Events
Live Music
Family Fun
Friday, August 25th, 2023 lineup
12:30pm – Kids’ Rock Bands
2:30pm – Joan Zen
4:30pm – Soul Funk Collective
6:30pm – Taj Weekes & Adowa
8:30pm – Super Chikan
Saturday, August 26th, 2023 lineup
12:30pm – Cowboy Andy & the Salamanders
2:30pm – Fireside Collective
4:30pm – Laney Lou & the Bird Dogs
6:30pm – Big Richard
8:30pm – The Travelin’ McCourys
River City Roots Festival: Past Performances
SPONSORED BY:
Family Roots Fest: Saturday, August 26th, 2023 (10am-2pm in Caras Park)
Family Roots Fest Stage Schedule:
10am – Tangled Tones
11am – Z.A.C.C. Rock Camp Band Leaders
12pm – Double Bubble Dance Party
1pm – Garden City Guitar
2023 Activity Providers
All Nations Health Center – Beach Transportation – CASA
Championship Training – Child Development Center – Childbloom Guitar –
Children’s Dentistry of the Rockies – Clark Fork Prep – Community Medical Center Families – First Learning Lab – Head Start – Humane Society of Western Montana – Leave No Trace – Missoula Art Museum – Missoula Broadcasting
Missoula Fairy Trail – Missoula Head Start – Missoula Food Bank
Missoula Parks & Rec – Missoula Fire Department – Missoula Public Library
Missoula Taekwondo – Mountain Line – Mullan Trail Scouting
Travelers Rest State Park – Watson’s Children’s Shelter
SPONSORED BY:
Art Show
4-Mile Roots Run
Interested in being a part of the art show in 2024? The application for artists at Roots Fest will open in February 2024.
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Earth without Art would be eh…and so would Roots Fest! Discover art made by local and regional artists from pottery to leathergoods, paintings to jewelry. Support local artists and bring home something unique. Open Friday 12pm -7pm and Saturday 10am – 7pm.
2023 Artists
ALPINE LINE ART
Adventure Art – Missoula, MT
BRETASHLEY
Fine Art and Handwoven Wearables – Missoula, MT
BRIAN CHRISTIANSON PHOTOGRAPHY
Photography – Missoula, MT
BRIANCA THORNTON
Jewelry
CAROL FAH
Art Dolls
CLAIRE EMERY ART
Printmaking – Missoula, MT
CLAY STUDIO OF MISSOULA
Hands on pottery making
CLAIRE MANNHEIMER
Jewelry – Missoula, MT
DIANNA COURAGE & MISTY HERZER
Jewelry
ERIC REESE
Photography – Whitefish, MT
GAIL BECKNER
Upcycled clothing and handcrafted artisan jewelry – Florence, MT
HANNAH SUKUT
Jewelry – Bozeman, MT
HRAEART
Painting/illustrations – Missoula, MT
HUNTER LEACH
Leather work – Missoula, MT
IVERSON JEWELRY DESIGN
Jeweler, Lapidary Artist – Missoula, MT
JACKIE PRIESS
Fabric Arts
JAMIE STOLBA
Paintings – Belgrade, MT
KAY LANGLAND
Jewelry – Missoula, MT
KELSEY WICKWIRE
Mixed media illustration and printmaking – St. Ignatius, MT
KENDALL QUINDRY
Jewelry and miniatures – Missoula, MT
LATISHA BUCK ELK THUNDER
Jewelry
LOUISA BERKY
Jewelry – Missoula, MT
MARIAH LAUGHLIN
Macrame and fiber art – Missoula, MT
MELANIE SOUTHALL
Leather jewelry and accessories
MIKE & JAMIE DOBIESZ
Jewelry, gift cards, urns
MONTANA BISMUTH CREATIONS
Bismuth Metal Art – Missoula, MT
MONTANA TEES
Screen printed apparel – Missoula, MT
NEEDLE AND AXE
Fiber art/sewing – Columbia Fall, MT
RAY GOROSKI
Vintage Jewelry
RICH ADAMS
Fine art paintings and drawings – Missoula, MT
RICK PRECIADO
Tie dye fabrics – Missoula, MT
STACY SCHMIDT
Jewelry
TRUE SOUTH WOOD DESIGNS
Wood pyrography – Missoula, MT
WARM HOUSE DESIGNS
Polymer clay jewelry – Missoula, MT
WEST FORK FLY CO.
Fabric fly fishing gear and flies – Missoula, MT
SPONSORED BY:
Saturday, August 26th, 2023 – 8:30am | Start E. Main, Finish Caras Park
REGISTION NOW OPEN – REGISTER HERE
Our region’s largest arts and music festival showcases the gem of Western Montana – Downtown Missoula. This event, a unique public/private partnership, celebrates Missoula Downtown’s success and provides an opportunity to highlight some of Missoula’s most recently-developed attractions.
