Jubilee Celebration in Carlinville on June 26
By RUTH GILL
Enquirer~Democrat Reporter
Countdown is on for the Old-Fashioned Route 66 Jubilee in Carlinville. There will be a massive event on the Macoupin County Courthouse lawn in the afternoon, and evening activities around the city square in Carlinville on 6-26-26, which is the Carlinville zip code day. (Friday, June 26, 2026). From noon till 6 p.m., several old-fashioned themed activities will be held on the west side lawn of the Courthouse, and then more festivities will take place on the Square from 5 p.m. – 10 p.m.
The fun begins at 11 a.m., Friday, on the lawn with a parade, watch for the Model A cars and historic trucks who will pass by before noon heading to the Jubilee, which is, according to Sheriff Shawn Kahl, “a picnic type atmosphere for families on the Courthouse lawn, the way it used to be.”
The cars and trucks will pass by the South side of the Courthouse on their way into town, hoping to arrive at the City Square at the sound of the noon whistle, which signals the start of the Jubilee. A former Carlinville resident, Doug Brockhouse, will be driving his Model A and bringing along members of the St. Louis Model A Restorers Club to launch the Celebration of 100 years on the Mother Road, Route 66. “This is a fun thing to do, but timing is going to keep us all guessing, with Model A’s driving to Carlinville from St Louis, who will be doing their best to arrive on time,” said Bobbi Bates, City of Carlinville, and one of the event organizers. The local Police will provide an escort into town, and the parade of cars and trucks will drive to the Courthouse area, park, and be on display during the afternoon Jubilee.
Hats Boots and Pearl Snaps will sing their brand of music from 11 a.m. -12 p.m., entertaining the crowd who waits and watches as the parade of cars and trucks passes on Old Route 66 between the Courthouse and Cannonball Jail. Everyone is asked to bring their lawn chairs and plan to move them around to their favorite spot as the day goes on.
The Jubilee Emcee, Dan St Onge, and Mayor Downey will welcome the community at “Home Base” on the West side of the Courthouse lawn as the cars and trucks park.
Music gets lively at 12:30 p.m. on the Heinz Jubilee Stage with Road Scholar singer-storyteller Chris Vallillo, who will perform till 2 p.m. The 2 – 4 p.m. performance will be by Butch Moore and Paul Neihaus, well-known musicians from the Edwardsville area. From 4 p.m. – 6 pm, Devan C. Williams, 2nd runner-up in his region at the International Blues Festival, will be back in the US after a recent tour abroad, to rock the stage with his resonator guitar, cigar box guitar, soulful sounds, and a beat that will leave you wanting more.
Music Jammers from Gillespie and Kincaid jam groups will be performing from noon to 1 p.m., or possibly longer if there are requests. This event will be located near the North steps of the Courthouse, near the Rotary food tent. Greg Vocks of Kincaid will be performing the Carlinville 62626 song he wrote for the Jubilee in honor of the 100th anniversary of the Mother Road, Route 66. Several other members of the jam groups who are songwriters will include Charlie Wayman of Gillespie and Larry and Ali Moreau of the “Just Friends” band, both of whom play in central Illinois. These “Songwriters in the Round” will amaze you with the variety and talent that represent the Gillespie and Greg Volks Barn jam groups. Larry Moreau is your host, with Carlinville and local Carlinville player Gene Hutson providing the sound system.
Read the full story in the June 25, 2026 issue of the Macoupin County Enquirer~Democrat.
