May 2: Historic Route 66 Fun Run & First Friday Festival
KINGMAN — As temperatures settle into their mild spring sweet spot, Kingman is rolling into May with a roster of events that celebrate Route 66 heritage, local arts and a thriving outdoor scene. Classic cars, mountain bikes, comic‑book heroes and community festivals will fill weekends from the first rumble of vintage engines to the final note of a park‑side concert.
The excitement begins Friday, May 2, when more than 800 antique and custom vehicles participating in the Historic Route 66 Fun Run reach downtown for their annual Show & Shine. By 9 a.m. Beale Street and Andy Devine Avenue are bumper‑to‑bumper with polished steel as drivers swap stories with spectators. The display lasts until late afternoon, giving onlookers ample time to photograph Bel Air fenders and candy‑painted hot rods before the convoy departs Saturday morning for its last dash to Topock.
That evening, the city doubles down with its First Friday street festival. From 5:30 to 9 p.m., the historic district closes to traffic and opens to roller‑skate rentals, food‑truck aromas and live music that bounces between brick façades. Shops and galleries extend hours for sidewalk sales and artist meet‑and‑greets, creating a neon‑lit block party that draws both locals and visiting gearheads still lingering from the Fun Run.
May 9–10: Harley Ride & Spring Arts Weekend
Motor culture continues the following week. On Friday, May 9, Mother Road Harley‑Davidson hosts “Friday Ride,” a noon‑to‑6 p.m. gathering at 2501 Beverly Avenue. The dealership lot fills with food vendors, craft booths and test‑ride sign‑ups, welcoming curious non‑riders alongside seasoned bikers who slip out for quick spins on 2025 models.
Saturday, May 10, starts with the Arts & Crafts Saturday Market inside Connection Point Church’s domed hall at 4435 Shadow Road. From 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., shoppers browse handmade jewelry, woodworking and boutique clothing while kids raid bake‑sale tables. A few blocks west, Metcalfe Park hosts the 47th Kingman Festival of the Arts from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday. Dozens of regional painters, potters and photographers set up beneath shade trees, backed by live music, a beer garden and food‑truck row. Admission is free, and proceeds from artwork sales benefit Rotary service projects.
May 17–18: Chillin’ on Beale & Concert in the Park
Auto enthusiasts return to Beale Street a week later for Chillin’ on Beale. From 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday, May 17, classic cars, motorcycles and rat rods file into Locomotive Park simply to park, mingle and show off chrome. Earlier that morning, mountain‑bike riders gather at 10 a.m. at the Camp Beale Loop trailhead for “Chillin’ on the Trail,” a guided ride offering beginner to advanced routes through Monolith Gardens and White Cliffs, capped with a patio social at Grand Canyon Brewery.
Sunday, May 18, shifts gears to music when Sounds of Kingman launches its free Concert in the Park series at 2 p.m. in Metcalfe Park. Folding chairs and picnic baskets dot the lawn as local rock‑and‑roll outfit Rumble Seat kicks off the summer lineup.
May 21: Winning Wednesday Bingo
Midweek entertainment follows on Wednesday, May 21, when the Chamber of Commerce hosts Winning Wednesday Bingo at 6 p.m. in its Beale Street hall. A modest buy‑in grants multiple bingo cards and a shot at donated prizes, with proceeds supporting chamber programs.
May 24–25: King‑Con Pop‑Culture Expo
Memorial Day weekend invites pop‑culture fans to the Mohave County Fairgrounds for King‑Con, Saturday, May 24, and Sunday, May 25, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. A $15 ticket unlocks vendor aisles packed with comics, toys and artwork, plus photo ops with costumed superheroes and a cosplay contest that awards cash and bragging rights. Organizers have adopted a playful summer‑camp theme, complete with collectible merit badges for finishing scavenger‑hunt tasks around the hall.
May 31–June 1: Pioneer Country Gun & Knife Show
Kingman closes the month with the Pioneer Country Gun & Knife Show at the College Park Community Center, 1990 Jagerson Avenue, on Saturday, May 31, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday, June 1, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. A seven‑dollar ticket opens aisles of antique rifles, modern handguns, militaria and outdoor gear, plus a diner‑style lunch counter to keep browsers fueled.
Route 66 Spirit Keeps Spring in Full Throttle
From chrome and craft booths to bingo cards and comic heroes, Kingman’s May schedule offers a crowd‑pleasing mix that honors its Route 66 soul while embracing new traditions. Visitors and locals alike are invited to linger, wander and discover just how lively small‑town Arizona can be when spring hits full throttle.
