Please mark your calendar to celebrate all things Route 66 Aug. 11-12 at the seventh annual Birthplace of Route 66 Festival in downtown Springfield. Registration for the 2017 car and motorcycle show is open at route66festivalsgf.com. Printed registration forms are available widely at participating organizations.
Events will include the annual Birthplace of Route 66 Parade with a pre-parade party at the Birthplace of Route 66 Roadside Park, a two-day car and motorcycle show, a Gypsy Tour motorcycle poker run, the Birthplace of Route 66 Festival Signature Concert Series featuring country music superstars Big & Rich at the outdoor Aaron Sachs Stage on Friday night and Three Dog Night at the Gillioz Theatre Saturday night, free live music at Park Central Square and Jordan Valley Park, an outdoor movie, vendor villages, a 6.6K/3.3K run/walk and the annual two-day convention of Route 66 authors, artists, collectors and associations at The Old Glass Place (501 E. St. Louis St.)
“Birthplace of Route 66 Festival event partners KY3, Aaron Sachs & Associates and the Gillioz Theatre have again teamed up with the City of Springfield to host the best festival celebrating Route 66 in the U.S.,” says Cora Scott, director of Public Information and Civic Engagement for the City of Springfield. “We’re very excited about the entertainment we’re bringing in this year. With the variety of activities and events, there really is something for everyone.”
Scott credits a strong group of festival founders, including the West Central Neighborhood Alliance and the Route 66 Association of Missouri for recognizing the potential in creating a festival honoring Springfield’s heritage as the birthplace of the Mother Road.
“Their foresight and continued hard work to keep this festival going has been an inspiration,” she said.
New to the festival this year:
- Aaron Sachs & Associates is the official sponsor of the Birthplace of Route 66 Festival Car Show awards. All entries will have a chance of winning a Chevy crate motor, a new set of tires and wheels, Branson getaways and more.
- Aaron Sachs & Associates is bringing a special Route 66 exhibit to the Discovery Center. This hands-on learning exhibit will feature Route 66 past, present, and future information for kids and adults.
- A new motorcycle stunt show with extreme thrill rider Adam Holbrook.
- The Shrine Mosque will be hosting an indoor display of classic cars, featuring selections from the private collections of Warren Davis, Guy Mace and the Ozark Antique Auto Club.
- Finally, festival partners are very excited to announce the launch of the “Mother Roadster” car build, which will be unveiled at this year’s Route 66 Festival. This one-of-a-kind project will bring together the high-profile automotive community in the Ozarks to custom build a ’32 Ford Roadster, to be raffled off for charity and given to one lucky winner. Stay tuned for more details about this exciting development.
As in years past, vendors, food and live music will be available on and around Park Central Square Friday and Saturday. Vendors interested in participating in the festival are asked to contact Tom Mast at KY3 at tmast@ky3.com.
To register for the car and motorcycle show, please visit route66festivalsgf.com or pick up a registration form at one of the following locations:
- The Gillioz Theatre, 325 E. Park Central Square
- Springfield Convention & Visitors Bureau, 815 E. St. Louis
- Aaron Sachs & Associates offices, 3271 E. Battlefield Road, Suite 350
- Busch Municipal Building, 840 N. Boonville
- Chesterfield Family Center, 2511 W. Republic Road
- Doling Family Center, 301 E. Talmage
- Dan Kinney Family Center, 2701 S. Blackman Road
- Mediacom Ice Park, 635 E. Trafficway
- All Springfield-Greene County Library locations
- Route 66 Biker Gear, 2252 S. Campbell.
Completed registration forms must be received by the Gillioz Theatre by Aug. 1.
To purchase tickets for the Route 66 Signature Concert Series, please visit gillioztheatre.com.