About 38,000 people participated in Springfield Missouri’s 6th annual Birthplace of Route 66 Festival, presented by KY3/KSPR; City of Springfield and Aaron Sachs & Associates. Despite a soggy start, 250 classic cars and a couple dozen motorcycles paraded down the historic Mother Road from the Birthplace of Route 66 Roadside Park to the corner of St. Louis and National. The parade and live musical acts at the Square, Motorcycle Village, Historic Gillioz Theater and numerous over venues, drew about 4000 spectators into downtown. On Saturday, the festival broke attendance records, drawing in about 28,000 people to view 375 classic cars and enjoy about 22 musical acts on four stages downtown, Aaron Sachs & Associates presented a large number of those acts on a stage in the Ozarks on Two Wheels’ Motorcycle Village. Approximately 1000 motorcyclists attended the show, which also included a motorcycle stunt show, Globe of Steel Show and Harley-Davidson motorcycle demos, according to organizer Aaron Sachs. About 750 motorcyclists raised about $8000 in the annual Gypsy Tour Poker Run, benefitting the Combat Veterans Motorcycle Association. Here’s how the numbers break down: Friday evening’s parade and concerts: 5000 (participating and spectating) Saturday’s Classic Car Show, Motorcycle Village and concerts on four stages: 28,000 Sunday’s continuation: 5000 ### For more information, please contact Cora Scott at 380-3352 or [email protected]