The 2024 Route 66 Festival is continuing this week after a big crowd attended Day Two of the celebration in Donley County at the old Jericho townsite.
Numerous vendors were on hand for the Jericho Star Gazing part Friday evening, and a crowd grew steadily throughout the evening with hopes of seeing celestial wonders through the telescopes of the Amarillo Astronomy Club that were set up near the old tourist courts.
Mother Nature provided an extremely pleasant evening with a cool breeze and low temperatures, but fickle as she sometimes is in the Panhandle, she gathered storm clouds from the north just as the stars began to peak out. As the sun set, lightning dancing in the distance caused the telescopes to be put away and the evening quickly dismissed.
Organizers and townsite owners Blair and Blanca Schaffer were very happy with the turnout and say they plan on hosting more events at Jericho this year. A metal-detecting party recently turned up some interesting artifacts, and the townsite is scheduled to host more Route 66 tourists this week as the festival’s East Bus tour brings a load of Mother Road enthusiasts to the ghost town on Wednesday.
The West Bus tour will explore Panhandle points on Route 66 west of Amarillo on Thursday, and more events are scheduled throughout the week with the festival wrapping up Saturday in Amarillo. Check out more information at VisitAmarillo.com/TX66Fest.
Following last week’s Star Gazing Party, Jericho Route 66 decals are now available at the Clarendon Visitor Center. Pick one up weekdays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
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