Downtown ToNight, Out to Lunch Kick Off Despite Rain

By Courtney Lowery, 6-05-08

Rain kept some people away from Caras Park and the first Out to Lunch, but the Missoula Downtown Association is more optimistic about the turnout for tonight’s first Downtown ToNight.

Linda McCarthy, executive director of the MDA, said this marks the fourth year in a row to kick off Out to Lunch in the rain.

“We live in Montana,” McCarthy said.  “We’re not going to cancel because of the rain.”

Downtown ToNight at Caras Park, which runs from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. follows up yesterday’s Out to Lunch and together, they mark the beginning of Missoula’s summer events season.

Tonight’s event features music from The Clumsy Lovers, a Celtic bluegrass band from Vancouver, British Columbia.  The Clumsy Lovers have been here before for the River City Roots Festival and will return again in August.

Caras Park hosts many of the MDA’s events, which take place primarily in June, July and August.  Out to Lunch takes place every Wednesday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Caras Park during the summer.  Then on Thursdays, Missoula residents can return to Caras Park for Downtown ToNight for more food, music and children’s activities.

While you can buy food and drink at either event, entrance to both is free and McCarthy said families can bring their own food and have a picnic too. Out to Lunch has a free shuttle service thanks to Mountain Line, Missoula In Motion and Blackfoot Communications.  The MDA also pays for the trolley, which anyone can ride at no cost to get to work or places along Higgins Avenue.

The constant rain yesterday drove attendance down for Out to Lunch, but McCarthy said the MDA is looking ahead to the coming weeks. Attendance usually hits between 3,000 and 4,000 for Out to Lunch and is a little lower for Downtown ToNight.

McCarthy said Out to Lunch and Downtown ToNight each cost about $30,000 throughout the summer.  All the bands are paid to perform, and nearly 60 bands contribute to the summer season’s events.

Another summer event organized by the MDA is the Garden City River Rod Run, a car show that will take place Friday, June 27, and Saturday, June 28.  McCarthy highlighted the parade that will be held on the second day, which draws crowds of 3,000 to 5,000 people to Higgins Avenue to see nearly 200 classic cars and hot rods.

McCarthy said the MDA organizes 40 events each year, and with most of them held in “Missoula’s backyard” of Caras Park, residents should keep in mind these summertime opportunities for culture, food and fun.