28th Annual Toast to Harry Caray

Route 66’s Centennial Celebration Culminates with the Iconic Toast to Harry Caray

Chicago marks a new beginning for an iconic American journey with the official designation of Navy Pier as the new symbolic starting point of historic Route 66, commemorating the Mother Road’s 100th anniversary alongside the 28th Annual Worldwide Toast to Harry Caray.

The daylong celebration kicks off with a sign dedication ceremony at 10:30 a.m. and reaches the finish line with the annual Toast to Harry at 5:30 p.m. During the dedication, the City of Chicago will formally unveil a new Route 66 sign installed at Navy Pier, marking it as the new symbolic starting point of the Trail and creating a symbolic pier-to-pier journey from Navy Pier in Chicago to the Santa Monica Pier in California.

Throughout the day, guests can look forward to a full lineup of “roadside attractions,” including live music and entertainment featuring special performances by the Plain White T’s; classic car displays from the Volo Auto Museum; vintage Route 66 memorabilia; alpacas from the Chicago High School for Agricultural Sciences, representing those found along Route 66 in Arizona; and more.

Timed to coincide with the 100th Anniversary of Route 66 and Opening Day of the baseball season, the celebration ties together two great American traditions — the open road and America’s pastime — through the larger-than-life spirit of another timeless American icon, Harry Caray.