The City of Springfield, Missouri, is considering ending its involvement with the annual Birthplace of Route 66 Festival or halting it entirely. The Springfield News-Leader, following up on an initial report from the Springfield Daily Citizen of about 25 businesses complaining about the festival, reported the city is considering options for the event. The Citizen … Continue reading Springfield considering ending the Birthplace of Route 66 Festival
Tag: Birthplace of Route 66 Festival
26 business owners complain about Birthplace of Route 66 Festival, may want it moved
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 … Continue reading 26 business owners complain about Birthplace of Route 66 Festival, may want it moved
Springfield, Missouri, poised to break record for hotel stays in 2022
The city of Springfield, Missouri, is on track to break its record of hotel stays in 2022 -- a mark set a year ago. The Springfield News-Leader reported the numbers via Tracy Kimberlin, leader of the city's Convention and Visitors Bureau: In 2021, Springfield set a record with 1,439,619 occupied hotel rooms. And the city … Continue reading Springfield, Missouri, poised to break record for hotel stays in 2022
About 65,000 people attend Birthplace of Route 66 Festival, tying its record
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 … Continue reading About 65,000 people attend Birthplace of Route 66 Festival, tying its record
Springfield history museum launches exhibit about Route 66 restaurants
The History Museum on the Square in downtown Springfield, Missouri, just a few days ago launched an exhibit called "Order Up: The Restaurants of Route 66." The exhibit was made public shortly before this weekend's Birthplace of Route 66 Festival in Springfield. According to the Springfield News-Leader, it features a variety of eateries -- past … Continue reading Springfield history museum launches exhibit about Route 66 restaurants
Birthplace of Route 66 Festival expanding to three days in its return from COVID-19
The Birthplace of Route 66 Festival in Springfield, Missouri, is expanding from two to three days this summer after returning for the first time since 2019 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This year's festival -- the 10th -- is slated for Aug. 11-13. According to OzarksFirst.com, organizers hope to draw 70,000 to 75,000 people to … Continue reading Birthplace of Route 66 Festival expanding to three days in its return from COVID-19
Birthplace of Route 66 Festival canceled due to COVID-19 upsurge
Next month's Birthplace of Route 66 Festival in Springfield, Missouri, was canceled Monday due to concerns about an upturn of COVID-19 cases in the region. The festival, which typically draws between 60,000 and 80,000 people, was axed for a second straight year because of the pandemic. It had been scheduled for Aug. 13-14, including a … Continue reading Birthplace of Route 66 Festival canceled due to COVID-19 upsurge
2014 Ozark Mountain Daredevils show to stream on Birthplace of Route 66 site
A now-legendary concert by the Ozark Mountain Daredevils during the 2014 Birthplace of Route 66 Festival in Springfield, Missouri, will be rebroadcast Sept. 4 on the festival's website. That sold-out show, which the band gave the city permission to livestream that night from inside the historic Gillioz Theatre to a screen at Park Central Square, … Continue reading 2014 Ozark Mountain Daredevils show to stream on Birthplace of Route 66 site
Birthplace of Route 66 Festival canceled because of coronavirus
The Birthplace of Route 66 Festival in Springfield, Missouri, one of the biggest events on the Mother Road, announced Monday it would cancel the Aug. 14-15 event because of concerns about coronavirus. The festival's steering committee voted unanimously to cancel. The Ozarks Independent reported: “Last year’s attendance was 65,000 over two days and we were … Continue reading Birthplace of Route 66 Festival canceled because of coronavirus
Scenes from the Route 66 birthday celebration
A 92nd-birthday party was held Monday in downtown Springfield, Missouri, from the spot in 1926 where area good-roads activists proposed No. 66 for a highway from Chicago to Los Angeles. The event at the corner of Jefferson Avenue and Park Central East in Springfield marked the spot at the long-gone Colonial Hotel when a telegram … Continue reading Scenes from the Route 66 birthday celebration