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Blue Hippo Festival 2026
Edmond History Museum is celebrating Edmond’s placement along Route 66 in a big, blue HUMONGOUS way!
The Route 66 Blue Hippo Festival, is June 6, 2026, from 4:00PM to 9:00PM. The festival is themed around Edmond’s fun Route 66 icon, the Blue Hippo. Free family-friendly activities, performances, artists, 50+ vendors, and all things blue, will take place at the Edmond History Museum and in Stephenson Park in Edmond, Oklahoma.
Quirky and Educational: In addition to carnival-style activities, visitors can participate in hippo and Route 66 Trivia throughout the park. Be part of a community art project and hippo-themed activities, such as the Hungry Hungry Hippo game station. Try to win a Hot Wheels race, tour the Historic Rodkey House and American Legion Hut, or purchase one of the hippo art pieces being created LIVE during the festival. Just to create the right atmosphere, visit the 20+ blue classic cars and trucks on 4th street, and musicians will perform the BLUES and pop in the park pavilion.
Sponsors:Presented by Bank 7, the festival is free to visitors and is hosted in partnership with Visit Edmond, Edmond Parks and Recreation, Edmond Financial Advisors of Edward Jones, Oklahoma Christian Academy, Arledge CPA, Cameron and Besty Mantor, Larry and Leah Westmoreland, Norman Air, RS Fuel, AT&T Mobility, and Anonymous.
Musicians at the Pavilion:
4-5:30 Big G Blues Band with Garrett Jacobson
6-7:30 From A to Z, pop with Zach and April Gaddis
8-9:30 OK3, contestants on Season 25 of “The Voice”
Performances/ Activities:
4-6:00 Soltani Music School Performances
4-6:00 Bart Taylor, Roper
4-7:00 Dancing with Grandma
4-7:00 Blue Hippo Storytime with Anita, each hour
4-8:00 N-Rail Model Trains
5-7:00 Troy Scott, magician
5:30-6 Ballet Folclórico Xochipilli OKC
6:30-7:30 McTeggart Irish Dancers of OK
7-8:00 Chelsea Parks, Hooplahoma
Live Art Demonstrations:
4:00 Jay Tracy (painter) and Clint Stone (painter)
5:00 Talla Jurney (youth painter) and Matthew Nelson (painter)
6:00 Forrest McKinley (cartoonist) and Katelyn Noel Knick (painter)
7:00 Troy Scott (caricatures) and Elizabeth Czaplinski (printmaking)
8:00 Janet Funk (etching) and Sara Whitehead (mixed media)
Blue Hippo History: The origin of Edmond’s Blue Hippo is mysterious, but the icon debuted at 12th & Broadway in 1991. The hippo, left over from a former construction company, once sprayed water from its “box” at an unknown water park. He was repainted and has served as a community icon and a roadside photo stop ever since. Although the Blue Hippo will remain in his current location, festival attendees are welcome to stop by and take a selfie. At the festival, a blue hippo art replica will be on display at the Museum’s Edmond’s Route 66 exhibit and custom blue hippo merchandise will be for sale.
Edmond Route 66: Since 1926, Edmond has been a stop along Route 66, turning a corner at downtown Edmond, heading south into Oklahoma City. Although Edmond was primarily an agricultural town early on, Route 66 allowed for the development of new revenue services that accommodated travelers: gas stations, auto repair shops, restaurants, and motor courts (motels). Now, Route 66 stretches over 13 miles through the center of Edmond, offering a variety of businesses, amenities, parks, and tourist stops ranging from Arcadia Lake to the Blue Hippo on Broadway.
Visit EdmondHistory.org for further information and continuous updates.
Museum Information:
Edmond History Museum’s regular hours are 10:00-5:00 Monday – Friday and 1:00-4:00 Saturdays. Admission is free. More information can be found on the museum website at www.EdmondHistory.org or by calling 405-340-0078. Museum located at 431 S. Boulevard, Edmond, OK 73034.