Organizers for the Birthplace of Route 66 Festival in Springfield, Missouri, say the recent event drew about 65,000 people, which tied the record set in 2019.
No festival occurred in 2020 and 2021 due to the coronavirus pandemic. Organizers during previous festivals had projected attendance of 70,000 to 80,000 people.
According to the Springfield Business Journal:
City spokesperson Cora Scott said the downtown Springfield festival drew in attendees from 32 states and 18 countries.
With a “mile-long festival footprint,” the Aug. 11-13 event had 700 parade entries and car show registrants, 12,000 concert attendees with three days and nights of music acts, and 210 motorcycles in the motorcycle show and Poker Run events, Scott said.
The festival’s annual John T. Woodruff Award this year went to Scott and Phyllis Ferguson for promotion of the city, Route 66 and the festival, according to a news release. Ferguson is a former City Council member who serves as chief operating officer for Mexican Villa and owner of the Rockwood Motor Court on Route 66.
The Woodruff Award is named after longtime Route 66 booster and Springfield advocate John T. Woodruff. It was from his Colonial Hotel downtown where a telegram was sent to federal officials in 1926, asking the number 66 be used with the new highway.
Here’s a recap video of the festival:
I’m not aware whether organizers have announced a date for the 2023 festival. However, the event typically falls on the second weekend of August, so keep your calendars open for that time.
(Image from the 2022 Birthplace of Route 66 Festival via Facebook)