River City Roots Festival

THANK YOU, Missoula for a fantastic Roots Fest #16 – see you next year for #17!


SAVE THE DATE – August 25th-26th, 2023 in Downtown Missoula!

Produced by the Missoula Downtown Association as Missoula’s signature celebration, the River City Roots Festival has quickly risen to the top of Western Montana’s must-see-list.

Recognized as the 2009 Montana Tourism Event of the Year, River City Roots Fest draws more than 15,000 individuals to the heart of Downtown Missoula for a variety of fun activities and exceptional music. This two-day FREE festival features first-class art and entertainment for both residents and visitors.

With live performances on a big stage on West Main Street, a fine art show, entertainment for children and families, and a 4-Mile run through the heart of Missoula, Roots Fest brings a weekend of family fun to the heart of the community.

For more detailed information, check out our River City Roots Festival website!

THANK YOU TO OUR TITLE & MAIN STAGE SPONSORS!

 

2023 Band Lineup will be announced in late April 2023!

2022 Full Band List and Schedule

For more detailed information, check out our River City Roots Festival website!

FRIDAY, AUGUST 26TH
  • 12:30pm – Kids’ Rock Bands
  • 2:30pm – Ashleigh Flynn & the Riveters
  • 4:30pm – Laney Lou & the Bird Dogs
  • 6:30pm – Amy Helm
  • 8:30pm – Amanda Shaw
SATURDAY, AUGUST 27TH
  • 12:30pm – Cowboy Andy & the Salamanders
  • 2:30pm – Off in the Woods
  • 4:30pm – Drew Landry & the North Country Ramblers
  • 6:30pm – The Hillbenders
  • 8:30pm – Keller Williams’ Grateful Grass
THANK YOU TO OUR MAIN STAGE SPONSORS

FAMILY ROOTS FESTIVAL

Looking for the perfect kid-friendly event during Roots Festival? Well look no further. Family Roots Fest takes place in Caras Park on August 27th from 10 AM – 2 PM and has a wide range of kid-friendly activities that are perfect for all ages. From exotic animals, to obstacle courses, to guitar lessons, to bean bag tosses, Family Roots Fest has it all. THANK YOU TO OUR FAMILY ROOTS FEST SPONSORS: Children’s Dentistry of the Rockies, Opportunity Bank, and Community Medical Center

2022 Family Roots Fest Stage Schedule:

Matthew Nord, Tangled Tones…..10:00-10:30am

Double Bubble Dance Party…..10:30-10:00am

Living Rhythm Drum Circle…..11:00am – 12:00pm

Double Bubble Dance Party…..12:00-1:00pm

Childbloom Guitars…..1:00-2:00pm

 

Activity Providers
ANIMAL WONDERS
BEACH TRANSPORTATION
CASA OF MISSOULA
CHILDBLOOM GUITAR
CHILDREN’S DENTISTRY OF THE ROCKIES
CLEARWATER SYSTEMS
DRIVE SAFE MISSOULA
FAMILIES FIRST LEARNING LAB
FOREST SERVICE
FOUNDATION FOR COMMUNITY HEALTH
GLACIER ICE RINK
HEAD START
HISTORICAL MUSEUM OF FORT MISSOULA
IMPACT MARTIAL ARTS
INSECTARIUM
MISMO GYMNASTICS
MISSOULA BROADCASTING
MISSOULA PUBLIC HEALTH – LET’S MOVE MISSOULA
MISSOULA PEDIATRIC DENTISTRY
MISSOULA PUBLIC LIBRARY
MISSOULA TAEKWONDO
MOUNTAIN LINE
PARKS AND RECREATION
SAFE KIDS MISSOULA

 

THANK YOU TO OUR FAMILY ROOTS FEST SPONSORS

SATURDAY, AUGUST 26TH, 2023 – 8:30AM | START E. MAIN, FINISH CARAS PARK

Registration for the Roots Run will open in late Spring 2023

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.

THANK YOU TO OUR ROOTS RUN SPONSORS

Each year, the Missoula Downtown Association (MDA) hosts public events that aim to bring our vibrant community together in the heart of Downtown Missoula. The MDA is seeking food vendors to enhance our events and create a festive atmosphere. Vendors will be chosen based upon numerous factors including but not limited to: power consumption, size of vending operation, type of food, performance at previous events, MDA membership status, etc. Be aware that the use of sustainable serving materials is mandatory for all food vendors at MDA events.

 

2023 MDA Food Vendor Application

Application Deadline: Friday, March 3, 2023

Friday, Aug. 25th & Saturday, Aug. 26th, 2023
Interested in being an artists at the 2023 Roots Fest? Applications will open in February 2023.

