Gallup, NM, Celebrates the Centennial of Route 66

Courtesy of the City of Gallup

Gallup, New Mexico, is a well-known stop along Route 66, the historic highway that connects drivers from Chicago to Los Angeles. Immortalized in the classic song, “Route 66,” performed by singers like Nat King Cole and Chuck Berry, the city was a transportation hub long before the tune rocked the airwaves. Just 20 miles from the Arizona border, it was founded as a rail depot in 1881, named after the Atlantic and Pacific Railroad’s paymaster, David Gallup. 

Route 66 is only part of Gallup’s story, though. Centuries before America’s Highway ran through town, it was a thriving crossroads for Indigenous trade, known to the Diné People as Na’Nizhoozhi, or “The Bridge.” Connecting cultures and eras, Gallup has long represented freedom, travel, entrepreneurship and communities coming together. 

Courtesy of the City of Gallup

Get Your Kicks in 2026

Route 66 will celebrate its 100th birthday in 2026 and to commemorate the occasion, the city is planning an extra special version of its annual “Freedom, Ride, Flight & Cruise” event. In its 11th year, the three-day festival will celebrate cars, motorcycles, hot air balloons and the legendary highway itself. The event will kick off with a Friday evening cookout, followed by a classic car show in Historic Downtown Gallup on Saturday morning. Saturday’s events include circus performers, fire breathers, food trucks, kids’ activities, live music, vendors and a car cruise. After the cars go cruising, they’ll be welcomed back to town with a tunnel of fire created by the burners of 66 hot air balloons. On Sunday, America’s Most Patriotic Small Town (as Gallup is known) will host a hot air balloon flight at Red Rock Park. 

“It will be a really nice downtown celebration for everybody,” says Matt Robinson, tourism and marketing manager for the City of Gallup. “But throughout the year, we have a number of events planned – every month there’s something to do.” 

Courtesy of the City of Gallup

Some highlights include the Gallup Summer Indian Dances and Art Market, featuring Native American dancing and artwork taking place three nights a week all summer long. In August, the 104th annual Gallup Inter-Tribal Indian Ceremonial showcases Indigenous art, dance, music and rodeo. Rodeos are another major seasonal event, and they happen nearly every week. In December, Gallup hosts the Red Rock Balloon Rally, featuring 150 hot air balloons soaring over sandstone rock formations. 

A Year-round Destination

Beyond its events, Gallup is a year-round destination that’s excellent for outdoor recreation thanks to the region’s numerous hiking and biking trails. It’s also a hub for lovers of Native American art and jewelry – Gallup is home to dozens of trading posts that are a cultural experience in themselves. 

“We have several historic trading posts throughout the community. They’re unique shopping opportunities for people – they sell a variety of goods: jewelry, blankets, pottery and art,” says Robinson. “What’s really neat is that the stuff is sourced from the community and the region around us, so you can buy a piece of jewelry where the materials are sourced from, where the artist lives. A lot of times you’re able to actually meet the artists and talk to them and learn more about the piece itself.” 

Get to the heart of things and plan your Gallup adventure at VisitGallup.com.