Roots Run is brought to you by Run Wild Missoula, in partnership with the Missoula Downtown Association.
SPONSORED BY:
Food Court
Support Our Roots Sidewalk Sale
Interested in vending in 2024 at Roots Fest? Applications for food vendors at Roots Fest will be available in January 2024.
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Travel the world through your tastebuds. Immerse yourself in the local tastes and smells of some of Western Montana’s best food vendors! Open Friday 12pm – 10pm, Saturday 10am – 10pm.
BIG DIPPER ICE CREAM
Ice cream, water, soda
BANH MISSOULA
Vietnamese Banh Mi Sandwiches
EL CAZADOR
Authentic Mexican food
HORCHATA
Horchata and Mexican street corn
ISLA’S LEMONADE
Freshly-squeezed lemonade
KAMOON ARABIAN CUISINE
Falafel, shawarma, moutabel, hummus
LIL ORBITS
Mini-donuts, Italian sodas, coffee
M-80 CHICKEN
Nashville-style fried chicken sandwiches, fries
MADELINE’S MEDITERRANEAN
Meat kebabs, falafel, various dips with flat breads
MOUNTAIN BERRY BOWLS
Acai bowls
PELZ
Hand-mand pelmeni dumplings
RIVER CITY EATS
Sliders and fries
SA WAD DEE
Peanut curry, Pad Thai, Chicken Satay
SPONSORED BY:
SUPPORT OUR ROOTS SIDEWALK SALE – AUGUST 25-27TH, 2023
There’s nothing better than seeing our community coming out to “Support Our Roots” by supporting locally owned shops, boutiques, cafes, and restaurants! Downtown shopping and dining has something for everyone.
Bathing Beauties Beads (812 Toole Ave, Suite E) – DATES: Friday, August 25th and Saturday August 26th (we are closed on Sundays)Gemstone Strands on the strand wall, Buy one get one 50% off of equal or lesser value
Bayern Brewing (1507 Montana St.) – Clearance rack on summer merchandise and more! We will also offer a food special….Chicken Fried Steak with mashed potatoes topped with Nürnberg gravy
Betty V Vintage (104 E. Main) – 20% off a single item all weekend long!
Betty’s Divine (509 S. Higgins)– A large selection of our Summer selection will be 50% off!
Big Dipper Ice Cream (631 S. Higgins) – 20% off shirts and hats
Board of Missoula (618 S. Higgins) – FREE WAFFLES, SKATEBOARDING, GIVEAWAYS FOR TRICKS, SUPER SNOW BLOWOUT AND OTHER SALES.
Cambie Taphouse + Coffee – Old Sawmill District (945 Wyoming)– Buy One Get One Free any beverage – limit 1 per customer
Ciao Mambo (541 S. Higgins) – $15 bottles of the Opici “Fish bottle” Italian White Blend
Cloth & Crown (329 N. Higgins) – Friday + Saturday 10-5 // Summer Clearance Sale: 40-75% of all past season clothing! We’ll also be dragging out old light fixtures, mannequins, display items & more from our basement onto the sidewalk – garage sale style!
CLOVER (114. E. Main) – Close Out Sale up to 50% Off
Cranky Sam Public House (233 W. Main) – 30% off select merch and $1 off of draft with a merch purchase over $10!
Draught Works (915 Toole Ave.) – Wrap up your Roots Fest weekend at Draught Works on Sunday, August 27, from 10 AM to 2 PM! Anyone who mentions “River City Roots Fest” during our delightful Sunday Brunch at the Brewery will receive their choice of one world-class beer, beer cocktail, or crisp hard seltzer completely FREE. It’s our way of showing love and support for our local community and celebrating another incredible year of River City Roots Fest. Come on down to Draught Works Brewery Sunday, August 27th and soak up the spirit of our community roots!
Fact & Fiction Books (220 N. Higgins) – 20% off all Montana and Western History Books, Sidewalk Sale Books
Hazel & Fawn (612 S. Higgins) – 20% off clothes, toys, and gear
HO + KO (101 S. Higgins) – Up to 80% off home decor and clothing, Back to School specials with Back to Campus kits with $150 purchase
Home ReSource (1515 Wyoming) – $1 Sidewalk Sale – Everything on the sidewalk is $1!
Import Market (201 W. Broadway) – Sidewalk Sale! 20-40% off select merchandise, clothing and summer goods 🙂
La Belle Vita (135 N. Higgins) – 20% off the entire store except French Kande and Sid Dickens
Lake Missoula Tea Company (136 E. Broadway) – Giving away samples of two of two of our most chocolate-forward teas: Chocolate Love (a rooibos blend) and Willy Wonka (a black blend) with every tea bag purchase.
