FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Downtown Springfield is the place to be on Saturday, June 20, with a wide variety of community events for all ages. Greater Ozarks Pridefest
• Walk: 11 a.m.-noon, Boonville Avenue from Chestnut Expressway to the Square).
• Festival: Noon-9 p.m., Park Central Square Mall.
The Greater Ozarks Pridefest is in its 19th year, attracting more than 2,500 participants statewide and growing every year. It plans to be the largest LGBT event in southwest Missouri and will be held at the epicenter of downtown. SnowFest: Noon-4 p.m., Jordan Valley Park
SnowFest features a mountain of snow from Mediacom Ice Park, as well as entertainment, interactive games, snowman building contests and bounce house. The Springfield Regional Arts Council partners to present Free Art Day, with interactive art projects. Bring the whole family, and your mittens, and play in the snow. Hemmings Motor News Great Race: 3:30-9 p.m., St. Louis Street from Jordan Valley Car Park to Kimbrough Avenue
The first day of the Great Race along historic Route 66 will begin in Kirkwood and end in Springfield. It will feature over 100 classic cars competing on their way to the Santa Monica Pier. Springfield’s finish line will feature area car clubs, Route 66 vendors, music and food. Juneteenth: Noon-4 p.m., Midtown Carnegie Library
Juneteenth is the oldest known celebration commemorating the ending of slavery in the United States. Dating back to 1865, it was on June 19 that the Union soldiers, led by Major General Gordon Granger, landed at Galveston, Texas with news that the war had ended and that the enslaved were now free. This was two and a half years after President Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation – which had become official Jan. 1, 1863. Free activities will include booths from various community organizations, the Library Bookmobile, dance, spoken words, and musical performances by various people from the Springfield community. Jin J. X, a local jazz artist, will provide music throughout the afternoon. The NAACP Reads program will provide storytelling and children’s book giveaways. Bass Pro Polar Bear Run/Walk: 5 p.m. Jordan Valley Park & Hammons Field
The Bass Pro Fitness Festival has teamed up with the Springfield Cardinals and the Springfield-Greene County Park Board to encourage kids and families to get outside and be more active. Participants can choose from .50 mile, 1 mile, and 1.5 mile distances based on their age and skill level. All race entries include 1 general admission ticket to the Cardinals game after the run. All registered participants for the Polar Bear Run will be given a specially designed T-shirt and medal to commemorate the event! Springfield Cardinals game: 6:10 p.m., Hammons Field
The Cardinals will host the Northwest Arkansas Naturals (the Kansas City Royals franchise). It will also be Military Appreciation Night with a postgame fireworks show. Suggested routes for downtown traffic
Walnut Street, Campbell, and College are scheduled to remain open all day. Kimbrough will be open except 10-11 a.m. during the Pridefest March. Those using the Jordan Valley Car Park should use the Trafficway entrance and exit where possible. A map of the planned street closures is available at the link below. For more information about downtown Springfield events, please contact Cora Scott at 864-1009 or [email protected] or Rusty Worley with the Downtown Springfield Association at 417-831-6200 or [email protected]