“Support Our Roots” Week
Thank you for participating in “Support Our Roots” Week, Missoula!
The last week of August is usually filled with anticipation as summer starts to come to a close and University of Montana students return to campus. Typically, the streets of Downtown Missoula are filled with music, art, food, and dancing during River City Roots Festival. For 2020, however, the Missoula Downtown Association is shifting away from an in-person event to a week-long campaign where the entire community is encouraged to ‘Support Our Roots’ August 24-30, 2020.
Roots can mean a lot of things to many people. By one definition, ‘root’ is the basic cause, source or origin of something. For our community, there are many causes, sources, and origins of her unique character. We have a lot to celebrate in Missoula and the ‘roots’ of our community are many.
We invite the entire community to ‘Support Our Roots’ by supporting Downtown local businesses, joining in a river clean-up, taking your River City Roots Festival dollars and redirecting them to local non-profits, artists, or musicians, or getting active by joining a virtual race or riding your bike. There are many ways to ‘Support Our Roots’ and we encourage you to make this week your own and support and celebrate the community we love.
Thank you for participating in “Support Our Roots” Week, Missoula!
Top 10 Ways to Support Our Roots – Plus the Roots 2020 Checklist!
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Shop small online with Downtown Retailers
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Eat small by ordering to-go meals from Downtown Restaurants
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Buy local art and/or tip a local musician
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Join the Paddleheads’ River Clean-Up
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Forego the car: take a ride on Mountain Line (with your mask) or bike to your destination
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Water a tree (they are thirsty this time of year!)
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Think sustainably: use compostable or reusable items, recycle and compost
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Redirect your Roots Fest dollars to local non-profits
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Get active: join the Run Wild Missoula ‘Run for Missoula – River City Ramble’ virtual race
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Buy a Downtown Gift Card
Thank you to the local organizations who put on safe events for “Support Our Roots” Week!
Monday, August 24
Tuesday, August 25
- River City Ramble Virtual race
- This Town is Full of Ghosts: Unseen Missoula Music Tour (4:30pm)
- Downtown Pop-Ups (5-8pm)
- Paddleheads Trivia Night (7:30pm)
- Bike to Barns – Local Farms Tour
Wednesday, August 26
- River City Ramble Virtual race
- Downtown Pop-Ups (11am-2pm)
- Electric Stream Sessions – Mountain Line Virtual Concert Series (6pm)
- Bike to Barns – Local Farms Tour
Thursday, August 27
- River City Ramble Virtual race
- This Town is Full of Ghosts: Unseen Missoula Music Tour (4:30pm)
- Downtown Pop-Ups (5-8pm)
- Centerfield Cinema (7:30pm)
- Bike to Barns – Local Farms Tour
Friday, August 28
- Trail 103.3 – recordings from Roots Fest throughout the day
- River City Ramble Virtual race
- Downtown To-Go – Support Downtown Restaurants
- Paddleheads Dinner on the Diamond
- Bike to Barns – Local Farms Tour
Saturday, August 29
- Downtown Virtual Sidewalk Sale
- Downtown To-Go – Support Downtown Restaurants
- Trail 103.3 – recordings from Roots Fest throughout the day
- Past Lives w/ Alanya (7-9pm)
- River City Ramble Virtual race
- Farmer’s Markets: Clark Fork Market & Missoula Farmer’s Market
- ‘Draw Your Roots’ Community Art Project in Caras Park
- This Town is Full of Ghosts: Unseen Missoula Music Tour (4:30pm)
- Montana Fishing Film Festival at Ogren Park at Allegiance Field (8:00pm)
- Bike to Barns – Local Farms Tour
- ZACC
Sunday, August 30
- Trail 103.3 – recordings from Roots Fest during Acoustic Brunch
- River City Ramble Virtual race
- Downtown Virtual Sidewalk Sale
- Downtown To-Go – Support Downtown Restaurants
- Paddleheads River Clean-Up
- Bike to Barn – Local Farms Tour
Thank you for participating in “Support Our Roots” Week, Missoula!
Monday, August 24, kicks off “Support Our Roots” Week! From Monday to Sunday, there are many ways to participate and take pride in Missoula’s roots from home or throughout the community.
