[MCN] NEWS ALERT // 14th Annual River City Roots Festival Begins Friday, August 23

[Bram Moore]

*Missoula’s Signature Celebration Begins Friday, August 23*

*14th Annual River City Roots Festival takes over Downtown Missoula*



The Missoula Downtown Association will open the 14th Annual River City
Roots Festival on Friday, August 23.  This year’s festival will feature
Honey Island Swamp Band as the headliner Friday night, while Leftover
Salmon will close out the festival Saturday, August 24.

Roots Fest is admission free and full of family-friendly fun thanks to
support from more than 30 Missoula-area businesses that sponsor the event.
The festival celebrates all Missoula has to offer, including exceptional
arts and culture, healthy living, sustainability, and local food and
beverages. Major sponsors include Destination Missoula, Windfall, the Trail
103.3, Dick Anderson Construction, Big Sky Brewing, Bob Wards Sports and
Outdoors, Blackfoot and First Interstate Bank.

Friday’s events will kick-off at 11am with the Art Show on Main and food
vendors open for Downtown employees to enjoy lunch. Music on Main Street
will start at 12:30pm with The Zootown Arts Community Center and its Kids
Rock Camp Band on the Main Stage. Local kids’ bands Kings & Queens and
Tambourine Queen, who are supported by Tangled Tones will take to the Main
Stage from 1:15-2:00pm. Missoula’s own Moneypenny will take the stage at
2:30 pm. Rounding out the festival’s Friday lineup includes Ashleigh Flynn
& the Riveters, The Black Lillies and Honey Island Swamp Band - who take
the stage at 8:30 pm.

For those looking for outdoor recreation prior to enjoying the festival,
Saturday kicks off at 8:30 am with the Four-Mile Fun Run Race sponsored by
Farran Realty Partners, First Security Bank, DJ&A, Pepsi and Runner’s Edge.
Similar to 2018, the route will start at the intersection of East Main and
Higgins and finish in Caras Park. The race will loop runners near Silver
Park and the Old Sawmill District and then follow the Riverfront Trail to
Caras Park.  Folks can register today at rivercityrootsfestival.com. The
run is produced in partnership with Run Wild Missoula.  All registration
fees support the running club.

The Family Roots Fest, sponsored by Children’s Dentistry of the Rockies,
T-Mobile and Opportunity Bank, begins again Saturday morning at 10am in
Caras Park following the conclusion of the run. Families can enjoy
entertainment from groups such Missoula Taekwondo Center, On Center
Performing Arts, Big Sky ATA, Be Bear Aware, Animal Wonders, Climate Smart
Missoula and more. Dozens of activities from local groups will also be
featured during the Family Roots Fest.  Paying homage to the strong
Missoula art scene, the Art Show will continue at 11am Saturday on Main
Street and will feature nearly 30 artists from around the region.

Continuing Saturday’s Main Stage tradition for young festival attendees,
The Whizpops will kick-off the Main Stage schedule at 12:30pm Saturday, and
are followed by Cascade Crescendo, Guy Clark Tribute – Shawn Camp & Verlon
Thompson and Acoustic Syndicate. Leftover Salmon will take the stage at
8:30pm to close out the festival.

Festival-goers can bike, walk, and bus to Downtown Missoula, thanks to
Zero-Fare Mountain Line, and trails and sidewalks throughout the community.
For the third-consecutive year, there will be a free bike valet, thanks to
Climate Smart Missoula and Missoula in Motion. The bike valet will be
located on Main Street between Ryman and Higgins. Additionally, all public
parking will be free of charge throughout Roots Fest weekend, thanks to the
Missoula Parking Commission.

Food and beverages are available for sale at the festival. Those who are
age 21 and older can purchase a wristband and a signature, reusable Roots
Fest cup for $8, and the first drink is free. Roots Fest stainless steel
pints are also available and include a wristband and free drink for $15.
Almost 20 local food vendors will be available for folks to purchase food
both on Ryman Street and in Caras Park during Family Roots Fest.

To support sustainable practices during the festival, Roots Fest has once
again teamed up with Climate Smart Missoula and the City of Missoula to
showcase simple actions that leave the festival, community, and planet
cleaner, safer, and healthier.  Initiatives such as eliminating straws at
the Roots Fest Street Bars, hosting a carbon-neutral stage, selling
reusable cups, and teaming up with Republic Services for All-in-One
Recycling bins are just a few of the sustainability initiatives this year.
In participation with Missoula’s Zero to Fifty Initiative, the MDA has
launched a composting program in partnership with the food vendors and
Missoula Compost Collection. Sponsoring Roots Fest greening initiatives is
Mountain Line.

Attached is the full schedule of events for the 2019 River City Roots
Festival including noteworthy events shouldering the festival. For more
information or to set up interviews, visit rivercityrootsfestival.com or
contact the Downtown Missoula Partnership office via phone (406-543-4238)
or email (info at missouladowntown.com).

*Bram Moore*

*Customer Service Coordinator*

Downtown Missoula Partnership

218 E Main | Missoula, MT

406.543.4238 | missouladowntown.com <http://www.missouladowntown.com/>
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