Illinois State Museum to host Route 66 Monarch Festival Sept. 12 at the Illinois State Fairgrounds

Families can enjoy an outdoor screening of the movie "Cars" in the evening

SPRINGFIELD - The Illinois State Museum (ISM) will host the Route 66 Monarch Festival with a variety of family-friendly activities from on Saturday, Sept. 12 at the Illinois State Fairgrounds in Springfield. The museum is among those celebrating the centennial of U.S. Route 66 - the Mother Road - in 2026.

Visitors can enjoy free games, activities, giveaways, food trucks and more from 2 to 6 p.m. The festival will feature a butterfly release at 4 p.m. and story time at 5 p.m. Native plants will be available while supplies last. From 6-8 p.m. the event will conclude with a free screening of the Disney-Pixar movie "Cars." Families are encouraged to bring lawn chairs.

"We wanted to host a family-friendly festival that highlights this unique blend of science and history," said ISM registrar of history Amanda Bryden. "What better way to celebrate than by pairing our state insect, an important pollinator, with the 100th anniversary of U.S. Route 66?"

The natural migration flyway of monarch butterflies in Illinois overlaps with Route 66. To celebrate Illinois' state insect and the Mother Road's centennial, the festival will take place among the neon signs and pollinator gardens at the Route 66 Experience near Gate 2 of the fairgrounds.

"This is an exciting and vibrant way to celebrate Illinois' nature and history," said Alex Ruger, ISM curator of science education. "We are grateful to our community exhibitors and colleagues who are helping make this event possible. We hope this will be the first of many Monarch Festivals to come."

About the Illinois State Museum

Established in 1877, the Illinois State Museum is a dynamic institution that inspires the exploration of Illinois' past and present to inform and enrich everyday life and promote stewardship of cultural and natural resources. Headquartered in Springfield with branch facilities in Lewistown and Lockport, ISM is accredited by the American Alliance of Museums and a proud member of the International Coalition of Sites of Conscience.