2026 Events

March 10, 2026 2:00pm CST VIRTUAL

Research Route 66 — National Route 66 Centennial Speakers Series

“Women’s Work on Route 66” program based on Aprons Away.

Free but need access code at https://speakers.researchroute66.org/session-overview/mar-womens-work-on-route-66

 

April 18, 2026 festival 9:00am-2:00pm; program time TBA Washington, MO

Missouri Book Festival, Washington Public Library, 410 Lafayette St.

Free and open to the public. Program based on Aprons Away; books available for purchase and signing.

 

April 19, 2026 2:00-4:00pm Edwardsville, IL

Book Signing at Goshen Coffee Cafe, 6120 Shoger Dr.

Open to the public. Aprons Away books available for purchase and signing.

 

April 23, 2026 East Alton, IL

Private event. Program & Book Signing.

 

April 25, 2026 11:00am-1:00pm Virden, IL

Book Signing at The Sly Fox Bookstore, 123 N. Springfield St.

Open to the public. Aprons Away books available for purchase and signing. It’s INDEPENDENT BOOKSTORE DAY!

 

May 1, 2026 11:00am St. Louis, MO

Route 66 Centennial Festival at Missouri History Museum

Open to the public. Author Talk at 11:00am: Aprons Away: Women’s Work on Route 66. Book signing after Author Talk.

 

May 2, 2026 1:00-3:00pm Normal, IL

Book Signing at Ryburn’s Gifts & Gab/Sprague’s Super Service

Open to the public. Books available for purchase and signing. It’s Illinois Route 66 Red Carpet Corridor weekend and this is a designated stop!

 

May 3, 2026 festival 1:00-3:00pm; program 1:15-2:15pm Mt. Olive, IL

Mother Jones Festival. Book signing in front of Mother Jones Museum. Program next door at Mt. Olive Library.

Open to the public. Books available for purchase and signing.

 

May 5, 2026 Springfield, IL

Abraham Lincoln Presidential Museum.

Private event.

 

May 9, 2026 1:00-3:00pm Belleville, IL

Presentation & Book Signing at Belleville Books

Open to the public. Presentation and Book Signing at Belleville Books located in a historic bank building.

June 6, 2026 11:00am-1:15pm Edwardsville, IL

3rd Birthday Party for the West End Service Station Route 66 Visitors Center

Open to the public. 11:00am-1:00pm Birthday Party & Book Signing. !:00 pm Brief Book Talk & Reading

 

June 8, 2026 11:30am MDT VIRTUAL (from Albuquerque, NM)

Albuquerque Oasis — Lifelong Adventure

“Women’s Work on Route 66” program based on Aprons Away.

Private virtual event for Oasis members nationwide — check with your local Oasis headquarters or national headquarters in Albuquerque.

 

June 11, 2026 6:00-7:30pm Granite City, IL

THIS EVENT IS BEING RESCHEDULED — NEW DATE COMING SOON.

Program & Book Signing at Six Mile Regional Library

Open to the public. “Women’s Work on Route 66”program followed by Book Signing.

 

June 13, 2026 10:00am-7:00pm Edwardsville, IL

Edwardsville annual Route 66 Festival.

Books available with Book Signing all day 10:00am-7:00pm at the Authors & History Tent.

 

June 14, 2026 2:00pm St. Louis, MO

“Iconic Conversations” Speaker Series at the historic Old Courthouse

Hosted by Gateway Arch National Park & Jefferson National Parks Association

“Women’s Work on Route 66” program based on Aprons Away. Program followed by Book Signing.

(See webpage below and, for complete speaker list, at https://www.jnpa.com/751/speakers.htm

 

June 17, 2026 7:00pm Lockport, IL

Program & Book Signing at White Oak Library

Open to the public. “Women’s Work on Route 66”program followed by Book Signing.

 

June 20, 2026 11:00am-1:00pm AND 2:00-4:00pm Litchfield, IL

Litchfield Museum & Route 66 Welcome Center

Open to the public. Morning and afternoon book signing sessions plus see the museum! This is a big tour day as well!

 

BOOK TOUR DATES — on/about June 23 through on/about July 11

Some dates available for booking during that time period in Missouri and Oklahoma.

Events booked during that time period will be announced soon!

July 13, 2026 Wood River, IL

Private event. Program & Book Signing.

 

July 23, 2026 6:00-7:00pm Alton, IL

Hayner Public Library

Free and open to the public. Presentation based on new book, Aprons Away: Women’s Work on Route 66, followed by book signing. Hayner Public Library is located in Alton Square Mall.

August 9, 2026 1:00-4:00pm Litchfield, IL

Litchfield Museum & Route 66 Welcome Center

Open to the public. Book Signing during Sunday 1:00-4:00pm open hours! Pickers Market in downtown Litchfield during the day.

 

August 13, 2026 9:00-10:00am St. Louis, MO

The National Museum of Transportation

RSVP required. Program based on new book Aprons Away: Women’s Work on Route 66, followed by book signing.

 

BOOK TOUR DATES — on/about August 17 through on/about September 8

Some dates available for booking during that time period in New Mexico and possibly neighboring states.

Events booked during that time period will be announced soon!

 

October 3, 2026 Time TBA Edwardsville, IL

Edwardsville Book Festival in City Park

Look for me at this fun event in City Park with numerous other area authors and book booths! I will have copies of all my books available for purchase and signing.

 

PAST Events:

History Comes Alive returns for its 16th Season!

Springfield, Illinois — Visit Springfield!

In its 16th season, the popular History Comes Alive series says, “Join us this summer as we bring history to life with our most talented cast of historical reenactors yet!”

Cheryl’s presentation: Adventurers, Crusaders, and Entrepreneurs: The Women of Illinois Route 66

Program Date: Saturday July 19th, 2025 at 3pm at the Pharmacy Gallery & Art Space 623 E. Adams St.

 

Cheryl Eichar Jett with book display at 2025 Edwardsville Route 66 Festival.

Edwardsville Route 66 Festival

Saturday, June 7, City Park on Route 66 (Vandalia Street/State Route 157, Edwardsville, IL. Park in public lots or use street parking.

Six Route 66 Authors Meet-and-Greet & Sign Books

Anne Maro Slanina, Joe Sonderman, Tracy and Peter Flucke, and Sharon Porterfield will join me in the Authors Tent behind Edwardsville Library at City Park!