SPRINGFIELD, Mo. — The City of Springfield has included downtown businesses in the planning process of this year’s Birthplace of Route 66 Festival, after business owners voiced concerns about how the event impacted their operation.
The annual Birthplace of Route 66 Festival will be Friday, Aug. 8, and Saturday, Aug. 9, celebrating 99 years of the Mother Road.
“It’s something that’s kind of integral to the identity of Springfield, so it’s hard to knock it,” said Trevor Dean, executive chef at The Wheelhouse. “It’s exciting to see people coming into the city and interacting with it.”…