The 10th 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. 10, and continuing until the morning of Sunday, Aug. 14. All streets will reopen by 7 a.m., Sunday, Aug. 14.
“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.
Wednesday, Aug. 10, starting at 4 a.m.:
- St. Louis between Jefferson Avenue and Kimbrough Avenue
- Olive Street between Jefferson Avenue and McDaniel Street.
Thursday, Aug. 11, starting at 4 a.m.:
- St. Louis Street between Campbell Avenue and Kimbrough Avenue
- Park Central Square and spokes
- Patton Avenue between Olive Street and Park Central West
- Robberson Avenue between McDaniel Street and Olive Street
- Jefferson Avenue between Water Street and McDaniel Street
- Olive Street to McDaniel Street.
Friday, Aug. 12, starting at 4 a.m.:
- St. Louis Street between Campbell Avenue and Kimbrough Avenue
- Park Central Square and spokes
- Patton Avenue between Olive Street and Park Central West
- Robberson Avenue between McDaniel Street and Olive Street
- Jefferson Avenue between Water Street and McDaniel Street
- Olive Street to McDaniel Street.
Friday, Aug. 12, starting at 4 p.m.:
- Kimbrough Avenue between McDaniel Street and Trafficway Street.
Parade closures
Parade route closure signage will be posted starting Wednesday, Aug. 10. Portions of the parade route on College Street from West Avenue to Grant Avenue will become a no-parking zone starting Friday, Aug. 12 at 5 a.m., until the parade concludes at 7 p.m., Friday, Aug. 12. 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. 12. 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. 14.
Friday, Aug. 12 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 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. 14.
Saturday, Aug. 13, starting at 4 a.m.:
- St. Louis Street between Campbell Avenue and Kimbrough Avenue
- Park Central Square and spokes
- Patton Avenue between Olive Street and Park Central West
- Robberson Avenue between McDaniel Street and Olive Street
- Jefferson Avenue between Water Street and McDaniel Street
- Olive Street to McDaniel Street.
- Kimbrough Avenue between McDaniel Street and Trafficway Street.
- McDaniel Street between Patton Avenue and Robberson Avenue
- South Avenue between McDaniel Street and Walnut Street
Parking
Visit itsalldowntown.com for a map of parking lots and garages open during the festival.
