Hot picking rode a chill wind on Saturday, as the two-day River City Roots Festival opened in downtown Missoula under unseasonably cold and blustery skies that threatened rain for much of the late afternoon and evening.

Mari Bender is always on the lookout for cheap school supplies.

She'll watch for discounts on books, markers, even little puppets her children would like.

Bender has even been known to hit garage sales to find stuff