March 05, 2018

Via the City of Springfield:

More than 50,000 Route 66 revelers came to downtown Springfield last year for the 7^th annual festival celebrating Springfield, Missouri as the Birthplace of Route 66.

Festival organizers Aaron Sachs & Associates, Ozarks on Two Wheels, KY3/KSPR and the City of Springfield hope to top that number in 2018 with an all-free musical act lineup that includes favorite Branson acts on the KY3/KSPR stage in Park Central Square and regional favorites Lyal Strickland, Mark Chapman, Blue Plate Special, Makenna & Brock, Laura Ashley, the Mixtapes, Machine Gun Symphony, Dirty Saints and Dr. Zhivegas, Justice Adams, Papa Green Shoes and The Hurricanes on the Aaron Sachs Stage in Motorcycle Village.

“We have some surprises planned for this year’s festival that we’re pretty excited about,” Sachs said. “There’s such a rich heritage and tradition with Springfield being the Birthplace of Route 66. I can see a day where this festival will draw more than 100,000 people.”

Returning to the festival this year is the Open Road Girl Rally, the Authors, Artists, Collectors & Associations expo at The Old Glass Place, Vendor Village, the Birthplace of Route 66 Festival Parade and the 6.6K Run/3.3K Walk. Motorcycle Village on the east side of the festival footprint will again be in full swing with live music, the Harley-Davidson Demo Truck, live stunt shows, the Gypsy Tour Poker Run and other motorcycle-geared entertainment and vendors.

“We have come a long way with this festival since it began in 2011,” said festival founder David Eslick. “With last year’s 450 cars, 2,900 motorcycles and 53,000 spectators, as well as the Friday night parade that drew 400 plus cars, it has become the largest event in downtown Springfield.”

If you’re contemplating entering the 2018 Birthplace of Route 66 Festival Car & Truck Show, don’t hesitate! Seven of the 11 zones have already sold out, with more than 200 cars registered. Online Those registered for the show are automatically registered for the parade. If you want to enter your vehicle or motorcycle in the parade but not the show, you can register for $10 at route66festivalsgf.com. Motorcycle Show registration will open soon.

“We are encouraging performing groups to contact us to perform at the parade grandstand and on floats, and we’d love more floats in the parade,” says Cora Scott, parade organizer and director of Public Information & Civic Engagement for the City of Springfield. “Please visit route66festivalsgf.com to enter your float or performing group for free, and to view photos and video from last year’s parade. We hope to have a parade contest this year, with prizes,” she added.

For more information, please visit route66festivalsgf.com or contact Cora Scott, City of Springfield, at 417-864-1009 or cscott@springfieldmo.gov.