Classic cars, music and youth performances filled Ogden Avenue on Sunday as the second annual Lawndale Route 66 Festival celebrated North Lawndale’s connection to the historic highway.
The free festival grew from Chicago’s Historic Route 66 Classic Car & Bike Show and now combines multiple community events into one day, including those from Lawndale Christian Community Church, The Firehouse Community Arts Center, the 24th Ward Aldermanic Office, Principals Barber Shop, The Young Dr’s Club, the American Red Cross, Youth Boxing Club of Chicago and Boxing Out Negativity.
Located just south of historic Route 66 on Hamlin Avenue, the arts center has long been a presence in North Lawndale, working to interrupt violence among North Lawndale youth and young adults through arts, faith, outreach and violence prevention programs.
Jordan Carr, director of its operations, spoke about the festival’s significance to the community, its growth and the effort to highlight North Lawndale’s history and youth.
“The community is pushing the issue [on the relationship with Route 66.] We sometimes feel like we’re not highlighted as much,” Carr said. “Even though this is the most photographed landmark, the rest of the neighborhood doesn’t get as much attention. So, we’re trying to claim our place in history and that’s part of why we chose the name Lawndale Route 66 Festival. We want Lawndale to automatically be associated with Route 66.”
Route 66 was decommissioned in 1985, but its legacy lives on. Its significance is especially relevant in Chicago, where the route begins and in North Lawndale, where Ogden Avenue remains part of that legacy.
As Chicago marks Route 66’s 100th anniversary in 2026, events such as the Lawndale Route 66 Festival are helping connect that history with the community that continues to live along the route.
Said Carr: “On the corner of Ogden Avenue and Hamlin Avenue, Castle Car Wash that we’re sitting next to is one of the most photographed landmarks along Route 66 and it’s located right in the middle of North Lawndale. When I was in high school, my art teacher said, ‘You have to draw a landmark that, if somebody looked at it, they would know that’s your neighborhood.’ I drew the Castle Car Wash about 20 years ago.”
According to Carr, the festival was planned by about 15 people over the course of a year, with a focus on creating free opportunities, a safe space for children, food and a platform for local vendors. Many of the cars featured in the show belong to North Lawndale residents, creating a welcoming environment where the community can feel supported.
Throughout the festival, there were numerous musical performances, including one featuring Myles, a North Lawndale youth who opened the show by playing the violin. The Firehouse Community Arts Center invited him to perform as a way to support local youth and give them a platform to showcase their talents.
“Myles opened the show and he’s actually a kid who lives in North Lawndale. His parents are from North Lawndale and his family is deeply connected to the neighborhood. We found out that he was a talented violinist who had been performing with other organizations and we said, ‘We have to have you here to support the local kids in the neighborhood and give them a stage to perform,’”Carr said.
The Firehouse Foxxys, a majorette dance team based at The Firehouse Community Arts Center, also performed as part of the festival’s programming.
“Our dance team practices year-round, after school and during the daytime in the summer. They create their own dances with the help of their coach and the goal is to get them performance-ready while encouraging them to attend college and potentially continue dancing there. That’s the goal of our majorette dance program,” Carr said.
The Double Dutch Club that is part of The Firehouse Community Arts Center also performed.
When asked whether she thinks Route 66 still has such a strong cultural pull, Carr stated it’s because it’s one of those things that makes people wonder, “What if I rode the entire Route 66?”
“What if I just went from here to, you know, three states over or something, just by taking the street? I think that allure brings people. It’s almost like a bucket-list thing. It’s like, let’s just do this adventure,” Carr said. “I have young kids, so the movie ‘Cars’ has also reactivated that. My kids are familiar with the Route 66 sign because of that movie, so now it’s getting the kids excited about it, too,” Carr said.