is sure to discover something unique.
Food, snacks and treats will be in abundance, and there are plenty of historic sites, outstanding free museums and unique mom & pop businesses to help create a nostalgic journey for all to enjoy. Visitors can simply enjoy the drive, or stop and get out of the car to have their
picture taken with Elvis, or do a little shopping in any of the great stores along the Mother Road.
Contact Pontiac Tourism for more info!
Red Carpet Corridor: This two-day festival is all about family fun on the most famous two-lane highway in America – Route 66. Sponsored by the fourteen communities which make up the 100-mile linear museum from Joliet to Bloomington, the annual festival invites everyone to experience the good life in the slow lane.
Each community will produce its own events. From full-blown festivals to antique and craft sales, art sales, car and motorcycle shows, live entertainments, and plenty of yard, garage, and sidewalk sales along the way, everyone is sure to discover something unique.
Food, snacks and treats will be in abundance, and there are plenty of historic sites, outstanding free museums and unique mom & pop businesses to help create a nostalgic journey for all to enjoy. Visitors can simply enjoy the drive, or stop and get out of the car to have their
picture taken with Elvis, or do a little shopping in any of the great stores along the Mother Road.
Contact Pontiac Tourism for more info!
9 am- 5 pm Madison Street, Downtown Pontiac
3
May2025
Touch-A-TruckThere will be some very cool vehicles in Downtown Pontiac! Come to the parking lot that’s south of the Historic Courthouse and have a good time!
11 am- 2 pmBlock 59 on Washington
Downtown Pontiac, IL
Downtown Pontiac, IL
3
May2025
The Jones House Historical Home TourStop for a guided tour!
1 pm- 3 pm314 E. Madison St.
Pontiac, IL
Pontiac, IL
17
May 2025
Pontiac Cruise Night- Season Kick-offCruise into Downtown Pontiac on Saturday, May 17th, for the very first Cruise Night of the season! We welcome our new Cruise hosts: Donna & Dustin Cook/ Twizted Machinez Car & Truck Club. PLEASE NOTE: This year Cruise Nights will look a bit different than previous years due to construction in our downtown area. We are asking participants to please enter Mill Street from Water Street and follow the instructions of the volunteers to your spot. Cruise Night cars will be parked in and around Block 59. We kindly ask that all participants avoid the Historic County Courthouse grounds due to safety reasons.
There will be plenty of vintage & modern cars alike for all car enthusiasts to browse, live music once again from JD’s DJ Service, and so much more!
Our evening will begin promptly at 5 pm with the National Anthem performed by Pontiac’s own- Nathan Joerndt!
As a reminder, there is no fee to enter. Roads will be closed to through traffic during these events.
Click here to visit our Facebook page for more information & the latest updates!
There will be plenty of vintage & modern cars alike for all car enthusiasts to browse, live music once again from JD’s DJ Service, and so much more!
Our evening will begin promptly at 5 pm with the National Anthem performed by Pontiac’s own- Nathan Joerndt!
As a reminder, there is no fee to enter. Roads will be closed to through traffic during these events.
Click here to visit our Facebook page for more information & the latest updates!
5 pm- 8 pmAround Block 59
Downtown Pontiac, IL
Downtown Pontiac, IL
18
May2025
All Pontiac DayCalling all car enthusiasts! Check out the All Pontiac Day and browse through vintage vehicles at the Pontiac Oakland Museum on May 18th, 2025!
All Pontiac Day Registration is only $10 per person and all years & models are welcome!
Schedule includes:
9AM – Tour the Route 66 Museum.
10AM – Park in front of the Pontiac Auto Museum on 66, tour museum.
11AM – behind the scenes tour at the Pontiac Auto Museum.
12PM – Lunch Break.
1:30PM – Tour of Alan Finkenbinder’s collection.
Contact Ken Pitcher at [email protected] for more information.
