Pontiac Tourism

09/03/2026

Pontiac was nominated for four different categories 🎉 Public support makes all the difference - please cast your vote and share this with your family, friends, and neighbors to help spread the word!

IT’S TIME TO VOTE FOR THE 2026 SCENIC BYWAY AWARD FINALISTS!

The First Annual Illinois Route 66 Scenic Byway Awards Gala will be a special evening exclusively for Illinois Route 66 Scenic Byway members, celebrating the businesses, communities, attractions, organizations, and individuals who help preserve, promote, and strengthen the Mother Road across Illinois. The inaugural event will take place on November 10th at Ace Sign Company Museum.

It’s time to vote for the incredible businesses, communities, attractions and people who help make Illinois Route 66 the Mother Road we know and love.

Help us vote for the best in each category. Voting is open September 1 and close September 14. ANYONE CAN VOTE!

Begin voting here:
https://bit.ly/BywayAwardNominations2026

Please note: The voting categories feature a selection of eligible Illinois Route 66 Scenic Byway members for consideration in this year’s awards.

09/03/2026

Labor Day weekend in Pontiac is packed with events across downtown and the surrounding area, check them out below! 🎉

For more details on each event, visit the community calendar: https://visitpontiac.org/events/

09/02/2026

New Art Cars Alert! 🎨 🚗 Two of our recently completed art cars have found their new homes in Downtown Pontiac, IL.

First up is the Pontiac Holiday Tournament car, which is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year. Designed by Diaz Sign Art, this art car can be found on Mill Street, next to Julie Moore's REMAX / Vision Homes Group office.

Next up is the Pontiac Township High School art students art car, celebrating the 100th anniversary of Route 66. Find it on Madison Street, in front of Jurassic Gemstones and the old Sartoris building.

We love seeing the creativity and personality that our local artists bring to these cars. Make sure to check them out next time you are downtown!

Have an idea for an art car of your own? Applications are on a rolling basis, so apply today by clicking this link:

https://www.pontiac.org/m/newsflash/home/detail/702

08/31/2026

Do you have your tickets? One night only at The Eagle Performing Arts & Conference Center in Downtown Pontiac, IL

Screening of ROUTE 66 documentary film + live Q&A with filmmaker John Paget. One Night Only! - Sat, Sep 5, 2026 - Pontiac, IL - Get tickets online

08/27/2026

Thank you 25News WEEK for having us on to talk about the upcoming Route 66: The Main Street of America film screening and thank you to Melissa from Visit BN for joining in! Tickets are on sale for the September 5th film screening at The Eagle Performing Arts & Conference Center now.

08/25/2026

Lets take it back to 2007 - the year the iconic Shield Mural was born!

Designed by Diaz Sign Art, the Route 66 Shield Mural is what inspired this entire photo contest and continues to be one of the many reasons visitors stop in Pontiac to capture their Route 66 memories. We can't wait for it to be accessible again when Centennial Plaza is completed next month - and we hope you’re excited too!

Have a photo of the Shield Mural? Submit your photos here before our contest closes next month: https://shrpa.com/upload/pontiacil/contest

08/25/2026

Our very own Rosalie Geralds had the chance to meet Richard Quest from Quest's World of Wonder on CNN International! She gave him some great tips for his travels (and quite a bit of banter).

As Route 66 turns 100, we meet the characters keeping its history alive.

08/19/2026

We love seeing progress! Last Friday, Centennial Plaza was busy with construction activity as the historic Route 66 brickwork was carefully laid back down in front of the Shield Mural.

Plaza completion is getting so close—we can feel it! We can’t wait to see it all come together!

08/18/2026

The Mother Road's story deserves the big screen.

Experience it for yourself on Saturday, September 5 at The Eagle Performing Arts & Conference Center during a screening of Route 66: The Main Street of America film, right here in Pontiac!

Join fellow Route 66 enthusiasts as we celebrate the history, people, and communities that have made America's most iconic highway a legend. Purchase your tickets below:

https://mainstreetofamerica.myeventscenter.com/event/Pontiac-Il-Screening-Route-66-The-Main-Street-Of-124070?fbclid=IwY2xjawTduBtleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETF5cDhkbWtwYzdhMEQ1ZG1Jc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHkacuAj9OwXhEtIkKNn8dLHAOWzVdHP9gUfy7YN9zKwzd4_pfWCbvOKYcsXp_aem_Tn16kdtiSl2Rns6HCWUXog