San Bernardino Honors Veterans, Route 66 at Centennial Fete
Hundreds turned out for a veterans parade and a Route 66 centennial block party in downtown San Bernardino on Saturday.
Updated on Nov. 7, 2026 in Civic
San Bernardino held a parade honoring veterans and a Route 66 centennial block party on Saturday, drawing hundreds of people. The celebration followed last month's Rendezvous Back to Route 66 event in downtown San Bernardino.
Why it matters
The celebration honored veterans and military families and recognized the city's Route 66 heritage. It gives San Bernardino residents a local focal point for the highway's centennial.
The Route 66 Centennial Block Party featured live music, food vendors and cultural performances, with the Parks Department and San Bernardino Arts Association hosting car- and license-plate-themed crafts. Route 66 spans 2,000 miles, and the stub does not report final attendance figures for the event.
The players
Ching Lee Trenchard
Trenchard is a 20-year veteran of the Army's Military Intelligence Department who was named a parade grand marshal.
Gene Arnold
Arnold is a World War II veteran who was named a grand marshal of the San Bernardino parade.
Efren Herrera
Herrera is a World War II veteran who was named a grand marshal of the San Bernardino parade.
The details
The parade ran along Mt. Vernon Avenue from 16th St. to La Plaza Park, naming World War II veterans Gene Arnold and Efren Herrera as grand marshals alongside Ching Lee Trenchard. A military salute ceremony followed, and the city then hosted the Route 66 Centennial Block Party.
Timeline
Last month: the Rendezvous Back to Route 66 event returned to downtown San Bernardino.
Saturday, November 7, 2026: veterans parade, military salute and Route 66 Centennial Block Party held.
Industry Dynamics
The celebration places San Bernardino's local festivities within the broader centennial of Route 66, a 2,000-mile highway that runs from Chicago to Santa Monica and passes through the Inland Empire. Local events like this one tie community entertainment to the highway's heritage.
Residents can attend community events like this one, which were free-form, open-to-the-public gatherings featuring live music, food vendors and crafts. The celebration offered direct access to Route 66-themed activities in downtown San Bernardino.
The takeaway
Local centennial celebrations give residents an accessible way to connect with regional history. Checking city calendars can help you find similar civic events in San Bernardino.
Further reading
Explore more local happenings in San Bernardino Civic to see what else is planned around the city.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Redlands Daily Facts.
