River City Roots Fest

Welcome to the 19th Annual River City Roots Festival!

This free admission event is Missoula’s Signature Celebration and highlights all of the amazing things that make Missoula, Missoula: music, art, culture, local food and drinks, active lifestyles, and community.

As the Heartbeat of Missoula, Downtown is the perfect setting for Roots Fest. Downtown is where you’ll find local businesses, local flavors, local art, and local people all coming together. We invited you to not only experience Roots Fest, but be sure to take some time to take a walk around the historic epicenter of the city we love.

On behalf of our Downtown business, the Downtown Missoula Partnership welcomes you to Roots Fest - we hope you enjoy everything our event, and Downtown, has to offer!

MANY THANKS TO OUR TITLE SPONSORS

MAIN STAGE SPONSORS

MUSIC ON MAIN

FRIDAY, AUGUST 22

12:30 - 2:00pmKids Rock Bandds
2:30 - 4:00pmLena Marie Schiffer Duo
4:30 - 6:00pmMartha Scanlan & Jon Neufeld
6:30 - 8:00pmPixie & the Partygrass Boys
8:30 - 10:30pmBig Richard

SATURDAY, AUGUST 23

12:30 - 2:00pmCowboy Andy & the Salamanders
2:30 - 4:00pmBig Sky Mudflaps
4:30 - 6:00pmJake Leg
6:30 - 8:00pmThe Fretliners
8:30 - 10:30pmKyle Tuttle Band

ROOTS FEST EVENTS

FRIDAY, AUGUST 22

12pm - 7:00pmArt Show - Main Street
12pm - 10:00pmFood Court Open - Ryman Street
2:00 - 10:00pmStreet Bars Open - Main Street

SATURDAY, AUGUST 23

8am - 1:00pmSaturday Markets - Downtown Missoula
8:30am4-Mile Roots Run - E. Main Street
10am - 7:00pmArt Show - Main Street
10am - 2:00pmFamily Roots Festival - Caras Park
10am - 10:00pmFood Court Open - Ryman Street
12pm - 10:00pmStreet Bar Open - W. Main/Ryman Street

FAMILY ROOTS FEST SCHEDULE

SATURDAY, AUGUST 23

10:00 – 2:00pmDouble Bubble Dance Party with DJ Coach Shane

Activity Providers: TBA

KYLE TUTTLE BAND

Equally comfortable picking pristine progressive bluegrass and electric jamband solos, Kyle Tuttle is a rare and virtuosic banjo player known for his work with GRAMMY-winning guitarist Molly Tuttle, and former Yonder Mountain String Band mandolin player Jeff Austin.  His third album Labor of Lust, is very different from his first two albums. Growing up in Georgia, Kyle Tuttle first began singing and playing folk songs with his grandparents. After studying at Berklee College of Music and moving to Nashville, TN, Tuttle played in the band of Yonder Mountain String Band mandolinist Jeff Austin until Austin’s death in 2019. Now playing full time with Molly Tuttle & Golden Highway, (Kyle) Tuttle has been busy touring while finishing his newest album, Labor of Lust.

BIG RICHARD

Big Richard often refer to themselves as the gremlins of the bluegrass world. They slapped as hard as possible on the festival circuit, worked up their stamina on nationwide headlining tours, and left a wake of die-hard Big Richard Heads across the country swooning for their honest songwriting, chilling vocals, and fiddle-driven barn-burners. Big Richard is currently touring their debut full-length studio album Girl Dinner, following a whirlwind year that included performances on PBS' the Cavern Sessions, NPR's World Cafe, Telluride Bluegrass Festival, Delfest, Bourbon and Beyond, Jam Cruise, and New Year's Eve at the Ryman in Nashville.

