After a number of Route 66 festivals last weekend, including the Route 66 Rendezvous, this coming weekend is also shaping up to be a busy weekend for Mother Roaders.
The International Route 66 Mother Road Festival and Car Show is returning for its eighth edition in Springfield, Ill. And, despite a poor economy, signs are good that it will be a well-attended event, reports the State Journal-Register.
Organizers say 618 cars have registered to participate in this year’s car show — about 200 more than pre-registered last year.
And that’s not counting the car owners who just show up. Some years, the number of cars doubles by the event weekend, said Kim Rosendahl, director of tourism for the Springfield Convention and Visitors Bureau.
“It’s looking really good,” Rosendahl said. “We were actually surprised, with the tough economy right now, to have such great numbers on our pre-registrations.”
Organizers expect roughly 80,000 car enthusiasts from across the country to attend the event, which kicks off Friday and ends Sunday. The tourism bureau estimates the weekend event will inject $1.5 million to $2 million into the local economy.
The Springfield festival began as a supporting event for the Steinbeck Route 66 Awards banquet. The festival was such a success that the city decided to hold it every year.
Meanwhile, Winslow, Ariz., is hosting its annual Standin’ on a Corner Festival, which is named after two famous lines in the Eagles hit, “Take It Easy.” AzJournal.com has a preview of the event, which has moved twice in its 11 years because of its growth.
The weekend also includes The Mother Road Ride, a two-day fundraising bicycle ride from Tulsa to Oklahoma City for the Oklahoma Chapter of National Multiple Sclerosis Society, and the Route 66 Hoot & Scoot and Poker Run in Sayre, Okla., on Saturday.