19th Annual River City Roots Festival August 22-23, 2025 in Downtown Missoula
RIVER CITY ROOTS FESTIVAL AUGUST 22-23 IN DOWNTOWN MISSOULA
HEADLINERS: BIG RICHARD & THE KYLE TUTTLE BAND
It’s coming up this week! The 19th annual River City Roots Festival – Missoula’s signature celebration of the city we love – will take place Friday & Saturday, Aug. 22-23, in the streets of Downtown Missoula. Roots Fest welcomes thousands of Missoula residents and tourists for two days of FREE live music from 10 national and local bands, thanks to the generosity of 32 Missoula-area businesses, including title sponsor Dick Anderson Construction.
In addition to two days of live music, Roots Fest features 40 regional artists selling their goods, 16 local food trucks and vendors, a 4-mile Roots Run, Family Fest in Caras Park, and a Downtown-wide sidewalk sale at various Downtown businesses. Returning to its traditional weekend right before Labor Day Weekend, Roots Fest serves as the official “Welcome to Missoula” celebration for new and returning students, faculty, and staff. UM commences Fall Semester on Monday, Aug. 25.
Produced by the Missoula Downtown Association and supported by the Montana Department of Commerce, River City Roots Fest will draw more than 15,000 people to the Heart of Missoula for first-class art and entertainment for people of all ages and abilities.
Supported by Big Sky Brewing, Blackfoot Communications, and The Trail 103.3FM, the live music on Main Street features an eclectic mix of local, regional, and nationally-recognized talent with both family-friendly performances and high-energy evening headliners known across the country.
“River City Roots Festival is a gift to Missoula, a free live music and arts festival for our community members of all ages,” said Ellen Buchanan, festival chair and member of the Missoula Downtown Association Board of Directors. “We have an incredible lineup this year and look forward to welcoming our University of Montana students, faculty, staff and their families to the Heart of Missoula!”
Friday’s lineup highlights bands with female lead singers and musicians. Kicking off Roots Fest at 12:30 p.m., the ZACC Kids Rock Bands will perform both covers and originals. The Lena Marie Schiffer Duo will offer acoustic harmonies and heartfelt songwriting. Martha Scanlan and Jon Neufeld return to Roots Fest with rich, rootsy Americana music steeped in storytelling and musical craft. Scanlan returns after playing at the original Roots Festival in 2006 and again in 2008. Pixie & the Partygrass Boys will bring a joyful blend of bluegrass, jam-band energy, and then Big Richard will close out Friday’s lineup. This fierce, all-female string band from Colorado got rave reviews when they last played at Roots Fest in 2023.
Saturday’s lineup opens up with Cowboy Andy & the Salamanders, an interactive children’s music band with a playful and educational twist and a little bit of country western mixed in. 2025 marks the fifth year in a row the Salamanders have been lighting up the stage on Saturday afternoon. The Big Sky Mudflaps – one of Missoula’s all-time favorites that has been playing together for 50 years – will take the stage Saturday at 2:30 pm, bringing swing and jazz music with a timeless charm. Jake Leg is a new four-piece acoustic band from Colorado offering gritty blues and soulful Americana music in their first appearance in Missoula. The Fretliners is an award-winning bluegrass band with lightning-fast picking and tight harmonies. Kyle Tuttle – a progressive banjo wizard – and his band will close out the festival Saturday night with jam-infused bluegrass.
This year, the Roots Fest Art Show – sponsored by Xplorer Maps and Collective Elevation – is at full capacity with a record number of 40 vendors on Main Street this year. Jewelry, apparel, leather, sculptures, wood and metal artwork, embroidery and crochet, clay, photography, and upcycled materials are just some of the things that will be for sale.
One of the most popular activities for Roots Fest every year is the four-mile Roots Run, sponsored by Runner’s Edge, Dorsey & Whitney, DJ&A, and First Security Bank. Organized and managed by Run Wild Missoula, the run starts at 8:30 am on Saturday on the 100 block of East Main Street. The route will cross the Beartracks Bridge and follow the run down the Milwaukee Trail, returning back to Downtown through Silver Park, McCormick Park, and finishing at Caras Park.
The Roots Family Fun Fest – sponsored by Children’s Dentistry of the Rockies, TDS Fiber, Missoula Pediatric Dentistry, and Boeson Research – will take place on Saturday from 10 am-2 pm in Caras Park and features 28 different children’s activity providers, plus RJ, the DJ. This year’s Family Fun Fest will have food and artwork for sale.
Parking in Downtown Missoula will be free throughout the festival, thanks to the Missoula Parking Commission. Additionally, all Mountain Line routes lead to Downtown Missoula, and the bus is free to ride for everyone, operating until 10 pm on both Friday and Saturday. Lastly, there will be valet parking for those who bike to the festival.
While the festival is free for everyone, there will be food, beverages, and artwork for purchase. Attendees can purchase a Roots Fest aluminum cup, koozie, and wristband for $13, and their first drink is free. The Rhinoceros will be operating the festival bars this year, and attendees are always encouraged to bring their cups from previous Roots Festivals.
For more information on all the fun components of Missoula’s signature celebration or to sign up for volunteering, visit https://www.rivercityrootsfestival.com/. Contact the Downtown Missoula Partnership staff via phone (406.543.4238) or email ([email protected]) to arrange for interviews.
Two days. 10 bands. 40 artists. 400+ runners. 28 kids’ activities. 16 food trucks. 130 volunteers. River City Roots Festival at its best!