2022 Artists Listed Below

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. THANK YOU TO OUR ART SHOW SPONSORS: The Art Galleries at 120 N. Higgins (Allez!, The Art Vault, Radius Gallery, Relic), Stockman Bank, and Your Home Improvement Co.

ABIGAIL DOYLE
  • Stained Glass – Bozeman, MT
ADORN TO RISE
  • Jewelry – Missoula, MT
ANOMAL PRESS
  • Printmaking – Missoula, MT
BACK ROAD STUDIO
  • Sterling Silver Jewelry – Belgrade, MT
BAILEY DURNELL
  • Jewelry – Missoula, MT
BEAUTIFULLY ROOTED
  • Greenery & Plant Accessories – Belgrade, MT
CHRISTY GREENE
  • Paintings on Silk, Prints, Christy Lynn Greene Clothing Collection – Clinton, MT
CLAIRE EMERY
  • Woodblock Prints – Missoula, MT
CLAY STUDIO OF MISSOULA
  • Ceramics – Missoula, MT
DOBEZ DESIGNZ
  • Jewelry, Cards, Paintings, Urns – Kalispell, MT
ERIC REESE
  • Photography – Whitefish, MT
ERYNN MCNEILL
  • Painting (Originals, Prints, Stickers, Pins, Wearables, and more) – Florence, MT
FEY FABRICATIONS
  • Cloth Dolls – Helena, MT
GAIL BECKNER
  • Upcycled Apparel, Jewelry – Missoula, MT
GREGG VISINTAINER – VIS ART INK
  • Drawings
HUNTER LEACH
  • Leather – Missoula, MT
IVERSON JEWELRY DESIGN
  • Jeweler, Lapidary Artist – Missoula, MT
JENNA FOREST
  • Wood Pyrography – Florence, MT
KELSEY WICKWIRE
  • Artist of a Variety of Mediums – Southern California
LAUGHING BLACKBIRD
  • Leather – Missoula, MT
LORI HOWELL
  • Fabric Art
MEGAN JOHNSON
  • Photography
MOLLY HUFF
  • Henna Tattoos – Denver, CO
MONTANA APPAREL
  • Montana Apparel – Missoula, MT
MONTANA BISMUTH CREATIONS
  • Bismuth Metal Art – Missoula, MT
MY DISCO DAYDREAM
  • Handmade Clothing: Retro + Everyday – Missoula, MT
NICOLE ANTHONY
  • Watercolor Paint – Billings, MT
REDCROW FINE ARTS
  • Acrylic & Watercolor Paint, Prints, Jewelry
SAMMY T CERAMICS
  • Ceramics
SILVER LININGS
  • Jewelry made from Vintage/Antique Flatware – Lolo, MT
SLICKERY BLENDS
  • Artisan Soaper – Missoula, MT
SUN AND MOONSTONE CO
  • Jewelry – Missoula, MT
TAKE COURAGE JEWELRY DESIGNS, & JUST WEAR IT
  • Jewelry – Lolo, MT
THREAD PARADE
  • Textiles (Wearable and Non-Wearable) – Missoula, MT
TOM LIND
  • Wheel Thrown, Hand-made, Hand-glazed (Brush) Porcelain Goblets – Missoula, MT
WHIMSICAL WEARABLES
  • Polymer Clay Jewelry and Wearables – Missoula, MT
WILDERLAND
  • Wearable Fiber – Butte, MT
THANK YOU TO OUR ART SHOW SPONSORS

 

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.

THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING LOCAL BUSINESSES IN 2022!

Roots Fest doesn’t just happen, it takes amazing community members like you to make the magic happen and produce an amazing event in the Heart of Missoula. Please consider a volunteer shift during the festival. It’s a great way to connect with your community, and we offer some perks too!

You get the following for FREE:

  • River City Roots Festival T-Shirt
  • Wristband (21+)
  • Festival cup
  • Special access to the volunteer hospitality food station

Sign up with your friends now, before shifts fill up!

THANK YOU to our 2022 volunteers – we couldn’t have done it without you! The signup for volunteering in 2023 will open in July 2023.

 

Missoula’s Signature Celebration is looking for a local graphic designer to be the creative mind behind the River City Roots Festival logo and poster for 2023! Please provide samples of your work, a letter of interest, and a proposal that includes a price quote. Scope of work must include the following items at minimum: logo, poster.

All completed artwork must be compatible with Adobe Creative Suite and created in a format that graphic elements can be utilized separately as needed by the Downtown Missoula Partnership staff for marketing Roots Fest. Proposals due by January 15, 2023. Selected designer will be notified by February 3, 2023. Selected designer must be able to deliver a finalized logo and poster by Friday, April 7, 2023. Questions and proposal submissions can be directed to [email protected].

Examples of previous posters: