FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

The Birthplace of Route 66 Festival and Parade will require several road closures and traffic delays in downtown Springfield starting the morning of Thursday, Aug. 8 and continuing until the morning of Sunday, Aug. 11.

“On behalf of the City of Springfield and Birthplace of Route 66 Festival partners KY3 and Aaron Sachs & Associates, we want to thank citizens and downtown businesses for their cooperation and understanding as we work to stage a fun and safe event for Springfield,” said Director of Public Information and Civic Engagement Cora Scott. “We expect festival attendance to reach 70,000 people this year. We understand that the road closures and traffic delays are an inconvenience, but public safety is our top concern with this many visitors, vehicles, vendors, exhibitors and entertainers coming to our downtown for the festival.”

“We encourage everyone to come downtown and see what the Birthplace of Route 66 Festival is all about,” Scott added. “The festival opens Friday at noon and goes until 11 p.m., then reopens at 10 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 10 and wraps at 11 p.m. Visit route66festivalsgf.com for a complete event schedule and musical lineup.”

Below is a comprehensive list of the closures.

Download maps.

Thursday, Aug. 8 @ 2 a.m. – Reopening by 7 a.m. Sunday, Aug. 11

• Tuning fork from Jefferson Avenue to St. Louis Street (first image at right)
• Tuning fork from St. Louis Street to McDaniel Street (second image right)
• St. Louis Street from Jefferson Avenue to Benton Avenue.

Friday, Aug. 9 @ 1 a.m. – Reopening by 7 a.m. Sunday, Aug. 11

• St. Louis Street from the Expo Center to Jefferson Avenue (Kimbrough Avenue  to remain open)
• Park Central Square
• Park Central East
• Park Central West
• Park Central North
• Park Central South
• Jefferson Avenue from Water Street to McDaniel Street
• Benton Avenue from Trafficway to St. Louis
• Patton Avenue from Olive Street to McDaniel Street
• Robberson Avenue from Olive Street to McDaniel Street
• McDaniel Street from Robberson Avenue to Jefferson Avenue – one-way traffic eastbound only
• McDaniel Street from Jefferson Avenue to Kimbrough Avenue – one-way traffic westbound only.

Saturday, Aug. 10 @ 6 a.m.  – Reopening by 7 a.m. Sunday, Aug. 11

• Benton Avenue from Trafficway to St. Louis Street
• South Avenue from Park Central South to Walnut Street.

Parade closures

Parade route closure signage will be posted starting Wednesday, Aug. 7 to notify the public that the parade route (Starting at College Street from Kansas Expressway east through Park Central Square to Park Central East continuing on St. Louis Street  to National Avenue) will become a no-parking zone starting Friday, Aug. 9 at 5 a.m. The Springfield Police Department will begin towing vehicles illegally parked along the parade route at that time.

SPD will provide traffic direction and control for the parade starting at 3 p.m., Friday, Aug. 9. The below closures will reopen after the conclusion of the parade at 7 p.m. with the exception of Kimbrough Avenue from Trafficway to McDaniel Street, which reopens at 7 a.m. Sunday, Aug. 11

Friday, Aug. 9 starting @ 11 a.m. All barricades in place by 1 p.m. 

Campbell, Kimbrough and National avenues will remain open until the parade starts at 6 p.m.

• Nettleton Avenue from Olive Street to College Street
• Fort Avenue from Water Street to College Street
• McDaniel Street from Patton Avenue to Robberson Avenue
• St. Louis Street from Jefferson Avenue to National Avenue

Additional Friday parade closures

• College Street from Kansas Expressway to Park Central West. Eastbound traffic onto College Street will close starting at 3:30 p.m. with officers allowing entry to parade participants only to stage their vehicles. Reopens after the conclusion of the parade.
• Grant Avenue between Tampa and Walnut streets: closes at 5:30 p.m., reopens after the conclusion of the parade.
• Kimbrough Avenue from Trafficway to McDaniel Street: closes at 5 p.m., reopens at 7 a.m. Sunday, Aug. 11.

Parking

Visit itsalldowntown.com for a map of parking lots and garages open during the festival. 

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For more information, please call Cora Scott at 417-864-1009 or 417-380-3352.