Support your Missoula roots by checking off the boxes on the “My Roots 2020 Checklist”! By completing 10/20 activities and tagging Missoula Downtown in your stories or posts, you can win a $100 Missoula Downtown gift card that can be used at 200 locations! Make sure to follow Missoula Downtown and have a public profile. Show off your roots, Missoula!
Remember that “My Roots 2020 Checklist” activities can be completed at any time throughout the week! The daily reminders provide ideas of how to support your roots on certain days.
Thank you for participating in “Support Our Roots” Week, Missoula!
It’s time to support your Roots, Missoula! On Saturday, August 29, as part of ‘Support Our Roots’ week, join in a socially distanced community art project in Caras Park. 
Get your creative juices flowing with sidewalk chalk to create an art piece that represents what the ‘Roots’ of our community mean to you.
Participation is $5 and sidewalk chalk will be provided but feel free to bring your own.
There will be music provided by The Trail 103.3 and food trucks available.
One hour blocks with a maximum of 4 people per 5′ x 6′ space are available. To limit the amount of people in Caras Park, we will be allowing 25 groups per hour. Wearing a face mask or face covering is highly recommended.
After each session, staff and volunteers will clean and sanitize to ensure proper safety for the next group.
Click on the button below to reserve your spot!
Saturday, August 29: 9am – 10am Saturday, August 29: 10:30am – 11:30am Saturday, August 29: 12pm – 1pm Saturday, August 29: 1:30pm – 2:30pm Saturday, August 29: 3pm – 4pm Saturday, August 29: 4:30pm – 5:30pm
Thank you for participating in “Support Our Roots” Week, Missoula!
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! Missoula’s music scene has survived down periods before so although live music may be put on a hold right now that doesn’t stop Missoula from re-living the rockin’ past of the Garden City! 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.
Silkworm sings it best, Into the garden city I’m on the rise…
Where to Meet: Meet under the pavilion at Caras Park. Please arrive a few minutes early so the tour can start promptly at 4:30 pm.
COVID-19 Precautions:
- Masks will be required. If you do not have a mask/face covering, we will provide one for you.
- If you have any COVID-19 related symptoms, we are asking you to please stay home. We will offer refunds with no stipulations, with the option of donating your ticket. We want to make sure everyone is safe and healthy.
- We are asking everyone to maintain physical distancing when possible. If you come with a group that you feel comfortable with, then that group will be physical distancing from others in the tour.
Tuesday, August 25: 4:30pm – 6:30pm
Thursday, August 27: 4:30pm – 6:30pm
Saturday, August 29: 4pm – 6pm
Thank you for supporting local restaurants, Missoula!
Feed your Roots and support our service industry workers! Restaurants in Downtown are open and are ready to safely serve the community. Not ready to dine-in? No problem! Nearly all of our restaurants offer meals To-Go and/or delivery service.
Get your grub on HERE.
SakeTome Sushi / Michi Ramen Bar
Thank you for supporting local businesses, Missoula!
Dress and/or gift your Roots and support locally owned shops and boutiques! Downtown shopping has something for everyone and they are open and here to safely serve the community. Not ready to shop in person? Many of our Downtown shops and boutiques have worked hard to develop an online shopping experience.
Shop till you drop HERE.
406 Creative Vibe Use discount code ROOTS for 10% off all masks & filters Aug 29-30
Bitterroot Flower Shop Super sale carts outside and 50% off giftware, candles, art and silk flowers inside Aug 27-29
Clover In Person Sidewalk Sale Aug 29-30
doTERRA Essential Oils & Health & Wellness Products
Ellee Belle Shop Online Aug 28-30
Habitat for Humanity of Missoula
Hazel & Fawn 20% off clothes & 20% off back to school gear, plus 20% off everything online!
Imagination Station of Missoula
Import Market In Person Sidewalk Sale Aug 29-30
JL + KO: Use the discount code ROOTS25 for 25% off your entire purchase!
Mood Boutique In Person Sidewalk Sale Aug 29-30
Noteworthy Paper & Press + The Showroom In Person Sidewalk Sale Aug 28 – 29
Open Road Bicycles & Nordic Equipment
Shakespeare & Co., Booksellers
Sobbacycle In person Sidewalk Sale -Aug 29, 7:30 -1:30pm & Aug 30, 7:30 -11:30am
Thank you for supporting local artists, Missoula!