Mary’s Mountain Cookies (101 S. Higgins) – Entry for $25 gift card with purchase. Total of 5 – $25 gift cards to be given away.
Mood Boutique (208 N. Higgins) – Select clearance items 50% off!
Noteworthy Paper & Press (219 S. 3rd St. W) – Sidewalk Sale! 15-75% Off Select Merchandise Friday, Aug 25th and Saturday, Aug 26th Only!
One Eleven Boutique (111 N. Higgins) – We will be open from 10-5pm Friday the 25th, Saturday the 26th, and noon to 4pm Sunday the 27th. Summer clothing, gifts, and accessories will be marked down up to 50% off for these three days only!
PaddleHeads Post (140 N. Higgins) – Various in store specials
Pearl Boba Tea (420 N. Higgins) – Drink Special: Big Sky Blue Coconut
Pink Elephant (301 N. Higgins) – Blowout Sidewalk Sale! Items up to 75% off!
Radius Gallery (124 N. Higgins) – Find Your Mug Match! August 25-30 Pop into Radius’ pottery shop to experience hand-made mug heaven during our IN-Sidewalk Sale at Missoula’s Root Festival week. Spice up your space (dorm room, apartment, or a well-loved kitchen) with functional art that has a personality to match your own! Oogle our amazing selection, try all the handles, and locate the colors and textures that compliment your lifestyle. You’ll be the envy of your peers. As a Rootsfest bonus, we’ll fill your mugs with delightful treats. With every purchase you’ll be entered to win a $50 gallery gift card! Watch for balloons and festivities on Higgins Ave all week long.
Revolvr Missoula (160 N. Pattee) – “End of Summer” markdowns up to 60% off
The Dram Shop (229 E. Front) – $1 off to go beverages Friday and Saturday
The M Store (300 N. Higgins) – All Fleece Items (sweatshirts, crewnecks, 1/4 Zips) will be 25% off the 25-27
The Montana Scene (170 E. Front) – The Montana Scene will host a sale’s rack with a wide selection of popular clothing, up to 50% off their original price!
Toiffer Pet Outfitter (422 N. Higgins) – Toiffer Summer Sale is on! Enjoy fantastic discounts on all our summer gear plus 50% off on all our winter clothing!
Tosca Olive Oils and Balsamics (137 E. Main) – Spend $100 and receive a 10% off coupon for your next purchase.
Zootown Arts Community Center (216 W. Main) – Stop by the ZACC, grab a drink, and enjoy some art! Special offerings include extended hours, cold beer, cider, wine, and non-alcoholic beverages (add on a $3 wristband to support the arts and take your drinks outside), and 20% off all items in the artist shop. Open hours: 10 AM – 8 PM | Bar hours: 12:30 PM – 7:30 PM
Zootown Hype & Vintage (111 W. Alder) – $10 rack, 10% off U of M apparel, $10 off jeans
Unseen Missoula Music Tour
This is the place that I miss the most but
This town is full of ghosts….
Chart the course of the local rock scene in Missoula, from the 1960s to today! This tour will show the broader arc of local rock in Missoula through a walking tour of Missoula’s current and past music venues, famous musical acts, and all things musical in Missoula. The tour will meet at Caras Park and you will receive more details after purchasing tickets.
Silkworm sings it best, Into the garden city I’m on the rise…
This tour is an exciting new part of Roots Fest in Downtown Missoula! Ticket purchases come with a Roots Fest plastic cup, a free drink token and a wristband. Please note: this is a 21+ tour.
Purchase tickets below:
Thank You To Our 2023 Sponsors
A SPECIAL THANK YOU TO OUR TITLE SPONSORS: FIRST INTERSTATE BANK AND DICK ANDERSON CONSTRUCTION

Children’s Dentistry of the Rockies • TDS Fiber • Runner’s Edge • DJ&A • First Security Bank • Good Food Store • Mountain Line • WGM Group • Dorsey & Whitney • Republic Services • DoubleTree by Hilton • AC Hotel/Residence Inn by Marriot • Art Vault • Berkshire Hathaway • The Wren • Horizon Credit Union • Your Home Improvement Co. • ROAM • Cancer Support Montana • Mann Mortgage • Zip Beverage • Badlander • Grizzly Liquor • Marimint • ATTIC • First Montana Bank • Chase Jones, INK Realty • Shanti Guitars • Poteet Construction • DCI Engineers • Home ReSource • Missoula Parking Commission • City of Missoula • Red’s Towing