THE FRETLINERS

The Fretliners first played together around a single microphone in the Cloverlick banjo shop barn one fateful evening, they knew they would be inseparable from that moment on. The Fretliners (Tom Knowlton - guitar, Sam Parks - mandolin, Dan Andree - fiddle, Taylor Shuck - bass) are a genuine and powerful bluegrass quartet recognized for their songwriting and undeniable chemistry. Their newfound camaraderie produces an energy that is as infectious on stage as it is on record. So much so that in the summer of 2023, they won both band competitions at Telluride Bluegrass and Rockygrass Festivals—a feat that had only been accomplished once before. That September, they released their debut eponymous album to acclaim and adoration.

PIXIE & THE PARTYGRASS BOYS

Pixie and The Partygrass Boys may be far from their humble beginnings, but they still don't take themselves too seriously. What began as a group of ski bums playing house parties in the Cottonwood Canyons of Salt Lake City has evolved into a nationally touring band that always aims to have the most fun possible. Along with the skill and expertise that comes from nearly a decade of performing together, they bring the energy of closing weekend at your favorite ski resort to the stage. They have captivated audiences across the nation with their unique blend of heartfelt songwriting, high velocity instrumental excellence, silly outfits, and sing-along anthems.

JAKE LEG

Jake Leg forges a unique path through the expansive world of acoustic music. Consisting of award-winning musicians Eric Wiggs on guitar and vocals, Dylan McCarthy on mandolin and vocals, Justin Hoffenberg on fiddle, and Aaron Hoffenberg on bass, Jake Leg breathes new life into modern progressive bluegrass, crafting a captivating landscape of high-level instrumental ability and thoughtful songwriting. Drawing something new from the well of tradition, the band takes the listener on a journey through rich narratives and evocative melodies, proving that within every note lies both a connection to the past and the promise of a bold musical future.

MARTHA SCANLON AND JON NEUFELD

Martha Scanlan and Jon Neufeld have a unique alchemy on stage that will ensure the sense of being taken into the moment. Their shows are in and of themselves a journey of improvisation; the way Jon Neufeld’s brilliant innovative guitar playing weaves effortlessly around Martha’s timeless songwriting is simply magical. They met playing together at Portland’s Indie Roots festival Pickathon in 2010, shortly before recording Tongue River Stories, a beautifully stark album of field recordings captured on film at the 120-year-old family ranch where Martha was living and working in a remote corner of south east Montana.

LENA MARIE SCHIFFER DUO

Lena Marie Schiffer is a folk singer and songwriter based in Livingston, Montana. She has carved a notable niche in the music industry, touring nationally for ten years with her band Laney Lou and the Bird Dogs, and now playing under her own name. Lena writes original lyrics that offer deeply personal reflections and insightful observations of the world, creating a connection with her audience wherever she goes. She is influenced by icons like Joni Mitchell, Emmylou Harris, and Alison Krauss, and their impact can also be heard in her vulnerable songwriting style. In 2024, Lena began developing her eponymous project that leans into folk, indie, and Americana influences. She paired up with Ani Casabonne on fiddle, and together they have formed a duo that is bound by a natural chemistry that is undeniable when hearing them play.

BIG SKY MUDFLAPS

The Big Sky Mudflaps formed in 1975 in Hamilton, Montana.  The group played roadhouses and clubs up and down the Bitterroot Valley and in Missoula, and within a short time branched out to places like Spokane, Bozeman, Helena, Billings, & the Seattle area. They play an eclectic range of classic American music, focusing on swing and rhythm & blues. The Mudflaps continue to explore exciting new musical territory.  Some of their current material is fueled by the fiery rhythms of Cuba and Brazil. In concert performance, the Big Sky Mudflaps like to present the full range of their stylistic repertoire, from Kansas City swing to Havana cha-cha-cha.  Always their hope is that the audience will have half as much fun as the band.

COWBOY ANDY & THE SALAMANDERS

Cowboy Andy and the Salamanders is an award winning nationally recognized children and family friendly rock group that offers that has been delighting families all around the Pacific Northwest for over 10 years! Get ready to dance and sing along to songs you probably don’t know! The Salamanders consist of Mr. Blue Sky Ian Smith, Bones Russ Gay, Banana Man Matthew Bainton, The Indispensable Oscar Hunt, and Cowboy Andy!

