Downtown San Bernardino will fill with classic cars, music and visitors on Saturday, October 10, when the 13th Annual Rendezvous Back to Route 66 returns from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Hosted by the San Bernardino Area Chamber of Commerce and co-sponsored by the City of San Bernardino, the event is part of the city’s celebration of Route 66’s 100th anniversary. San Bernardino, CA
The all-day gathering gives residents a chance to see vintage and custom vehicles while spending time in the heart of the city. Organizers have announced live entertainment, food and craft vendors, and activities for families. The city says the annual event has drawn more than 1,200 classic vehicles and thousands of spectators in past years. San Bernardino, CA
This year carries two milestones. Route 66 was commissioned in 1926, making 2026 the highway’s centennial year. The Rendezvous is also marking 35 years of car show history in downtown San Bernardino. While the current event is in its 13th year under the Rendezvous Back to Route 66 name, its roots reach back to the larger downtown celebrations that many longtime residents remember. San Bernardino, CA
The Chamber says the Rendezvous moved downtown in 1992 and grew, at its peak, into a four-day festival spanning dozens of blocks. Economic changes and the loss of redevelopment funding later threatened its future. Chamber leaders, volunteers, sponsors and city partners helped carry the event forward in a new form. Its return each year gives residents a way to share that history with children and newcomers while welcoming visitors to local businesses. San Bernardino, CA, USA
Route 66 is part of San Bernardino’s physical landscape as well as its memories. The city points to Mount Vernon Avenue and Fifth Street as stretches of the historic road and highlights landmarks such as the Wigwam Motel and the Historic Original McDonald’s Museum as reminders of the travelers who passed through. The October car show brings that story into the present through the vehicles and people gathered downtown. San Bernardino, CA
Vehicle registration is open for custom vehicles from 1999 or earlier and for motorcycles; the organizer says other types of entries require advance approval. Visitors can find registration and event information on the Rendezvous Back to Route 66 website. San Bernardino, CA, USA
Event details: Saturday, October 10, 2026, from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. in downtown San Bernardino.