Thousands of people are expected to congregate in the heart of Missoula, Montana this weekend with the arrival of the ninth annual River City Roots Festival Saturday and Sunday, Aug. 23-24, 2014. Grammy Award winner Sam Bush will headline the admission-free music and art festival that serves as a celebration of Missoula and the “Welcome Home to Missoula” party for University of Montana students.
Roots Fest kicks off Saturday morning at 11 am with the Juried Art Show on West Main Street and the Lake Missoula SUP Classic on the Clark Fork River in the heart of Downtown. The Family Fun Festival commences at high noon in Caras Park, and Music on Main opens at 12:30 pm with The Whizpops. Check out the full schedule.
Roots Fest is the signature celebration of the city of Missoula and all it encompasses. It is admission free for all thanks to the generosity of the Missoula business community. Major sponsors for Roots Fest include the Missoulian, the Montana Radio Company, Big Sky Brewing, the Good Food Store and First Interstate Bank, along with over 50 other businesses.
Downtown Missoula will be bustling on Saturday, and Mountain Line is free of charge throughout the community, running from approximately 6 am-8 pm. All Downtown parking is free of charge on the weekends, and both the Central Park and Park Place parking structures will be open.
Sunday’s festival activities commence at 10 am with the Four-Mile Run, which starts at Circle Square and the Red XXXXs. The Juried Art Show will be open from 11 am-7 pm, and the Family Fun Festival runs from 11 am-4 pm in Caras Park. Music on Main opens at 1 pm with Missoula’s Shakewell, and the Sunday Night headliner is Nathan &the Zydeco Cha Chas, taking the stage at 7 pm.
“We have an incredible line-up of talented musicians from Missoula and across the country,” said Ellen Buchanan, Chair of the River City Roots Festival Committee. “We are really excited about having Sam Bush on the Main Stage, and Sunday’s Southern flavor will be exceptional!”
Food and beverages will be available for sale throughout the festival, and a significant number of sustainability practices will be demonstrated during the festival. Roots Fest is organized and staffed by nearly 300 volunteers.
For more information on River City Roots Festival, contact the Missoula Downtown Association via phone (543-4238).