*All proceeds benefit the Pontiac Auto Museum on 66.*
All Pontiac Day Registration is only $10 per person and all years & models are welcome!
Schedule includes:
9AM – Tour the Route 66 Museum.
10AM – Park in front of the Pontiac Auto Museum on 66, tour museum.
11AM – behind the scenes tour at the Pontiac Auto Museum.
12PM – Lunch Break.
1:30PM – Tour of Alan Finkenbinder’s collection.
Contact Ken Pitcher at [email protected] for more information.
*All proceeds benefit the Pontiac Auto Museum on 66.*
9 am- 2 pmPontiac- Oakland Museum
205 N. Mill St
Pontiac, IL
205 N. Mill St
Pontiac, IL
18
May2025
Rusty Wheel Circle JamAll are invited to the Eagle Theater for the 3rd Sunday Rusty Wheel Circle Jam! All musicians are welcome to participate or just come listen. A variety of bluegrass, country western, gospel, a more will be heard. Attendance is free but donations are welcome. The Jams are always held at the Eagle Theater from 1PM – 4PM.
The 2025 dates include: January 19, March 16, May 18, June 15, July 20, August 17, September 21, October 19, November 16, and December 21.
The 2025 dates include: January 19, March 16, May 18, June 15, July 20, August 17, September 21, October 19, November 16, and December 21.
1 pm- 4 pmThe Eagle
319 N. Plum St.
Pontiac, IL
319 N. Plum St.
Pontiac, IL
7
June2025
Downtown Pontiac Farmers Market- Kick-offJoin in for the kick-off for the 2025 season! Gene Burnett returns as the market manager! This season’s market will be held in Block 59, south of the historic Livingston County Courthouse. Along with your favorite vendors, you’ll find acoustic music compliments of Noah Hutton and Kyle Schott, food vendors, comfortable seating- all for a great way to kick off your weekend and enjoy a Saturday morning!
More information can be found on Facebook!
More information can be found on Facebook!
8 am- NoonBlock 59
Downtown Pontiac, IL
Downtown Pontiac, IL
23
June2025
The Great Race 2025We are incredibly excited to announce that the Great Race 2025 is coming to Pontiac! On Monday, June 23rd, a hosted lunch stop will be held in Downtown Pontiac for the famous vintage car rally. Each stop on the Great Race is free to the public and spectators will be able to visit with the participants and to look at the cars for several hours. It is common for racers to allow kids to climb in the cars for a first-hand look.
The 2025 Great Race will begin on Saturday, June 21 in St. Paul, Minnesota, surrounded by a crowd of thousands at the MSRA Back to the 50’s Weekend car show at the Minnesota State Fairgrounds. Nine days later, on Sunday, June 29, the race will finish in Irmo, South Carolina, near Lake Murray. In between the start and finish cities are approximately 2,300 miles of competition and 17 hosted city stops in Minnesota, Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, West Virginia, Virginia, North Carolina and South Carolina.
Pontiac Tourism will release more information as the event draws closer, so keep an eye out on our website and Facebook page for more to be released soon!
For more information on The Great Race, go to www.greatrace.com, or visit the Great Race Facebook Page.
The 2025 Great Race will begin on Saturday, June 21 in St. Paul, Minnesota, surrounded by a crowd of thousands at the MSRA Back to the 50’s Weekend car show at the Minnesota State Fairgrounds. Nine days later, on Sunday, June 29, the race will finish in Irmo, South Carolina, near Lake Murray. In between the start and finish cities are approximately 2,300 miles of competition and 17 hosted city stops in Minnesota, Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, West Virginia, Virginia, North Carolina and South Carolina.
Pontiac Tourism will release more information as the event draws closer, so keep an eye out on our website and Facebook page for more to be released soon!
For more information on The Great Race, go to www.greatrace.com, or visit the Great Race Facebook Page.
1 pm- 4 pmMill St/ Block 59
Downtown Pontiac, IL
Downtown Pontiac, IL