Cruising Through History: Edgewood Car Show Celebrates Father’s Day and Route 66 Centennial

EDGEWOOD — A historic milestone and classic American automotive design will take center stage this weekend as the 23rd Annual Father’s Day Car Show rolls into Edgewood.

The highly anticipated community tradition, scheduled for Sunday, June 21, 2026, from 9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., will double as a grand celebration marking 100 years of the iconic Route 66.

The festivities officially kick off a day early with the Route 66 100-Year Celebration Cruise, inviting drivers to take to the historic highway on Saturday, June 20. The cruise is scheduled for an 8 a.m. start at Icon Cinemas (13129 Central Ave, Albq.) with stops at the Tijeras Fire Station, Edgewood Auto Zone, Moriarty City Park (for lunch), Whiting Brothers Route 66, Edgewood at the Old Denny’s.”

Hosted in the Walmart parking lot at the intersection of New Mexico Highway 344 and Church Road, the event is free to the public. Organizers expect a massive turnout of automotive enthusiasts, families, and regional cruisers for a weekend packed with food trucks, silent auctions, games, and a pie-eating contest.

A Classic Icon Takes the Spotlight

This year’s official featured vehicle is a customized 1957 Chevrolet Bel Air. Universally recognized as an American icon, the ’57 Bel Air represents the peak of General Motors’ celebrated “Tri-Five” generation (spanning 1955–1957).

Known affectionately as the “Baby Cadillac” due to its premium chrome accents, the 1957 model is famous for its distinctive, sharp rear tail fins and jet-aircraft-inspired front bumper dual “torpedo” guards. The ’57 Bel Air was also a massive technological leap for its era, famously introducing the optional 283-cubic-inch “Super Turbo-Fire” V8 engine, which offered a groundbreaking Rochester Ramjet continuous-flow fuel injection system—making it one of the first production passenger cars to achieve the coveted milestone of one horsepower per cubic inch.

Giving Back to the Community

Beyond the sleek paint jobs and vintage horsepower, the event serves a philanthropic purpose. Organizers announced that all proceeds from the event—including the $20 contestant vehicle entry fees—will benefit The Care Net Pregnancy Center.

With over 150 trophies up for grabs, competitors will showcase an array of hot rods, muscle cars, and classic cruisers. Attendees will also have the chance to walk away with major prizes, featuring a floor jack giveaway, a tool box giveaway, and more than $10,000 in total prize distributions throughout the afternoon.

For more information regarding vehicle registration or event scheduling, contact coordinator Tony Jaramillo Jr. at 505-459-2358.