<div dir="ltr"><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:trebuchet ms,sans-serif"><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;line-height:115%;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="color:rgb(0,32,96)">May
18, 2020</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;line-height:115%;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="color:rgb(0,32,96)">Local
Media & DT Community</span></p>
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<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><span style="font-size:13pt;line-height:115%;color:rgb(0,32,96)"><br></span></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><span style="font-size:13pt;line-height:115%;color:rgb(0,32,96)">START OF OUT TO LUNCH &
DOWNTOWN TONIGHT SUMMER SERIES DELAYED TWO WEEKS</span></b></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;line-height:115%;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="color:rgb(0,32,96)">For
the first time in history, the start of the beloved Out to Lunch Summer Series
– as well as the commencement of the Downtown ToNight Summer Series – will be
delayed until June 17-18, due to the current coronavirus pandemic and the
current phased guidelines for reopening the economy. </span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;line-height:115%;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="color:rgb(0,32,96)">Produced
by the Missoula Downtown Association, the Out to Lunch Summer Series began in
Caras Park in 1986 and this year’s series will be the 35<sup>th</sup>
consecutive season of the weekly food and live music events held every
Wednesday in June, July and August. Modeled after Out to Lunch, the Downtown
ToNight Summer Series began in 2001, adding adult beverages to live music and
food offered Thursdays after work during the summer months. 2020 marks the 20<sup>th</sup>
season of the popular Thursday evening events. </span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;line-height:115%;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="color:rgb(0,32,96)">Based
upon the current COVID Reopening Guidelines provided by the Centers for Disease
Control (CDC), the State of Montana (MT), and the Missoula City County Health
Department (MCCHD), large public gatherings are not recommended during phases 1
and 2. </span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;line-height:115%;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="color:rgb(0,32,96)">“We
have so much to be thankful for in our community, and both Out to Lunch and
Downtown ToNight bring people together in Caras Park every week,” said Bob
McGowan, President of the Board of the Missoula Downtown Association. “While
our volunteer planning committees are prepared to roll out these programs, we
want to be thoughtful and responsible on how we provide these offerings for our
community members and neighbors.” </span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;line-height:115%;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="color:rgb(0,32,96)">During
a normal season, the Downtown Missoula Partnership typically deploys an
estimated 35 vendors, nearly 40 entertainment groups, and almost 45 activity
providers throughout the summer events season, and close to 100 businesses
contribute sponsorship dollars to fund the events. These programs generate nearly
$430,000 in direct food & beverage consumption each year.</span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;line-height:115%;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="color:rgb(0,32,96)">With
commerce, connectivity and confidence in mind, the Missoula Downtown
Association will be working with vendors, sponsors and musicians to develop new
protocols and expectations for the programs, and more information will be
released as it comes available. The
planning committees have spent the last four months planning for the 26-event
season, booking live music, selling sponsorships, and selecting food vendors
and children’s activities. The MDA and its organizing committees will implement
a biweekly assessment of the current environment, state guidelines and MCCHD
Health Orders before cancelling future Out to Lunch or Downtown ToNight events.
</span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;line-height:115%;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="color:rgb(0,32,96)">“It’s
very difficult to plan for events in this current environment, but our staff
and committee members have been diligent in moving the planning efforts forward
for these beloved summer activities,” said Linda McCarthy, Executive Director
of the Downtown Missoula Partnership. “Summer events in Caras Park contribute
significantly to Missoula’s culture and our economy, so we will do what we can
to sustain as many of those events as possible.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;line-height:115%;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="color:rgb(0,32,96)"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;line-height:115%;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="color:rgb(0,32,96)">“The
economic impact of Caras Park events and Saturday Markets is huge for our
Downtown businesses,” McCarthy said. “With a questionable tourism season on the
horizon, we will do what we can to offer admission-free activities in Downtown for
all Missoulians interested in connecting to their community. We want our
community members to feel comfortable and cared for when visiting the heart of
Missoula, no matter what they’re doing.” </span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;line-height:115%;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="color:rgb(0,32,96)">For
more information, visit </span><a href="http://www.missouladowntown.com" style="color:blue">www.missouladowntown.com</a><span style="color:rgb(0,32,96)">
or contact the Downtown Missoula Partnership Office via phone (406-542-4238) or
email (</span><a href="mailto:info@missouladowntown.com" style="color:blue">info@missouladowntown.com</a><span style="color:rgb(0,32,96)">). </span></p></div><div><div dir="ltr" class="gmail_signature" data-smartmail="gmail_signature"><div dir="ltr"><div><div dir="ltr"><div><div dir="ltr"><div><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><p style="margin:0px"><font size="4" face="trebuchet ms, sans-serif"><b><br></b></font></p><p style="margin:0px"><font size="4" face="trebuchet ms, sans-serif"><b><br></b></font></p><p style="margin:0px"><font size="4" face="trebuchet ms, sans-serif"><b>Bram Moore</b></font></p><p style="margin:0px"><b><span style="font-size:13px"><font face="trebuchet ms, sans-serif">Operations Coordinator</font></span></b></p><p style="font-size:13px;margin:0px"><font face="trebuchet ms, sans-serif">Downtown Missoula Partnership </font></p><p style="font-size:13px;margin:0px"><font face="trebuchet ms, sans-serif">218 E Main | Missoula, MT </font></p><p style="font-size:13px;margin:0px"><font face="trebuchet ms, sans-serif"><a value="+14065434238" style="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></font></p><div><br></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>