[MCN] News Alert // 17th Annual River City Roots Fest Celebrates Missoula

Wed Aug 16 11:00:00 EDT 2023

Local Media

August 16, 2023

*17TH ANNUAL RIVER CITY ROOTS FEST CELEBRATES MISSOULA*

*THE TRAVELIN’ MCCOURYS TO HEADLINE ADMISSION FREE FESTIVAL*

Music. Art. Food. Community. All the ingredients that make up the Missoula
Downtown Association’s River City Roots Festival returns to the streets of
Downtown Friday and Saturday August 25-26. This annual event celebrates
everything that makes Missoula, *Missoula*. Supported in part by title
sponsors *First Interstate Bank* and *Dick Anderson Construction*,
Missoula’s Signature event is admission-free and features live music, an
art show, the Family Roots Fest, the 4-Mile Roots Run, and local food
vendors.

“Roots Fest is truly all about Missoula,” said Ellen Buchanan, Chair of the
Roots Fest Committee and member of the Missoula Downtown Association Board
of Directors. “This festival showcases some of the attributes that makes
our city so unique and vibrant, such as music, art, being active, and a
sense of community. Roots is something that everyone can enjoy thanks to
our admission-free model and we take great pride in that. Downtown is the
heartbeat of our community and we want to make sure everyone has a chance
to experience all the best things it has to offer.”

*Music on Main* – Sponsored by *Big Sky Brewing*, *Blackfoot Communications*,
and *HDR* – music begins at 12:30 pm both days. This year’s lineup features
a wide variety of local and national roots music artists with five bands
playing each day. It has become a tradition to open Main Stage at 12:30pm
both days with music by and for Missoula’s youth. This year is no exception
with music from kids’ rock bands kicking off the festival on Friday, thanks
to *Tangled Tones* and the *Zootown Arts Community Center* (ZACC) and
Saturday features *Cowboy Andy & the Salamanders*. Friday features two
Montana based bands – *Joan Zen* of Missoula and *Soul Funk Collective*
from Billings. *Taj Weekes & Adowa*, hailing from the Caribbean, takes the
stage at 6:30pm; this will be their second time on the Roots Fest stage.
Closing out Friday is headliner *Super Chikan*. A native of Mississippi,
this will be James “Super Chikan” Johnson’s second Roots Fest stint, the
first being in 2021.

*Fireside Collective* takes the stage at 1:30pm on Saturday and is followed
by the up-and-coming Montana-based band *Laney Lou & the Bird Dogs* taking
the stage at 4:30pm. *Big Richard* – who self-describes themselves as
“bluegrass with a side of lady rage” – is quickly rising in popularity
across the country and takes the Roots Fest stage for the first time at
6:30pm. Closing out the festival at 8:30pm is *The Travelin’ McCourys*.
Fronted by brothers Ronnie and Rob, they come from bluegrass royalty as the
sons of Del McCoury.

The *Art Show* will open the festival at 12pm on Friday and features over
35 local and regional artists selling hand-made goods, including jewelry,
pottery, prints, leather works, wood, paintings, soap, clothing and more.
One of the highlights of the Art Show is the opportunity to work with
Missoula’s own Clay Studio; attendees can create their own piece of art to
take home. The Art Show is sponsored by *Art Vault*, *Berkshire
Hathaway*, *Horizon
Credit Union*, and *The Wren Hotel*.

The *Roots Run* is held on Saturday, August 26 at 8:30 am, starting on east
Main Street and ends in Caras Park. Produced by *Run Wild Missoula* and
sponsored by *DJ&A Engineers*, *First Security Bank*, *Good Food Store, and
the Runner’s Edge*, the Roots Run is a unique four-mile distance that
crosses the Clark Fork River four times. Runners and walkers of all ages
and paces are encouraged to participate. Registration can be found at
www.runwildmissoula.org/races/river-city-roots-run/.

The *Family Fun Fest* – sponsored by *Children’s Dentistry of the Rockies*
and *TDS Fiber *– runs from 10am to 2pm Saturday, August 26 in Caras Park.
Families will find more than 20 local kid-friendly organizations offering
activities and performances.