Community Related Arts:
- MADE Fair: In lieu of having the Missoula Summer MADE Fair in Caras Park on August 23rd, artists are showcased online for the entire month of August! The MADE fair is Montana’s largest art and handcrafted market and features a curated collection of over 200 skilled artisans as well as a handful of non-profits.
- Supplemental Income Fund for Logjam Employees: Logjam Presents venues have been closed due to the Coronavirus pandemic, resulting in the elimination of the overwhelming majority of work shifts for almost 200 Logjam employees. The goal of the fund will be to provide financial assistance to those affected staff members. 100 percent of the net earnings of all contributions will go directly to staff in need.
- Zootown Arts Community Center (ZACC): The ZACC is Missoula’s non-profit arts center and supports local and regional artists, performing artists, musicians, and creative spirits by being as transparent and open in their practices as possible, and by being a safe, open, inclusive space in which all community members and visitors can comfortably create, collaborate, and thrive. Purchases from the online store provide art opportunities for the Missoula community and income for working artists.
Galleries in Missoula:
- Radius Gallery
- Dana Gallery
- 4 Ravens Gallery
- The Artists’ Shop
- FrontierSpace Art Gallery
- Murphy-Jubb Fine Arts
- Relic Gallery
- Corwin Galleries
Previous River City Roots Festival Artists:
- Cathryn & Keith Bassett: Jewelry
- Gail Beckner: Upcycled Apparel and Accessories/Jewelry
- Sarah Boggs: Textile Art
- Clay Studio: Ceramics Arts Nonprofit
- Dianne Courage: Jewelry
- Jamie & Mike Dobiesz: Scratch-Made Jewelry
- Lisa Ernst: Porcelain/Ceramics
- Jenna Forrest: Wood Burning
- Elaine Fraticelli: Painting and Drawing
- Ray & Christine Goroski: Upcycled and Repurposed Creations made from Vintage and Antique Flatware
- Christy Greene: Painted Silks, Originals, Prints
- Megan Haney: Unique Process Jewelry
- Levi Hinton and Danica Bayliss: Wood and Metal Art, Jewelry, Clocks and Ornaments made from Bismuth
- Unseen Missoula: Tours
- Holliday Jeremaissen: Upcycled Glass
- Eric Johnson: Brookie Bands/Textile
- Ivette Kjelsrud: Fine Art, Wearable Art, Design
- Carrie Kouba & Michele Pomeroy: Upcycled Wall Art, Dishes, Sun Catchers and Jewelry
- Lunar Mountain: Jewlery
- Jeremy McFarlane: Pottery
- Rowan Nyman: Nature Photography
- Pete’s Prints: Custom Wood Prints and Photography
- Eric Reese: Photography
- Rhapsody Montana: Luxury Finds, Apparel, Cowhide Rugs, Leather Goods, Artisan Jewelry, Home Accents
- Gregory Richardson: Rock, Wood and Acrylic Landscapes
- Damien Settelen: Jewelry
- Jessie Smith: Illustration and Watercolors
- Lee Walker: Paint
- Amber Whitenburg-Walker: Handmade Journals and Glow-in-the-Dark Jewelry
Thank you for participating in “greening”, Missoula!
Sustainability and Resiliency to Support our ROOTS
“Greening” the ROOTS Festival has always been a high priority – from composting and reducing waste during the shows, to encouraging sustainable transportation, to “offsetting” the energy used to power the bands. All of these activities and more can still go on, as we work together to build a sustainable Missoula.
- Make your next event Zero Waste. Learn how with this comprehensive Zero Waste Events toolkit.
Look around and chip in:
- Join the Paddleheads’ River Clean-Up on Sunday or grab some gloves and pick up trash anywhere along the River or in a Park.
- Are your Boulevard Trees or the trees and shrubs near your home looking thirsty? Now is the time to give them a healthy drink. Everything you need to know about watering trees is at Trees for Missoula.
- Out along the trails? Pull and pack out those weedy seed heads!
Getting about:
- Jump on Mountain Line (don’t forget your mask!), bike, or walk to your destination.
