Roots Fest weekend. Downtown belongs to the music for two days straight, and it's free.
MISSOULA
Friday, August 21
- River City Roots Festival — Downtown Missoula, 12:30 p.m.–10:30 p.m., free. The big one. Higgins closes down and the music runs all afternoon into the night: ZACC Rock Camp Bands & Tangled Tones (12:30), Joan Zen (2:30), Reverend Slanky (4:30), Amanda Shaw (6:30), and Honey Island Swamp Band closing it out at 8:30.
- "Support Our Roots" Sidewalk Sale — Downtown, from noon. Downtown shops haul the good stuff onto the sidewalk while the festival crowd walks by.
- Garden Walk: Roses — Rocky Mountain Gardens, 9 a.m. A morning stroll through the rose beds with someone who knows what they're looking at. Registration through the EduPlace calendar.
- Alison Krauss & Union Station featuring Jerry Douglas — KettleHouse Amphitheater, 8 p.m. (gates 6:30). Night two of two, with Theo Lawrence opening. $59–$319 advance.
At the library: Tiny Tales in the Park at Westside Park (10:30 a.m.), Yarns @ MPL and the Watercolor Painting Collaborative (both noon), Young Adult Writers' Group (3:30 p.m.), and Learn Computer Animation with Blender (4 p.m.).
Brews & music: Draught Works throws a Grand Opening Party with The Hillbillies from Outer Space at 5 p.m. André Floyd & Owen Caulfield play Ten Spoon Vineyard + Winery at 6 ($5). A Night of B2Bs: The Golden Zoo hits Monk's at 9 ($5), and the Trent Brooks Band takes the Sunrise Saloon stage at 9:30.
Saturday, August 22
- River City Roots Festival, Day 2 — Downtown Missoula, 12:30 p.m.–10:30 p.m., free. Cowboy Andy & the Salamanders (12:30), The Unfaithful Servants (2:30), Andy Dunnigan & Friends (4:30), Silas Herman & the Tone Unit (6:30), and The Infamous Stringdusters headlining at 8:30.
- Roots Run — E. Main Street, 8:30 a.m. The four-miler that kicks off festival Saturday, starting outside the Run Wild Missoula office. Get there early.
- Family Roots Fest — Caras Park, 10 a.m.–2 p.m. The kid-scaled version of the festival, right on the river.
- Clark Fork River Market — 225 S. Pattee, 8 a.m.–1 p.m. Peak-August produce. Go before the festival crowd wakes up.
- Dog Days Ultra — Big Sky Park, Saturday into Sunday. Trail runners looping Tower Street all weekend. Spectators welcome.
- The Red Clay Strays — Adams Center, 6:30 p.m. (doors 5:30). With Dylan Gossett and Sweet Talk.
At the library: A busy Saturday — the Stop Animation Workshop for Kids runs at River City Roots Festival itself (10 a.m.–2 p.m.), plus a Young Kids Dance Party (11 a.m.), the End of Summer Celebration at the Art Box (11 a.m.–1 p.m.), Discovery Area Science Activity (2–6 p.m.), Saturday Tiny Tales (3 p.m.), and D&D Guild for Teens (3–5 p.m.).
Brews & music: The Pesky Varmints at Draught Works, 7 p.m. And if the festival hasn't worn you out, The Takes play the Top Hat at 10:30 p.m., free.
Sunday, August 23
- NEEDTOBREATHE — KettleHouse Amphitheater, Bonner, 7 p.m. The Long Surrender Tour, with Drew & Ellie Holcomb. $51–$206 advance.
- Western Union — Zootown Arts Community Center, 7 p.m. $13.60–$22.80 including fees.
Brews & music: Sunday Night Jazz with Evan Nesbitt at Draught Works, 6 p.m. — the reliable soft landing after a loud weekend.
LOLO & SOUTH
- Friday: Watson Mills Trio at The Jack Saloon, 7 p.m.
- Saturday: Cahoots at The Jack Saloon, 7 p.m. · Yoga at Big Sky Lavender Farms in Florence, 9–10 a.m.
- Sunday: Creekside Concert: The Queens and Mr. G — Travelers' Rest State Park, 3–4:30 p.m., free. Live music along Lolo Creek, part of the park's 25th anniversary series. Bring something to sit on, bug spray, and a beverage (no glass). · Chuck and DR at The Jack Saloon, 2 p.m.
- Also south: Darby Xtreme Bulls at the Darby Rodeo Grounds, Sunday noon–4:30 p.m. — worth the Bitterroot drive if bulls are your thing.
SEELEY-SWAN
- Saturday: Show & Shine In the Swan Car Show — Hungry Bear Bar and Grill, Condon, from 8 a.m. Chrome, coffee, and a long look at other people's projects.
- Saturday: Mountain Family Freedom Festival — Seeley Lake Elementary, from 9 a.m. Youth Hunter Education Challenge events — archery, .22 rifle, wildlife ID — alongside what the organizers call phone-free fun for kids and families. Joan Zen plays at 2 p.m., making it two stages in two days for her after Friday's Roots Fest set.
- Sunday: Seeley Market — The Foundation Building, 9 a.m. Weekly makers-and-growers market from the Seeley Lake Community Foundation.
BONNER-BLACKFOOT
Everything out this way is happening at KettleHouse Amphitheater — Alison Krauss Friday, NEEDTOBREATHE Sunday. (See Missoula listings above.)
