'Keep It Classic,' Birthplace of Route 66 Festival to celebrate 11 years in August
The Birthplace of Route 66 Festival is celebrating its 11th anniversary this summer with a newly added talent competition.
The Great Route 66 Talent Competition will begin prior to the three-day festival with singers, songwriters and dancers submitting videos showcasing their talent. Submitted videos will be shared on the KY3 website for community vote. The top 20 contestants will perform live, in front of a panel of judges, at the festival. Contestants must be at least 18 years old to enter. More information will be available closer to the festival.
This year's festival is Thursday, Aug. 10 through Saturday, Aug. 12, with live music stages, car and motorcycle shows, and vendors set up throughout downtown Springfield. The family-friendly event is free.
Last year, the festival drew more 65,000 attendees from 32 states and 18 countries, City of Springfield Director of Public Information and Civic Engagement Cora Scott said at a news conference for the festival on Tuesday.
Who is performing at the Birthplace of Route 66 Festival?
Concerts begin the evening of Friday, Aug. 11 in Motorcycle Village, located along Jefferson Avenue between Trafficway Street and McDaniel Street. Friday night's headliners include Machine Gun Symphony and Sixwire.
Live music on Saturday, Aug. 12 begins at 1:15 p.m. in Motorcycle Village with Nathan Bryce and the Loaded Dice, followed by Red Light Runner, Damsel, Dirty Saint and Sixwire again.
In addition to live music, the car and motorcycle shows will be held Aug. 11-12. Registration for the car show, Charity Bike Show and Gypsy Tour Poker Run are available on the Birthplace of Route 66 Festival website at route66festivalsgf.com. Both the bike show and poker run benefit the Combat Veterans Motorcycle Association.
A fan favorite, the Birthplace of Route 66 Festival Parade kicks off the entire celebration on Friday, Aug. 11 at 6 p.m. Last year, over 700 cars, trucks and other floats were entered. Parade registration is available on the Birthplace of Route 66 Festival website at route66festivalsgf.com/parade.
Each year, festival founder David Eslick presents the John T. Woodruff Award to influential members of the community who help preserve the history of Route 66. This year's recipients are Jack and Tammy Stinson, who have helped manage the festival's car show registration over the years. Woodruff was one of the three men who helped name Route 66 in 1926. The Stinsons will be recognized at the festival.
The Birthplace of Route 66 Festival was founded 13 years ago in a grassroots effort at the intersection of College Street and Grant Avenue in the West Central neighborhood. Today, the festival is the largest of its kind in the state and Springfield's largest annual festival.
More information about the festival will become available soon on the Birthplace of Route 66 Festival website at route66festivalsgf.com, festival Facebook at facebook.com/birthplaceofroute66festival and the festival's hotline at 417-864-1642.
This article originally appeared on Springfield News-Leader: Birthplace of Route 66 Festival to celebrate 11th anniversary
