The Route 66 Mother Road Festival returns this weekend. Here's what you need to know

Downtown Springfield is about to have the tastes, sounds and smells of the annual Mother Road celebration.

The 22nd annual International Route 66 Mother Road Festival kicks off Friday night with the traditional Cruise Night through downtown Springfield. Festivities continue through the weekend with hundreds of vintage cars parked in the downtown area, a variety of musical guests, a burn-out contest and the annual Miss Mother Road Contest.

Leading the way for this celebration of the Mother Road is Greg "Coop" Cooper, who took over alongside his wife, Sue, in 2021 after a Florida-based management company dropped the event. Cooper said after taking the time to travel Route 66 over the past few years, he knows about the passion people put into preserving its legacy for present and future generations.

"This isn't some tiny thing, it's a big deal, especially here in Illinois with the amount of sites that we have from Chicago to St. Louis and in between," Cooper said. "I've always come to the show as a spectator and seen it grow and go big every year. People are just fanatics about this and I've learned more about that as I've been traveling it the last year or so."

More: Here's what an Asian buffet, hibachi grill, and Italian pizzeria and market have in common

Here's what you can expect this weekend:

What is the International Route 66 Mother Road Festival?

At its core, the Route 66 Mother Road Festival is a vintage car show. Cooper pointed out that they had received a record number of pre-registrations before Wednesday.

"As of this morning (Wednesday), we had 743 (pre-registrations)," Cooper said. "We had 1,017 cars (last year). There's a whole bunch of people who watch the weather, or (say) last-minute, 'I'm going to do this,' that walk up in the three days through Saturday."

But it's more than just the cars – although that is a big selling point for people. It's about having a good time, enjoying the music and being nostalgic for the 1950s and 60s, the peak of the Mother Road.

How has the festival changed over the years?

Cooper is a relative newcomer, but his partner, Shane "Shaner" McDermith, has been around for 18 years and has seen the event grow from just a few city blocks near the Old State Capitol Plaza to around nine blocks throughout the downtown area.

"We have to go back to the city and ask for more real estate," McDermith said. "We didn't start off with as many city blocks as we have now. We're adding blocks, we're adding parking lots to accommodate the growth of the show."

For him, the success of the event is about seeing more cars from a variety of places.

"That's the success of the show; when you have people coming from all over the United States to attend your show," McDermith said. "That's what I call success."

Cooper is happy to see an event that keeps growing and growing and growing with each year.

"We're showing big recovery every year," Cooper said. "Two years ago, we were at 850 (cars), last year we were at a little over 1,000. It's definitely starting to grow back to normal. The Mother Road (Festival) is usually around 1,000 cars, so we're starting to go past that."

What's new this year?

Cooper said that Ace Sign Co. would be showing off an 80-inch tall Big Boy sign showcased along Route 66 in the past, allowing people to take pictures with the life-like figure throughout the weekend.

"His show has been on the air for almost 30 years," Cooper said. "He's well-known in the car community, which is another thing that I've learned over the past year. Somebody said, 'Hey, get Dennis Gage!' I'm like, 'I don't know who (he) is.' But you go on his show and he's been on the Mother Road, like, year two, I think. He's also going to come back for the 100th anniversary (in 2026) and do some TV shows."

In addition, the Hoogland Center for the Arts will host the Route 66 Film Festival on Saturday from 10 a.m.-7 p.m., with free popcorn and a red carpet inside. Outside the building, Doug Knight, owner of his eponymous action park, will bring out a pirate ship complete with cosplayers.

This year's special guest is Dennis Gage, the host of My Classic Car, a streaming series that showcases unique vintage vehicles. While not necessarily an explicit nostalgia play, Gage's presence at the event is a symbol of how the event attracts gearheads from near and far.

More: Scheels Sports Park 'will change how other people see Springfield'

Gage will be walking around the event, determining which car is his favorite. And if you need help figuring out who he is, you can't miss him. He's well known for his distinctive handlebar mustache.

"When he's not at a car show, the mustache is down," Cooper said. "When he's at a car show, he curls the mustache."

The grand prize for whoever has Gage's favorite car is, appropriately enough, the Mustache Cup.

Can I still enter my car a contest?

While online pre-registration ended Wednesday, people can still register Thursday-Saturday until noon at 630 South 6th Street. Onsite registration costs $55 until Saturday.

No refunds can be given for any registration fees.

So, what's up for grabs?

The best in show for a wide range of different vehicles, from Mustangs to Corvettes to Chevelles and even first responder vehicles. Prizes are also being awarded for replica movie/TV show vehicles and other custom-made cars.

What music is on tap for this weekend?

Several local artists will have performances on the Isringhausen Imports Main Stage, beginning with cover band After Sunset on Friday at 8 p.m.

The Bloomington-based rockabilly group Union Station will entertain the crowd Saturday starting at 1 p.m., with local group Deja Voodoo performing at 4 p.m. After Gage presents the Mustache Cup, The Neverly Brothers will return to the Mother Road Festival, starting at 8 p.m.

Is there a charge to attend?

No. Cooper does recommend that people attending Friday's Cruise Night – with hundreds of cars and a tribute to first responders – give a $5 donation to Sangamon/Menard County CrimeStoppers.

This article originally appeared on State Journal-Register: Here's what you need to know about this weekend's Route 66 Mother Road Festival