As a showcase of *Green Initiatives*, Roots Fest has several sustainability
practices that are standard - thanks to sponsors *Dorsey Whitney*, *Mountain
Line, Republic Services* and *WGM Group*. A carbon-neutral stage,
compostable materials required for all vendors, reusable aluminum cups,
steel pint commemorative cups, and recycling and composting are all part of
the festival. Zero-fare bus service with Mountain Line and bike parking
help reduce the impact of driving and parking, and the Green Team provides
immense support for the festival thanks to efforts by *Home ReSource*. A
bike valet, thanks to *Missoula in Motion*, will be available from 6 –
10:30pm both days.

*Food & Beverages* will be offered throughout the festival. Over a dozen
local food trucks will be open on Ryman Street throughout the event. Local
favorites such as *El Cazador*, *Kamoon*, *M-80 Chicken*, *Mountain Berry
Bowls*, *River City Eats*, and *Big Dipper Ice Cream *will be among the
options. *Badlander Catering* will have a variety of adult beverages, and
all who choose to imbibe will need a Roots Fest wristband and cup.

Back again for 2023 is the *Unseen Missoula Music Tour*: *“This Town is
Full of Ghosts”*. This guided walking tour will highlight several
destinations in Downtown Missoula that have played a significant role in
Missoula’s musical history.  The tours will be offered on Friday, August 25
at 3pm and on Saturday, August 26 at 10am and 3pm. Information and
registration for the tours will be available at
www.missouladowntown.com/unseen-missoula.

Roots Fest is admission free and accessible for all, thanks to over 30
Missoula businesses who financially support the festival as sponsors. As
the signature celebration of the city we love, all attendees are encouraged
to remember to be kind and thoughtful while enjoying the festival. Be kind
to the volunteers and servers, don’t bring your pets, and enjoy all the
wonderful things this festival offers our community. While folks are
encouraged to bike, walk and bus to the festival, parking will be free
throughout Downtown on Friday, Aug. 25, thanks to the generosity of
the *Missoula
Parking Commission*.

The full River City Roots Fest schedule follows. For more information,
visit www.rivercityrootsfestival.com or contact the Downtown Missoula
Partnership office via phone (406-543-4238), email (
info at missouladowntown.com) or in person (218 E. Main St).

*Downtown Missoula: Connecting Our Community!*

[image: RCRF_Logo_2023_1Color.jpg]

*MUSIC ON MAIN*

*FRIDAY, AUG. 25*

Kids’ Rock Bands........................................... 12:30-2 pm

Joan Zen.......................................................... 2:30-4 pm

Soul Funk Collective........................................ 4:30-6 pm

Taj Weekes & Adowa...................................... 6:30-8 pm

Super Chikan............................................ 8:30-10:30 pm

*SATURDAY, AUG. 26*

Cowboy Andy & the Salamanders........... 12:30-2 pm

Fireside Collective..................................... 2:30-4 pm

Laney Lou & the Bird Dogs........................... 4:30-6 pm

Big Richard................................................ 6:30-8 pm

The Travelin’ McCourys..................... 8:30-10:30 pm

*FRIDAY, AUGUST 25*

12 pm-7 pm............... ART
SHOW.......................................................................................................
Main Street

12 pm-10 pm............. FOOD COURT
OPEN......................................................................................
Ryman Street

2 pm-10 pm............... STREET BARS
OPEN..........................................................................................
Main Street

*SATURDAY, AUGUST 26*

8 am-1 pm ................. Saturday
Markets..............................................................................
Downtown Missoula

8:30 am...................... FOUR-MILE ROOTS
RUN......................................................................
E. Main/Caras Park

10 am-2 pm................ FAMILY ROOTS
FESTIVAL...................................................................................
Caras Park

10 am-7 pm................ ART
SHOW.......................................................................................................
Main Street

10 am-10 pm.............. FOOD COURT
OPEN......................................................................................
Ryman Street

12 pm-10 pm............. STREET BARS
OPEN.......................................................................................
Ryman Street

*EXTEND YOUR WEEKEND IN DOWNTOWN MISSOULA*

·         Downtown ToNight featuring The Timber
Rattlers..................... Thursday, Aug. 24 from 5:30-8:30 pm in Caras
Park

·         Support Our Roots Sidewalk
Sale............................................... Friday, Saturday &
Sunday throughout Downtown

·         Unseen Missoula “Music in Our Roots”
Tour......................................... Friday @3pm and Saturday
@10am & 3pm

*Bram Moore*

*Operations Coordinator*

Downtown Missoula Partnership

218 E Main | Missoula, MT

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