Sapulpa's Route 66 Christmas Chute is lighting back up after a year dark, with the free holiday display returning to downtown Sapulpa from Nov. 19 through Dec. 27, 2026. The comeback follows a 2025 hiatus forced by major reconstruction work on Dewey Avenue, and organizers say this year's version will be bigger and more tightly woven into the street itself than ever before.
According to Tulsa World, the Chute sat out 2025 while Dewey Avenue underwent a major overhaul, and this year's display sits in a newly configured stretch of Route 66 in downtown Sapulpa. The Sapulpa Times reported that the Christmas Chute Committee made the call to pause rather than compete with construction crews, with organizers saying at the time, “the Christmas Chute Committee has decided the best way forward is to take a pause in 2025,” adding that “we will be back in 2026 to celebrate the Centennial Anniversary of Route 66,” per Sapulpa Times.
That timing lines up with Route 66's 100th birthday, and organizers have leaned into the milestone as part of the relaunch. Tami Fleak, logistics coordinator for the Route 66 Christmas Chute, told Tulsa World that the attraction “It really has piqued interest” and “It's got a lot of traction this year.”
A Street Rebuilt Around the Lights
The reconstructed Dewey Avenue isn't just a backdrop this time around — it's part of the structure. The Sapulpa Times reported that the redesigned Chute will utilize some of the architectural pieces of the new streetscape as part of its framework, and 96.5 KRMG reported that each new light pole along Dewey Avenue was engineered to double as a structural support for the Christmas Chute, a detail confirmed by the city's own construction planning, according to 96.5 KRMG.
Per Tulsa World, the Chute extends across six blocks of Dewey Avenue and includes canopies decorated by volunteers, along with pop-up shopping and food trucks. The event also offers heated clear plastic igloos for rent, giving visitors a warm spot to sit among the display. The official event site describes the overall footprint as 60,000 lights across 21,000 square feet of Christmas decor, according to route66christmaschute.com.
Eleven Themes, Including a New Surf-Inspired Santa
Tulsa World reports the Chute will feature 11 decoration themes this season. The Sapulpa Times reported that most of the existing themes are returning, alongside a newcomer: “most of the themes will be returning, with the addition of a new one, called 'Surfin' Santa.'” Families can also catch pictures with Santa beginning Nov. 27 and miniature train rides beginning Dec. 7.
The season kicks off with a lights-on celebration Nov. 19, with festivities beginning at 4:30 p.m., according to News On 6's report on the event's return, which also described this year's event as expected to be the biggest Christmas Chute yet, tied to Route 66's 100th anniversary, per News On 6. The event website lists daily hours of 5 p.m. to 10 p.m.; lights turn on at 4:30 p.m. and off at 11 p.m.
Downtown Shops Extend Hours as Crowds Return
Tulsa World reports that downtown merchants plan to offer extended shopping hours while the Christmas Chute runs through Dec. 27. Event organizers are also seeking volunteers to provide directions, answer questions, take photos and handle other duties once the lights go on, per Tulsa World's reporting.
The draw has been building for years. The Oklahoman reported that in 2023, the Chute drew more than 400,000 visitors, a scale that helped cement its reputation as one of the region's marquee holiday attractions, according to The Oklahoman. The Chute committee itself described 2024 as a record year for visitors, per the Sapulpa Times, though reports differ on the precise reach of out-of-town guests that year — KJRH reported visitors came from 40 states and over a dozen countries, while the Sapulpa Times reported visitors from more than 40 states and over a dozen countries around the world.
Tulsa World reports the Chute has drawn visitors from every U.S. state and at least 30 countries over its run, underscoring why organizers are treating the 2026 reopening as a centennial-year showcase rather than just a routine relaunch. The event remains free to attend, offering families what Tulsa World describes as a way to create holiday memories together in downtown Sapulpa.
