The City of Springfield announced Thursday afternoon that the Birthplace of Route 66 Festival, canceled in 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic, will be returning in 2021.
With the caveat a major negative COVID development could change the plan, the city will hold the festival on August 13 and 14 in downtown Springfield.
Registration links are currently open on the Birthplace of Route 66 website for several events: the car show, the Charity Bike Show, and the Gypsy Tour Poker Run benefitting the Combat Veterans Motorcycle Association. There is also a 6.6K Run/Walk
The Mother Roadster Foundation will be conducting a raffle of a 1932 Ford Roadster called “The Fezster.” It’s named after the iconic red cap worn by Shriners, and proceeds from the raffle will benefit Shriners Hospitals for Children.
The festival will also feature multiple free entertainment opportunities, starting with a parade on Friday evening running from Grant Avenue to National. Friday night music acts include Machine Gun Symphony and Sixwire featuring Derek St. Holmes. Saturday concerts will feature Nathan Bryce and the Loaded Dice, Sequel Dose, the Rosy Hips, the Dirty Saints, along with Sixwire featuring John Elefante and Steve Augeri.
The festival will also feature local artists on the “Park Central Stage.”
In addition to the festival’s events, a special “pre-festival social” will take place on August 10th on Park Central Square. The event will celebrate Missouri’s Bicentennial and will be sponsored by the History Museum on the Square, Downtown Springfield Association, and the city of Springfield. Entertainment will be from The Detectives, Shaun Munday, and Central High School’s acapella group the Brotones.