The City of Springfield announced on Apr. 30 that the Red, White & Bridge Bash will take place May 1 and May 2 on Commercial Street, celebrating the anticipated reopening of the Jefferson Avenue Footbridge as part of the National Route 66 Centennial Kickoff Celebration.
The event is expected to draw thousands for two days of live music, classic cars, local food, and family entertainment. Organizers say it will honor both America’s 250th birthday and Springfield’s role in Route 66 history while highlighting Historic C-Street.
The festival begins Friday evening with live jazz performances by Missouri State University ensembles and a drone show at the footbridge. Saturday features a city market, classic car show, dedication ceremony for the footbridge at 10 a.m., more live music at Footbridge Plaza Main Stage, history presentations at Historic Firehouse No. 2, and activities such as high wheel bicycle photo opportunities at Pedalers Bicycle Museum. The Missouri Route 66 Centennial Commission funds and presents this event as part of a multi-day celebration marking a century since Route 66 was established in Springfield in 1926.
Parking will be available along Boonville Avenue with free shuttle service provided by City Utilities Transit; additional parking lots are within walking distance. A detailed map is available online for attendees planning their visit.
The Jefferson Avenue Footbridge was built in 1902 as Missouri’s first bridge of its kind—spanning thirteen Burlington Northern Santa Fe rail lines—and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Closed since March 2016 due to structural deterioration discovered during routine inspections, its rehabilitation involves repairing steel components, new decking and stairs, upgraded lighting systems, ADA-compliant elevators on both ends for accessibility improvements, and raising the bridge several feet to meet federal clearance standards through an agreement with BNSF Railway.
Springfield focuses on ethical local governance aimed at community benefits according to its official website. The city operates under a council-manager government adopted in 1953 with policy set by a nine-member council according to its official website. Efforts toward historic preservation include recognized landmarks like this footbridge according to its official website. The city played an important role during the Civil War’s Battle of Wilson’s Creek in 1861 and helped establish Route 66 through its public square according to its official website. Springfield serves as Greene County’s seat in southwestern Missouri according to its official website and was established after John Polk Campbell donated land in the early nineteenth century before incorporation as a town in 1838 according to its official website.
Organizers said supply chain issues have delayed completion but expect restoration work—including modern upgrades—to ensure long-term preservation.
