FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
BIRTHPLACE OF ROUTE 66 FESTIVAL OPENING CEREMONY AND PRE-PARADE PARTY
Friday, Aug. 11, 2017
Staging begins at 4:30 p.m.
The Birthplace of Route 66 Roadside Park, located in the 1200 block of College, will serve as party central for the opening-day festivities and parade assembly. Media parking is available in the Mother’s Brewing Company parking lot at the corner of Grant and College and shuttle service is available to and from the Roadside Park. Media credentialing is not required, but Melissa Haase will be onsite under a white tent at the parade assembly start at Mother's to provide media assistance.
For full festival details, visit route66festivalsgf.com.
An opening ceremony will take place at 5:30 p.m. and the parade rolls promptly at 6:30 p.m. (beginning at the corner of Grant and College) and should conclude by 7:30 p.m. The City has partnered with the West Central Neighborhood Alliance to host a pre-parade party at the Park (4:30-6:30 p.m.) with free food and drinks and music. Parks will cater the event.
Guests at the ceremony include Mayor Ken McClure, Mayor Pro Tem Jan Fisk, Council members Mike Schilling, Craig Fishel, Phyllis Ferguson, Tom Prater, Lt. Governor Mike Parson, Rep. Crystal Quade as well as festival founders and the descendants of John T. Woodruff. Woodruff is responsible for naming the famed Mother Road in a telegram sent from Springfield's Colonial Hotel 90-plus years ago, thus cementing Springfield's history as the birthplace of Route 66.
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For more information, please contact Cora Scott at 417-380-3352.