Route 66 Birthday Party Ideas: Cruisin’ Into 66

We recently celebrated my mother-in-law’s 66th birthday, and as soon as I realized 66 = Route 66, I knew we had our theme!

We went with a fun “Cruisin’ Into 66” retro Route 66 party, and I loved how it turned out. We kept everything pretty simple with a vintage-inspired banner, pops of blue and red, balloons, good food and a fun signature mocktail.

This birthday was also extra meaningful for our family because my mother-in-law is officially one year cancer-free. ❤️ It made having everyone together to celebrate another year that much sweeter.

If you have someone turning 66, this is such an easy and fun theme to recreate. Here’s everything we did!

Cruisin’ Into 66 Decorations

I wanted the party to feel retro and fun, but still put together. I was a little bummed that so many Party City locations have closed, and I don’t always love ordering party decorations from Amazon because they can be hit or miss.

Where I Found the Decorations

I ended up having much better luck shopping in person! HomeGoods had some cute party finds, and I also used them for balloons. Then I headed to Hobby Lobby, where I found some really fun, nicer-looking decorations.

Instead of buying a complete Route 66 set, I focused on blue, red and cream with a few retro touches.

The “Cruisin’ Into 66” Banner

The statement piece was our “Cruisin’ Into 66” banner with the retro blue car. I had it printed at Office Depot, and it turned out SO cute!

You can also search “banner printing near me” to find a convenient local option.

CLICK HERE for FREE download of the banner. 

My Decorating Tip

You don’t need Route 66 written on everything! Pick one big statement piece, like the banner, and then coordinate your balloons, tableware and smaller decorations around it.

It keeps the theme cute without feeling overdone. ❤️

What We Served

I wanted the food to be delicious but EASY. I’d much rather spend the party enjoying time with everyone than be stuck cooking the entire time!

We served:

• Pizza — shop my favorite better frozen pizzas here
• Meatballs
• Fresh salads
• Simple sides
• Route 66 Spritz mocktails
• Homemade spiced birthday cake with cream cheese frosting

It was casual, family-friendly and perfect for a birthday party.

Easy Spiced Birthday Cake

For the birthday cake, I used an amazing spiced cake mix that made everything so much easier.

Shop the spiced cake mix I used

What You’ll Need

• 1 bag of eat G.A.N.G.S.T.E.R. spice cake
• 1/3 cup avocado oil
• 1 cup water
• 1/3 cup maple syrup
• 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
• 1 teaspoon alcohol-free vanilla, optional

How to Make It

Preheat your oven to 350°F.

Stir the oil, water and apple cider vinegar into the cake mix until a batter forms. The batter may seem a little loose.

If desired, add about 1/3 cup dried fruit or shredded carrots. You can also add a teaspoon of vanilla for extra flavor.

Pour the batter into an 8×8 cake pan and bake for approximately 28–30 minutes. For cupcakes, divide the batter between 12 muffin tins, filling each about 2/3 full, and bake for approximately 18–20 minutes.

I used avocado oil, which is also what the mix recommends for the best texture and taste.

Shop all of my cake must-haves

Easy Homemade Cream Cheese Frosting

I love making my own frosting because it only requires a handful of ingredients and tastes so good!

Ingredients

• 8 oz cream cheese, softened
• 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
• 2–3 cups powdered sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• Pinch of sea salt

Directions

Beat the softened cream cheese and butter together until smooth and fluffy.

Gradually add the powdered sugar until you reach your desired sweetness and consistency. Mix in the vanilla and a small pinch of sea salt.

That’s it!

Tip: Make sure the cake is completely cooled before frosting. If you want a thicker frosting for decorating, add a little more powdered sugar or chill the frosting before using.

Route 66 Spritz Mocktail 🍊

Shop my mocktail essentials

Of course, we needed a signature drink to go with the theme!

I made a super simple Route 66 Spritz that was fruity, bubbly and refreshing. The fresh fruit also makes it look so pretty in a big pitcher or drink dispenser.

Ingredients

• About 4 cups ice
• 1 part orange juice — I used about 1/2 bottle of Uncle Matt’s
• 1 part sparkling water — I used about 1/2 bottle of Mountain Valley sparkling water
• 1/4 part pomegranate juice
• Fresh orange slices
• Fresh strawberry slices

Directions

Fill a large pitcher or drink dispenser with ice.

Add equal parts orange juice and sparkling water, followed by approximately 1/4 part pomegranate juice.

Add plenty of fresh orange and strawberry slices, gently stir and serve!

A Very Special 66th Birthday ❤️

At the end of the day, the decorations and food were fun, but having our family together was the best part.

Celebrating 66 years of my mother-in-law AND one year cancer-free made this birthday particularly special.

I loved that the Route 66 theme gave us an excuse to do something playful without making the party complicated. A statement banner, a few retro details, easy food, homemade cake and a signature spritz were really all we needed.

If you have someone special cruisin’ into 66, I hope this gives you a little inspiration for celebrating them!