River City Roots Festival Returns for the 20th Year on August 21-22 in Downtown Missoula!
RIVER CITY ROOTS FEST TURNS 20!
ADMISSION-FREE STREET FESTIVAL SLATED FOR AUG. 21-22 IN DOWNTOWN MISSOULA
The 20th annual River City Roots Festival – hosted by the Downtown Missoula Partnership – will be in the streets of Downtown Missoula on Friday & Saturday, Aug. 21-22, 2026. Ten national
and local bands, 38 artists, 28 local organizations providing children’s activities, 30 business sponsors, 15 food trucks, 400 runners, and 120 volunteers make Roots Fest the most amazing experience in celebrating Montana’s most culturally-diverse city, thanks to title sponsor Dick Anderson Construction and many other Missoula-area businesses supporting the festival.
Since 2006, River City Roots Fest has attracted thousands of Missoulians, new and returning UM students, and regional tourists to the Heart of Missoula for an admission-free and accessible festival that highlights what we love about Missoula: live and local music, exceptional art, family-friendly fun, great food & local beverages, healthy living, and caring for the environment.
MUSIC ON MAIN
This year’s lineup feels a little like a reunion with eight of the 10 bands returning to the Roots Stage on Main Street, thanks to Big Sky Brewing and Blackfoot Communications.
The Infamous Stringdusters return for a third time, having shared their progressive bluegrass music with the Roots crowd in both 2010 and 2018, the year they won the Grammy Awards for Best Bluegrass Album. The Stringdusters will close out the festival Saturday night.
The Honey Island Swamp Band returns to the Roots Fest stage with their signature funk, blues, rock and reggae from New Orleans, having previously played in 2019. They will close out Friday’s lineup.
Amanda Shaw will bring her vibrant jazz, blues, funk and rock to the Main Stage on Friday night at 6:30pm. This red-headed Cajun fiddler and vibrant performer will be making her fourth appearance on the Roots Stage, having been to Missoula for the festival in 2010, 2015, and 2022. She was inducted into the Louisiana Music Hall of Fame in 2020.
Silas Herman and the Tone Unit will take the stage Saturday at 6:30pm. Silas is the son of Vince Herman, co-founder and frontman of Leftover Salmon. One of the best mandolin players in the country, Silas has shared the stage with Sam Bush, Billy Strings, Del McCoury, and the Kitchen Dwellers.
Friday’s lineup opens at 2:30pm with kids from the ZACC Rock Band Camps and Tangled Tones. They will be followed by Missoula’s powerhouse vocalist Joan Zen and her band at 2:30pm, and Reverend Slanky, a Montana-based band comprised of music educators from across the state, at 4:30pm.
Saturday’s lineup opens with Cowboy Andy & the Salamanders, who will be making their sixth consecutive show on the Roots Fest Main Stage. The Unfaithful Servants will follow, bringing high-energy Americana from Vancouver Island. Local singer, songwriter and dobro player Andy Dunnigan returns to the Roots Fest stage with a new set of friends after touring with The Lil Smokies for the last decade.
“With this being the 20th year of Roots Fest, I am very excited about the lineup we have for 2026,” said Ellen Buchanan, Chair of the Roots Fest Committee. “With this being the festival’s 20th year, we are excited that both of our headliners are also celebrating their 20th anniversaries. We have a variety of genres to share with the community, including Grammy winners, second-generation musicians, local bands who’ve been playing for decades, and of course, entertainment for the children. This may be one of my all-time favorite lineups!”
The Edgewater, the AC Hotel, and the Residence Inn by Marriott are the hospitality sponsors for the festival.
ARTS GALORE
Roots Fest is also a celebration of art and artists. This year’s Art Show opens at 12 noon Friday and 10am Saturday, and nearly 40 local and regional artists will be showcasing their crafts on Main Street. Jewelry, paintings, pottery, apparel, photography, and more will be highlighted at this year’s Art Show, sponsored by Xplorer Maps, Collective Elevation, and The Wren.
FOUR-MILE RUN
How many festivals also offer a run? Missoulians live the good life, and Run Wild Missoula plays a significant role in getting Missoulians out and about town in their running shoes. The Roots Run is a four-mile course that starts on the 100 block of East Main, runs around the river corridor, and finishes in Caras Park. The run starts at 8:30am on Saturday, and all runners receive a complimentary t-shirt, wristband, and beverage of choice, thanks to sponsors DJ&A, First Security Bank, Dorsey Whitney, and Runner’s Edge.
FAMILY ROOTS IN CARAS PARK
Attendees with children in tow will not want to miss Family Roots in Caras Park on Saturday from 10am-2pm. Nearly 30 kid-friendly destinations and organizations will be entertaining the children with hands-on crafting, obstacle courses, instrument-playing, games, dancing, music and more. Family Roots is sponsored by Children’s Dentistry of the Rockies, Boeson Research, Republic Services, and Missoula Pediatric Dentistry.
FOOD & BEVERAGE
In addition to the variety of Downtown bars, restaurants, and coffee shops, Roots Fest offers a full-service street bar provided by The Rhino and a variety of food trucks and vendors on Main Street. Food offerings of all types will be available, thanks to sponsors Boone Karlberg and Whitefish Credit Union. Attendees consuming alcohol in the streets are required to wear a Roots Fest wristband. The cost for a wristband, cup and first beverage is $14.
THE GREEN SCENE
Roots Fest is a shining example of how sustainability is a cornerstone commitment from our community to make the festival as climate-friendly and carbon-neutral as possible. The festival buys carbon credits for band travel, requires vendors to serve their products in compostable materials, and recycles and composts everything possible, thanks to Home ReSource, dedicated volunteers, and sponsorships from Clearwater Credit Union, the Good Food Store, HDR Engineering, and WGM Group. Festival goers are welcome to reuse their Roots Fest cups from previous festivals.
TRANSPORTATION & PARKING
Festival attendees are encouraged to bike, walk and bus to Downtown Missoula. Mountain Line operates zero-fare services, and all routes run to Downtown. Roots Fest will have valet bike parking, and the Missoula Parking Commission is offering free parking Downtown on Friday, Aug. 21. The Downtown garages are open, and there is ample parking throughout the district.
SUPPORT OUR ROOTS SIDEWALK SALES
Missoula-area businesses will be offering sidewalk sales throughout Downtown, and festival attendees are encouraged to support local businesses by shopping and dining before, during and after the festival. Downtown has some of the best retail experiences in Montana.
FESTIVAL KINDNESS & RESPECT
As always, there are a variety of “dos and don’ts” expected when attending festivals. With Roots Fest, you are allowed to come and go as you please. However, please:
- Leave your pets at home. No dogs, cats, lizards or snakes are allowed.
- Stay hydrated. The weather is hot and dry, so bring a water bottle. We’ll have complimentary water for all, thanks to Culligan Water.
- Leave your politics at home and be kind to the volunteers working the event. It takes 120+ volunteers to make the festival happen.
- If you need to smoke or vape, please leave the festival boundaries to not subject those around you to secondhand smoke.
For more information on the festival, visit www.rivercityrootsfestival.com or contact the Downtown Missoula Partnership staff via phone (406-543-4238) or email ([email protected]). Festival schedule is attached.