The Route 66 Capital Cruise Parade, dedicated to the 100th anniversary of Route 66, attracted a crowd of viewers inside and along the Tulsa Community College Metro Campus on May 30, 2026.
TCC employees were able to view the parade from the second-floor balcony of the TCC Center for Creativity. In the Event Hall of the Center for Creativity, a massive poster featuring the Route 66 logo and the TCC mascot was installed to help TCC employees take family photos and make the event memorable. Finger food and drinks were served for the attendees during the “Watch Party.”
At the same time, the East 11th and 10th streets of Route 66 by the TCC Metro Campus were packed with spectators of the centennial Route 66 Capital Cruise Parade. “The Capital of Route 66” inflatable blue banner supported by two yellow posts with the Route 66 Capital Cruise Parade logo was placed above the road at the crossing of the East 11th and Main streets.
The parking lot on the northwestern side of 11th and Main streets was turned into an entertainment hub featuring a band singing famous American songs, a roller skater performing his figures for the crowd, a seating area with wooden tables and benches, and souvenir booths.
When the first classic cars began to pass the TCC Metro Campus area of Route 66, the crowd started to shout, whistle, and wave their hands, greeting the car drivers-participants of the parade. The variety of classic car designs, models, and exterior car decorations was overwhelming. Approximately 4,000 cars participated in the parade. These are antique Fords, Chevrolets, Buicks, Pontiacs, Toyotas, and so on. Some cars were shiny and perfectly restored, but others were left rusted on purpose to display how old they were.
The Route 66 Capital Cruise Parade broke the Guinness World Record in the category of the largest classic car parade with 3,596 cars on May 30, 2026. The previous record was 2,491 vehicles in Puerto Rico in 2017.
“Two years of planning and preparation have led us to this moment,” said Ken Busby, executive director and CEO of the Route 66 Alliance in Tulsa, noted on his Facebook page. “More than 4,800 cars from 48 states were registered for the centennial parade.”
According to Lori Fullbright, news anchor from KOTV Channel 6, Tulsa’s Route 66 Capital Cruise Parade has beaten the previous Guinness World Record by 44 percent.
The level of viewer excitement and satisfaction was incredibly high at the event.
“It is such a good parade,” said Tulsan Taylor Thompson. “I can see a lot of cars; it brings memories from my childhood.”
Jahdu Williams, a roller skater for “Inspyral Circus,” stated that the parade was “really nice.” “I was able to have fun and enjoy cars,” he said.
Tracie Beagle, owner of “Dirty Bird Clothing,” who was selling her products at the event, said she was happy witnessing the Guinness World Record.
Renee Bales, who has lived in Tulsa for her entire life, said, “I like the parade. It is really cool.”
Bales’s male dog, Mozzy, behaved well the entire time of the car parade and let visitors pet him.
The Route 66 Capital Cruise Parade has become one of the most memorable and incredible events for thousands of Oklahomans, guests from other states, and overseas, over the last decade.