Travel the world through your tastebuds. Immerse yourself in the local tastes and smells of some of Western Montana’s best food vendors! All vendors are using compostable materials as part of Roots Fest’s sustainability efforts.

Banh Missoula - Vietnamese Street Food

Big Dipper Ice Cream - Locally made ice cream

Clark Fork & Spoon Kitchen - Smash burgers, chicken sandwiches, etc.

Indikai - Southeast Asian street food

Kamoon - Arabian cuisine

Mountain Berry Bowls - Acai bowls

Pelz - Pelmeni dumplings

Raven Mad Concessions - Kettlecorn

River City Eats - Sliders and loaded fries

Sa Wad Dee - Thai street food

Servin' Thyme - Nachos, build your own bowls, etc.

Sista Elmmy - Belizean street food

Soul Dawgz - Hot dogs

Worden's Market - Sandwiches, salads, Frito pies, popcorn

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.

Coming Soon!

Looking for the perfect kid-friendly event during Roots Festival? Well look no further. Family Roots Fest takes place in Caras Park on August 23rd from 10 AM - 2 PM and has a wide range of kid-friendly activities that are perfect for all ages. From hands on crafts, to obstacle courses, to guitar lessons, to bean bag tosses, Family Roots Fest has it all.

Family Roots Fest Stage Schedule:

10:00 – 2:00pm: Double Bubble Dance Party with DJ Coach Shane

Family Roots Fest Activity Providers

Coming soon!

FAMILY ROOTS FESTIVAL IS SPONSORED BY:

Celebrating all things Missoula during Roots Fest wouldn’t be complete without showcasing our active community. Thanks to Run Wild Missoula, the 4-Mile Roots Run takes participants along our river, through historic neighborhoods, and back to Kiwanis park to gather and celebrate the community we love.

SATURDAY, AUGUST 23 - 8:30 AM

Start/Finish Location: E. Main St.; Between N. Higgins & N. Pattee

Registration: runwildmissoula.org or rivercityrootsfestival.com (day of registration available)

Under 20 Years Old 

  • $15 – June 12 – August 23, 2025
  • No festival cup/wristband, drink ticket

UM Students (valid Griz Card required)

  • $15 – June 12 – August 23, 2025
  • No festival cup/wristband, drink ticket

Open Registration*

  • $28 – June 12 – July 9, 2025
  • $33 – July 10 – August 6, 2025
  • $40 – August 7 – August 23, 2025

Packet Pickup Information

  • Friday, August 22 from 3 - 5:45 PM at Run Wild Missoula
  • Saturday, August 23 (Race Day) from 7:15 - 8:15 AM at the Race Start
    • Packet pickup ends promptly at 8:15 AM on the 23rd

 

2025 Course Map

4-MILE ROOTS RUN SPONSORED BY

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.

Coming Soon!

A cornerstone of our community is our commitment to sustainability, which is why Home ReSource and the City of Missoula lead the charge on the green scene each year, ensuring the festival is as climate friendly as possible. The Roots Team is committed to reducing the carbon footprint of our festival while improving the health of our community and planet. From expanding zero waste options, to sustainable commute options, to offsetting our musicians’ emissions, the 2024 River City Roots Festival is dedicated to responsibly throwing Missoula’s best party.

No doubt you’ll see our Green Team Zero Waste Ambassadors at the festival managing the “waste stream”. Last year our team diverted 65% of Roots Fest waste from the landfill – and most of this became compost! Thank them for their efforts, and you can join this team too – click here to volunteer for the Green Team.

