SPRINGFIELD, Mo. (KY3) – The annual Birthplace of Route 66 Festival is back for another year, and with the centennial anniversary around the corner, it’s one you won’t want to miss.
An estimated 65,000 people from Springfield and beyond will gather in downtown to celebrate the history of the cross-country roadway that originated in the city.
“Festivals like this and events that bring people together face to face, connecting one another,” said festival event director Cora Scott, “especially from diverse backgrounds, are important to the health of society. We truly believe that society depends on people coming together, despite our differences and having a good time, celebrating what is good in this world. We hear so much about what is bad in this world. These types of events do the opposite.”
The festival began over a decade ago as a neighborhood car show, which evolved into a citywide event showcasing what makes Springfield and Route 66 so special.
You can see both new and vintage cars, the motorcycle village, music on three different stages, vendors, and of course, the parade Friday night.
It’s a celebration of travel at the end of the day, and it’s a place where you can see how it evolved and how it still brings people together.
“This whole festival celebrates the Americana of the old-fashioned road trip and a new modern era,” Scott said. “You see a lot of social media influencers getting in vans and talking about van life as they travel across the country. That’s all a part of this as well. It isn’t just specifically about automobile traffic but about that open road and getting out and exploring America.”
There will be some road closures during the event. Click here to learn more about when specific sections will be closed.
New in 2025, downtown businesses right in the heart of the route are getting involved and showing their love for the city.
“When we have these healthy, vibrant businesses downtown,” she said, “it ripples out in multiple impacts to the rest of the community. Being more involved this year in the festival, I think, will just showcase them even more. We’ve extended that footprint to the south on Walnut, so we have some Walnut businesses that are getting involved. They were outside the footprint last year and said, ‘We wanna be in the footprint because 65,000 people is coming to this, and we want to connect with them.’”
The two-day festival starts at noon on Friday, August 8, and goes until 11 p.m. It reopens at 8 a.m. on Saturday.
If you would like to volunteer for the festival, you can sign up on Friday before it begins. Click here for details.
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