Out to Lunch returns to Caras Park for Missoula's 40th season

Missoula, Mont. — Out to Lunch returned to Caras Park as Missoula welcomed a break from days of rain and cooler weather.

The event launched its 40th season and brought live music, food vendors and children's activities to downtown. Downtown Missoula Partnership put on the gathering, which ran every Wednesday starting with the opening event and continuing through August.

Hanna Reese, events director for Downtown Missoula Partnership, said the event reflected what the city values.

“I think Missoula does a really good job of putting community first. And so having this event be free and accessible to all is is a really big deal. And I think that that stands true to like who Missoula wants to be and is and remains to be,” Reese said.

One attendee said the event helped explain why they chose to come to Missoula.

“Both her and I are new to this community. Actually, I'm a college student here at the university. We're both from Plains, Montana. Not too far from here. And community events like this are part of the reason why I moved out here. That was a major reason for choosing this college, because I knew that was the city of Missoula around it,” the attendee said. “There's always so much to do. And especially with a fence like this, it brings people together and it's like, oh my goodness, look at all this,” the attendee said.

I also spent time at the park during the opening festivities and was enjoying a huckleberry ice cream in a waffle cone while taking in the sunny afternoon.