Organizers of the 17th Annual International Route 66 Mother Road Festival gathered on the Illinois REALTORS® Bicentennial Plaza in Springfield Friday morning with a sampling of the special cars that will be on display during the weekend.

The 17th Annual International Route 66 Mother Road Festival kicks off Friday night in Springfield with cars like these.

Downtown Springfield will be the hub of many activities beginning Friday night and continuing through early afternoon Sunday.  Special events include Friday night’s charity cruise, Saturday’s car show, poker race and burnout competition, and Sunday’s afternoon awards ceremony. See a schedule of events here.

Springfield-area REALTOR® Steve Myers of Myers Commercial Real Estate secured permission to use the plaza for the press conference from Illinois REALTORS®. Myers is the 2018 chair of the state association’s Commercial/Industrial/Investment Committee and a member of the festival board.

The press conference is one of the first events held on the plaza since its dedication ceremony on Aug. 26.

A car owner sits in front of his restored classic on Springfield's Bicentennial Plaza Friday.

Meet car owners and see their restored classics in downtown Springfield Illinois this weekend during the Route 66 Mother Road Festival.