History of the Rendezvous
The Rendezvous Back to Route 66 came about after the San Bernardino Convention & Visitors Bureau’s Route 66 Rendezvous lost its funding from the City after 22 years. Throughout those years, the Rendezvous brought thousands of people to the four-day event. The San Bernardino Area Chamber of Commerce, in 2013, decided to keep the spirit of the Route 66 Rendezvous alive by putting together a two-day classic car show held at San Manuel Stadium that brought in fewer cars and a smaller audience. With the success of the Great Race event in June 2015, the City offered to help bring the Rendezvous back to the streets of Downtown on the same footprint as the Great Race.
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The original Route 66 Rendezvous began in 1990 as a modest one-day event at Glen Helen Regional Park, attracting 300 classic cars and 4,000 spectators1. Over the years, it grew into a major four-day festival, drawing over 2,000 classic and custom cars and half a million visitors from around the world. This event became a beloved tradition, celebrating the rich history of Route 66, also known as the “Mother Road,” which was established in the 1920s and fully paved by the 1930s.
Despite the funding challenges, the community’s passion for classic cars and the historic Route 66 never waned. The two-day event at San Manuel Stadium in 2013 was a testament to this enduring enthusiasm. Although it was smaller in scale, it kept the spirit of the Rendezvous alive and provided a platform for car enthusiasts to showcase their prized vehicles.
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The success of the Great Race event in June 2015, which saw vintage cars racing across the country and finishing in San Bernardino, reignited interest in the Rendezvous. Recognizing the potential to revive the beloved event, the City of San Bernardino stepped in to support its return to the downtown area. The Rendezvous Back to Route 66 was reintroduced, bringing back the vibrant atmosphere of classic cars cruising the streets, live entertainment, and family-friendly activities.
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Today, the Rendezvous Back to Route 66 continues to be a highlight in San Bernardino’s calendar, celebrating the legacy of Route 66 and the community’s love for classic cars. The event not only honors the past but also brings together people of all ages to enjoy the timeless charm of the “Mother Road.”
Downtown San Bernardino has welcomed classic car cruising for the past 34 years thanks to the Rendezvous.
Below, enjoy 34 years of Rendezvous artwork from 1990 to 2024.
The first Rendezvous took place in 1990 at Glen Helen Regional Park in Devore with 300 vehicles and about 4,000 spectators enjoying the cars. A cruise down “E” Street and a concert were highlights of that first event.
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In 1991, the event moved to the National Orange Show grounds and expanded with the help of the Over the Hill Gang.
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The Rendezvous moved to the heart of downtown San Bernardino in 1992. That year, more than 700 vehicles filled the streets in celebration of the 66th anniversary of Route 66 “The Mother Road.”
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The turning point that put the Rendezvous on the map as a major celebration for nostalgia buffs nationwide came in 1997. Stater Bros. Market, a locally owned supermarket chain, came on board as the title sponsor.
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Attendance continued to grow each year with a estimated attendance close to 500,000 for the last event in 2012.
The Cars Are The Stars
Car buffs from all over the country gather in San Bernardino to get their “Kicks on Route 66.” The Route 66 Rendezvous was a 4-day and 3-night cruisin’ classic car show encompassing 35 blocks of downtown.
Open to vehicles from 1900-1974, classics, muscle cars, hot rods, and trucks cruised the historic streets of San Bernardino.
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For the past 10 years, the Rendezvous Back to Route 66 continued the annual tradition of cruisin' the streets of downtown San Bernardino but on a smaller scale. The car show is one day and covers the streets in the immediate downtown area. Nevertheless, this event continues to sell out with 1,200 classic vehicles converging on downtown San Bernardino thanks to this grass-roots, community effort led by the Chamber of Commerce. Their efforts continued the excitement of the original Rendezvous on the streets of San Bernardino, "Where It All Began!"