- Perhaps it’s time for a tune up at a local bike shop, or, if you have the skills, help your neighbor get that old bike from the shed and fix ‘er up.
- While Supporting Our Roots downtown, charge your zero tailpipe emissions electric vehicle (EV) for free in Missoula’s Downtown Park Place parking structure. Learn more about the benefits of EVs, see a map with all of the EV charging locations in Missoula and access many other great resources at Climate Smart Missoula’s EV webpage.
Rethink, Reduce, Reuse, Recycle
- Start that compost bin, or sign up for a pickup with Soil Cycles or Missoula Compost Collection You’ll be so happy to be building soil and no longer wasting food!
- Skip the single use plastic and use your own silverware and reusable straw. More at ZeroByFiftyMissoula.org.
- Get creative and sign up for the 2020 Spontaneous Construction Festival of Creative Reinvention with Home ReSource.
Check in on your neighbors & friends
- Hot or smoky outside? For some, it just might be that way inside. Ways to clean or cool the indoor air can be found via Climate Smart’s Summer Smart Initiative.
- Tired of COVID? There’s nothing healthier than reaching out to a friend for a walk or a physical distance visit, sharing a laugh and maybe some music.
Wondering how to do more?
- Consider going solar!
- Donate your time or money to a local non-profit!!
- Stay tuned for how you can offset your carbon footprint and build a resilient Missoula at the same time – cool new “Footprint Fund” coming soon via Climate Smart Missoula!!!
The Missoula Urban Demonstration Project (MUD) exists to create and promote urban sustainable living through hands-on learning, resource sharing, and community engagement. MUD believes that education, demonstration, and celebration of urban sustainable living will create healthy ecosystems and equitable communities.
Programs provided to MUD members:
- Tool Library
- Truck Share
- Backyard Sustainability Workshops
- MUD Events Annual Downtown Earth Day Celebration, Annual Garden Party, MUD Mingles
Zero by Fifty Missoula: Zero Waste is a global movement that supports those values through practical measures at the local level. Learn about how the City of Missoula planned to become a Zero Waste Community by 2050 and see what you can do on the individual level!
- What do I do with…? How-to instructions on reducing, reusing and recycling a variety of items.
- Invest in reusable: water bottles, grocery bags, hand towels, sponges and rags, silverware, dishes, tupperware…
- Buy in bulk: bring reusable jars and containers, such as old mayo jars or yogurt containers, to fill with bulk items
- Compost your organic and compostable waste
- Consider package-free and all-natural options to common hygiene items, such as soap, deodorant, shampoo, toothpaste
- Buy reused: shop at thrift stores, try Craigslist or freecycle.org, visit yard sales & swap meets
- Join the sharing economy: borrow instead of buy through friends, relatives, & neighbors; become a member of MUD Project and gain access to their Tool Library & Truck Share program; join (or start!) a local online sharing community like shareable.net.
- Go paperless with bills, and wherever else possible
- Precycle: make sure the disposable items you buy are recyclable or compostable
Challenges:
- Become the Commuter Challenge Champion for your workplace. Missoula In Motion has great COVID-19 friendly plans for this year’s sustainable transportation event September 13-26.
Local Businesses:
- Support the Downtown businesses that participated in the City of Missoula’s “We Pledge Zero Waste” pilot program with a visit and a thanks!
- Garden City Recycling: Garden City Recycling promotes environmental stewardship by providing neighborhoods throughout Missoula with reliable, curbside pick-up of recyclable materials.
- Missoula Compost: A local commercial and residential organic-waste pickup service. Whether you’re a resident, restaurant or coffee shop owner, large institution, food vendor, or hosting a special event, Missoula Compost wants to help haul your waste to the right place.
- REcreate Designs: REcreate designs specializes in recycled and handmade clothing, but also repurpose other items creating headbands, journals, tote bags, business card holders and jewelry from old book pages, maps and cloth scraps.
- Soil Cycle: Soil Cycle’s service simplifies sustainable living and encourages citizens and businesses to reduce food waste. By diverting food from the local landfill, they hope to create a more sustainable community. Once processed, cured compost will be returned to subscribers providing them a tool to grow their own food, connect with the land and ultimately complete the cycle!
