FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
The 11th annual Birthplace of Route 66 Festival and Parade will require several road closures and traffic delays in downtown Springfield starting the morning of Wednesday, Aug. 9, and continuing until the morning of Sunday, Aug. 13. With the exception of the parade closures, once roads are closed, they will remain closed for the duration of the festival. All streets will reopen by 7 a.m., Sunday, Aug. 13.
“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 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 have enhanced our parking areas and added golf cart shuttle service to and from parking areas, so getting to the festival footprint has never been easier.”
“We encourage everyone to come downtown and see what the Birthplace of Route 66 Festival is all about,” Scott added. “Visit route66festivalsgf.com for a complete event schedule and musical lineup.”
Below is a comprehensive list of the closures.
Download map.
Wednesday, Aug. 9, starting at 4 a.m.:
- St. Louis between Jefferson Avenue and Kimbrough Avenue
- Olive Street between Jefferson Avenue and McDaniel Street.
Thursday, Aug. 10, starting at 4 a.m.:
- St. Louis Street between Campbell Avenue through Park Central Square to Kimbrough Avenue
- Park Central Square and spokes
- Patton Avenue between Olive Street and St. Louis Street.
- Robberson Avenue between McDaniel Street and Olive Street
- Jefferson Avenue between Water Street and Walnut Street
- McDaniel Street from west of the Discovery Center parking lot to east of the parking garage at McDaniel and Robberson Avenue
Friday, Aug. 11, starting at 4 a.m.:
- Kimbrough Avenue from McDaniel Street to Trafficway.
- McDaniel Street from west of the Discovery Center parking lot to east of the parking garage at McDaniel and Robberson Avenue
Parade closures
Parade route closure signage will be posted starting Wednesday, Aug. 9. Portions of the parade route on College Street from West Avenue to Grant Avenue will become a no-parking zone starting Friday, Aug. 11 at 5 a.m., until the parade concludes at 7 p.m., Friday, Aug. 11. The Springfield Police Department will begin towing vehicles illegally parked along the parade route at that time.
Kansas Expressway, National Avenue and Glenstone Avenue will remain open throughout the duration of the festival.
SPD will provide traffic direction and control for the parade starting at 3 p.m., Friday, Aug. 11. The below closures will reopen after the conclusion of the parade at 7 p.m., except for Kimbrough Avenue from Trafficway to McDaniel Street, which reopens at 7 a.m., Sunday, Aug. 13.
Friday, Aug. 11 starting at 11 a.m. All barricades in place by 1 p.m.
Campbell and Kimbrough 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
- St. Louis Street from Jefferson Avenue to the Expo Center. The parking garage will remain open and accessible during the parade.
Additional Friday parade closures
- College Street from Kansas Expressway to West Avenue. Westbound traffic onto College Street will close starting at 2 p.m. with officers allowing entry to parade participants only to stage their vehicles. Reopens after the conclusion of the parade.
- College Street from Kansas Expressway to Park Central West. Eastbound traffic onto College Street will close starting at 2 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.
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.