Produced by the Missoula Downtown Association as Missoula’s signature celebration, the River City Roots Festival has quickly risen to the top of Western Montana’s must-see-list.
Recognized as the 2009 Montana Tourism Event of the Year, River City Roots Fest draws more than 15,000 individuals to the heart of Downtown Missoula for a variety of fun activities and exceptional music. This two-day FREE festival features first-class art and entertainment for both residents and visitors.
With quality live performances on a big stage on West Main Street, a fine art show, entertainment for children and families, and a 4-Mile run through the heart of Missoula, Roots Fest brings a weekend of family fun to the heart of the community.
Roots Fest is a showcase of high-end visual arts. More than 30 artists from the Pacific Northwest participate in the Fine Art Show featuring painting, photography, pottery, sculpture, jewelry, textile arts and wood – all front and center on Main Street both days of the festival. This component of Roots Fest creates an all-around experience for those who appreciate fine art both visually and musically.
This year the Roots Fest Art Show is looking to feature not only traditional, “fine” art – such as paintings, pottery, and photography – but also feature more “alternative” means of art that is seen at the wildly popular Missoula MADE Fairs. While Missoula’s “Roots” have a base in fine art, we are seeing more and more that alternative forms of art are also just as important to Missoula’s spirit. As such, we hope to have a mix of “traditional” and “non-traditional” artists showcased at this year’s River City Roots Festival.
FRIDAY, AUGUST 24TH
12:30–2:00pm: Tangled Tones Kids Bands: Eklectyk Roots, Almost Six-Two, Tambourine Queen & ZACC’s Rock Band Camp
2:30–4:00pm: Good Old Fashioned
4:30–6:00pm: Laney Lou & the Bird Dogs
6:30–8:00pm: Nathan Williams & the Zydeco Cha Chas
8:30–10:30pm: New Orleans Suspects
SATURDAY, AUGUST 25TH
12:30–2:00pm: The Salamanders
2:30–4:00pm: Rapidgrass
4:30–6:00pm: Jon Stickley Trio
6:30–8:00pm: Billy Strings
8:30–10:30pm: The Infamous Stringdusters