<div dir="ltr"><p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;text-align:center;line-height:115%;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><b>Missoula’s Signature
Celebration Begins Friday, August 23</b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;text-align:center;line-height:115%;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><b>14th Annual River
City Roots Festival takes over Downtown Missoula</b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;text-align:center;line-height:115%;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><b> </b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 10pt;line-height:115%;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">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.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 10pt;line-height:115%;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">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.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 10pt;line-height:115%;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">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. </p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 10pt;line-height:115%;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">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 <a href="http://rivercityrootsfestival.com">rivercityrootsfestival.com</a>. The run is produced in partnership with Run Wild
Missoula. All registration fees support
the running club. </p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 10pt;line-height:115%;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">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.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 10pt;line-height:115%;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">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. </p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 10pt;line-height:115%;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">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. </p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 10pt;line-height:115%;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">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.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 10pt;line-height:115%;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">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.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 10pt;line-height:115%;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">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 <a href="http://rivercityrootsfestival.com">rivercityrootsfestival.com</a> or
contact the Downtown Missoula Partnership office via phone (406-543-4238) or
email (<a href="mailto:info@missouladowntown.com">info@missouladowntown.com</a>). </p><div><div dir="ltr" class="gmail_signature" data-smartmail="gmail_signature"><div dir="ltr"><div><div dir="ltr"><div><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><p style="margin:0px"><font face="trebuchet ms, sans-serif" size="4"><b>Bram Moore</b></font></p><p style="margin:0px"><b><font face="trebuchet ms, sans-serif"><span style="font-size:13px">Customer Service Coordinator</span></font></b></p><p style="font-size:13px;margin:0px"><span style="font-family:"trebuchet ms",sans-serif">Downtown Missoula Partnership </span></p><p style="font-size:13px;margin:0px"><span style="font-family:"trebuchet ms",sans-serif">218 E Main | Missoula, MT </span></p><p style="font-size:13px;margin:0px"><a value="+14065434238" style="font-family:"trebuchet ms",sans-serif;color:rgb(17,85,204)">406.543.4238 | </a><a href="http://www.missouladowntown.com/" title="http://www.missouladowntown.com/" style="color:rgb(17,85,204)" target="_blank">missouladowntown.com</a></p><div><br></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>