Like the Route 66 Rendezvous, organizers of the Route 66 Mother Road Festival and Car Show in Springfield, Ill., are guardedly optimistic that attendance numbers next weekend will remain stable despite a soft economy and high gas prices.
From the Springfield Journal-Register:
“Car enthusiasts who have classic cars or hobby cars are going to go to car shows,” said Kim Rosendahl, president of the festival. “The difference is, they maybe aren’t going to as many shows, and they are going to be more selective. Hopefully, ours is enough of a premier show that they are choosing this one.” […]
Police estimates put last year’s crowds at 85,000 to 90,000, though festival organizers said attendance might have been less than that.
As a co-chairman of a prominent festival years ago in east-central Illinois, I can vouch that weather conditions will be a big factor in attendance numbers. If it rains or it’s cold and windy that weekend, not even 66-cents-a-gallon gas will create big crowds.