World Street Painting Festival
June 3, 2026 to June 6, 2026
The World Street Painting Festival has quickly become one of the most unique public art attractions along historic Route 66. Held in Joplin each June, the festival brings international 3D street artists to town to create massive optical illusion paintings directly on the pavement.
Most of the artwork is centered around Route 66 themes such as classic cars, roadside attractions, motorcycles, diners, Americana, and Southwest landscapes, but the real magic happens when you stand in the marked viewing spot. From the right angle, the flat pavement suddenly looks three-dimensional, making visitors appear like they’re riding motorcycles, flying in UFOs, skating through canyons, or sitting inside giant Route 66 scenes.
One of the coolest things about the festival is that you can literally become part of the artwork. Instead of just viewing the paintings, visitors are encouraged to step into them and take photos, making it one of the most interactive Route 66 attractions in Missouri.
The festival is a partnership between Visit Joplin and the Netherlands-based World Street Painting Foundation.