Here are some of the many ways we’re greening the Roots Fest in 2025:

  • Single-use plastic straws: 9 years ago, we eliminated these at the festival! Wahoo!
  • Zero Waste Vendors: All food vendors are required to be part of our Zero Waste Vendor Program. All vendors will NOT use any plastic, single-use glass, or Styrofoam food service ware. All containers, drinks, and utensils are recyclable or compostable. If you stop by a vendor, thank them for their actions to go green.
  • All-In-One Recycling Stations with Composting. Our Zero Waste Stations to include compost bins. These green bins—filled with food scraps, plates, utensils and more—end up at the City-owned Garden City Compost, hauled by our friends at Missoula Compost Collection. In addition to MCC’s compost bins, Republic Services provides All-In-One Recycling service. To help festival goers know what and how to discard, you’ll find Green Team volunteers acting as Zero Waste Ambassadors at many of these stations. You can recognize these ambassadors by their green Roots Fest shirts and their nifty trash pickers. Do give them a high five!
  • Stainless Steel Tumblers and Roots Fest Cups: By popular demand, the River City Roots Festival stainless steel tumblers are back this year, to be used and reused throughout the weekend and beyond. These tumblers tend to sell out fast, so snag one before they’re gone! To make sustainable sipping even better, if you bought a Roots Fest cup at festivals past, bring it to this year’s Roots for all your beverage needs.
  • Water Stations. If all you need is water (!) stop by the Culligan water truck and fill your reusable bottle or Festival cup with cool H20. Stay hydrated!
  • Bike Valet: In our opinion, biking to Roots demands VIP treatment! To that end, Missoula In Motion and Green Team volunteers will again offer a bicycle valet parking service. If you bike to the festival, simply ride up to the secured area located on the Higgins end of the Art Show and let our volunteers do the rest. The Bike Valet will be available from 6pm – 10:30pm both nights of the Festival. If you choose to use your own bike parking arrangements, please only lock up to designated bike racks to avoid chaining up to trees. By riding and parking your bike responsibly, you help reduce carbon emissions, improve traffic flow, and protect our urban forests.
  • Carbon Free Main Stage: Powering the world class musicians performing at the Roost Festival takes serious energy. Between fuel to get here and electricity to run speakers and lights, we leave a carbon footprint that contributes to climate change. We mitigate that contribution with the purchase of carbon credits, using Climate Smart’s “Footprint Fund” dedicated to reducing emissions in buildings in Missoula. That is why we proudly display the “Carbon Neutral” banner prominently on stage.

Have any other ideas for Greening the Roots Fest or working to make our community more sustainable? Stop by the Home ReSource table near the Main Street Parking garage and let us know, or join our efforts.

Thank You to Our Greening Sponsors!

FESTIVAL GREENING SPONSORED BY

HOW TO HAVE FUN

  • NO TICKETS NEEDED! This is Missoula's signature celebration and we feel there shouldn't be any barriers to folks enjoying live music in the streets of Downtown.
  • Looking for information about the festival or for festival merchandise? Visit our info booth on the corner of W. Main and Ryman (outside of the Missoula Club)
  • Bring your lawn chairs to the festival to enjoy the bands in comfort.
  • Check out the Family Roots Fest in Caras Park (Saturday, August 23 from 10am to 2pm) – there are lots of fun activities to keep the kids busy.
  • Check out all the varied art work from our artists. There are all kinds of beautiful and one-of-a-kind items to bring home with you.
  • Looking for some exercise? A 4-mile fun run is slated for Saturday morning (Saturday, August 23 - 8:30am) and is open to everyone with all abilities. Register online at rivercityrootsfestival.com or in-person at the Runner’s Edge.
  • Please do NOT bring your own food and beverages into the festival area. Your purchases from our vendors support locally-owned businesses and help cover the hard costs to help keep this festival admission free for all.
  • PLEASE DO NOT BRING YOUR PETS TO ROOTS FEST! It can be hot with lots of people in the festival area, which may not be comfortable for your pooch. Folks with pets will be asked to remain outside the festival area.
  • Do bring your own water bottle to stay hydrated while you dance the day away. A water-truck thanks to Culligan will be stationed near Masala to refill your bottles as often as you need.
  • Adult beverages are available: purchase your wristband and commemorative cup first (your first drink is FREE thanks to the Downtown Missoula Partnership), then get in line for a drink. Bring your ID; you will not be able to drink without it.
  • You must have an official Roots Fest Wristband to drink within the festival area. Please stay inside the festival area with your adult beverages. If you take your drink outside the barricades, you risk getting an Open Container ticket.
  • If you need a band-aid, or maybe you lost or found something, go see the folks in the Volunteer Check-In area inside the Central Park Parking Structure. We also have EMTs on site in the Central Park Parking Structure after 4pm Friday and after 2pm on Saturday.

