Springfield, Oregon to Celebrate THE SIMPSONS' 25th Anniversary with Mural, 8/25

The City of Springfield, OR, is partnering with The Simpsons to bring The First Family of television to its downtown walk of murals. Sanctioned by The Simpsons creator and Oregonian Matt Groening, the mural will be painted on the side of the Emerald Arts Center in the heart of downtown Springfield. It will be unveiled on Monday, Aug. 25, during a block party dedication on 5th and Main Street in downtown Springfield. The Simpsons live in the fictional town of Springfield - given Groening's Oregon roots, the location is often associated with Springfield, OR.

Special guest Yeardley Smith, comedic actress and voice of "Lisa Simpson," will be in Springfield to celebrate the mural, sign autographs and take questions during the event!

In the milestone 26th season opener of THE SIMPSONS, airing Sunday, Sept. 28 (8:00-8:30 PM ET/PT) on FOX, the unthinkable happens: a Springfield resident dies. Also, Krusty (Dan Castellaneta) retires after he's offended by a comedy cable channel roast of him, and Lisa (Yeardley Smith) tries to protect Homer (Castellaneta) from getting hurt.

This free, family-friendly event will start at 11:30 AM, when 5th Street will be closed between Main Street and A Street, for a community block party, including a tuba band, donuts, chalk art and more! At noon, Yeardley Smith and city officials will dedicate the mural, followed by a Q&A session with Smith and The Simpsons artist Julius Preite. On Thursday, Aug. 21, the mural will begin to be installed on the west side of the Emerald Arts Center by the team at Old City Artists - owned by former University of Oregon Duck Erik Nicolaisen.

About THE SIMPSONS: Created by Matt Groening, The Simpsons is the longest-running scripted show in TV history. Since premiering in December 1989, the series has become a cultural phenomenon, recognizable throughout the world. The show was named the "Best Show of the 20th Century" by Time magazine and "Greatest American Sitcom" by Entertainment Weekly. Winner of 31 Emmys, its theatrical short, "The Longest Daycare," was nominated for a 2012 Academy Award.