More than two dozen business owners in downtown Springfield, Missouri, complained about the effect of the Birthplace of Route 66 Festival and asked for changes that might include moving it.
The Springfield Daily Citizen obtained a copy of the letter to the city and festival organizers signed by the 26 owners. They claimed the August festival, which pays tribute to the 1926 telegram sent from a downtown Springfield hotel that accepted the number 66 for the highway, has negatively impacted their businesses for the past few years.
The letter stated that road closures for the festival have caused ” a drastic reduction in customer traffic and sales,” with some businesses shuttering during the event itself.
It stated that businesses wanted to seek “a way to balance the needs of the community with the vitality of small businesses.” It expressed a desire to work something out with city and festival officials.
The Citizen reached out to Cora Scott, director of public information and civic engagement:
“The last thing the (festival organizers) want to do is hurt downtown,” said Scott, who was surprised by the level of concern. Only a few of the signees had reached out to Scott directly with concerns, she said.
“Honestly, it would be so much easier to stage this somewhere else. It’s very difficult to do a large, urban event, but over and over again, our community members want to have these kind of things in a walkable area and, specifically, downtown.”
Scott said the city is contacting each business individually and is scheduling meetings with them.
The festival posted this message on Facebook, which stated in part: “The planners of this festival have always been very open to changes to the two-and-a-half day event and are looking forward to more conversations with festival goers and downtown stakeholders to help improve things for everyone.”
The Citizen contacted six owners who signed the letter. Each reported declines in business during the weekend of the festival compared to other weekends during the same month.
Two businesses reported a 30% drop in business on festival weekend. They attributed that to limited parking during that time and street closings that kept customers from driving there.
Several also complained they’ve passed along their concerns to festival organizers and city officials for years, with no response.
Several said they want the festival to be moved to a different section of town or the fairgrounds.
The Facebook comment thread with the festival’s post contained a few interesting suggestions, including from Gary Williams of the Old Route 66 Association of Texas:
Look the festival just brought 70,000 people in a weekend. Make a flyer make some damn coupons and walk up and down the festival handing them out. I bet your business goes up 30%. Yes it sucks if your business is not on the main route but it’s YOUR opportunity, it shouldn’t be the organizers problem to direct people to you. So many businesses these days are quick to lay blame but don’t know or are not willing to put some effort into cashing in on such a big deal.
The festival, which dates to 2011, attracted an estimated 67,000 in 2024.
(Image from the 2024 Birthplace of Route 66 Festival in Springfield, Missouri, via its Facebook page)
Really?