ARRIVING AT THE FESTIVAL

  • Walk the trails: Missoula has an amazing trail system - park outside of Downtown and walk with ease along our beautiful river.
  • Ride the bike: please park your bike at one of the many bike racks throughout Downtown, including the bike corral in Caras Park. Please dismount and walk your bike inside the festival area.
  • Ride the Line: Mountain Line is now Zero-Fare and all routes lead to Downtown Missoula. Visit www.mountainline.com to find your route or download their app. Mountain Line is also a major sponsor that helps keep Roots Fest as green as possible.
  • If you brought your skateboard, scooter, etc., please refrain from riding them within the festival area.
  • Thanks to the Missoula Parking Commission, parking throughout Downtown Missoula is FREE for the entire duration of Roots Fest. We recommend parking in the Park Place or ROAM garages. Note that lease-parking spaces will be enforced on Friday, August 22 (but are accessible to all on Saturday, August 23). Parking does fill up quickly - we recommend utilizing sustainable means of transportation.

PLEASE BE CONSIDERATE / SAFE

  • PLEASE DO NOT BRING YOUR PETS TO ROOTS FEST! It can be hot with lots of people in the festival area, which may not be comfortable for your pooch. Folks with pets will be asked to remain outside the festival area.
  • Stay hydrated! Early September can still bring hot temps, so be sure to bring a refillable water bottle; a water-truck will be available near Masala thanks to Culligan.
  • Please be polite to the folks who are working the event. Many are volunteering their time or are small business owners helping to create an authentic Missoula experience for you.
  • Please exit the festival area if you would like to smoke or vape. We realize it’s a street festival, but please don’t subject those around you to secondhand smoke.
  • Please stay off the railings on top of the parking structure, as well as the sound and staging equipment. We want you to be safe!

WHAT IT TAKES TO MAKE THIS FESTIVAL

  • $120,000+: Cost to put on Roots Fest. It’s no small cost to put on a festival like this. As with all events produced by the Missoula Downtown Association, Roots Fest is admission FREE. It’s because of our sponsors, as well as attendees taking advantage of our local food vendors and purchasing the wristband/commemorative cup, that costs associated with the event are covered.
  • $90,000+: Amount of sponsorship dollars from local businesses to help produce Roots Fest; nearly $20,000+ is in trade-out services
  • 15,000+: number of attendees roaming the streets of Downtown Missoula across both days
  • 3,700 aluminum beer cups bought to help reduce waste - please reuse the cups all weekend and recycle them when you're done!
  • 800 t-shirts for sale, for runners, and for our volunteers
  • 120+ volunteers needed to make Roots Fest come alive
  • 4 Production Partners: the City of Missoula, Run Wild Missoula, Home ReSource, Missoula in Motion all help with various pieces so Roots runs smoothly
  • 10 bands, 35 artists, 14 local food vendors, 300+ runners, 120 volunteers, 10 planning committee members, and 25+ children’s organizations make this party!

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Roots Fest website:
rivercityrootsfestival.com
Roots Fest Information & Merchandise Booth

Downtown Missoula Partnership:
406.543.4238 or [email protected]

Paddleheads Post:
Located across the street from the festival at 140 N. Higgins. They also have general information about Missoula.

TITLE SPONSOR

MAIN STAGE SPONSORS

MEDIA SPONSOR

EVENT PRODUCER

EVENT SUPPORT GRANT

FAMILY FUN SPONSORS

GREEN SPONSORS

4-MILE RUN SPONSORS

ART SHOW SPONSORS

BEVERAGE GARDEN SPONSORS

FOOD COURT SPONSORS

HOSPITALITY SPONSORS

PATRON SPONSORS

Poteet Construction

SUPPORTER SPONSORS

First Montana Bank, DCI Engineers

Questions?