5 things to do this weekend in Boise: EDM, dogs, fights at downtown Meridian Oktoberfest
Outdoor concerts will come to a seasonal end soon. But the Ford Idaho Center Amphitheater in Nampa isn’t done yet. Another thing with staying power? Oktoberfest. It’s the German gift that keeps on giving.
Here are weekend entertainment highlights in the Boise area.
1. Oktoberfest parties
If last weekend’s Old Boise Oktoberfest wasn’t enough for you, parties beckon in Meridian and Nampa.
▪ Nobody wants to see punches thrown during Oktoberfest. Dudes duking it out in lederhosen? Never a pretty sight. But the fighting at Oktoberfest Meridian — from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 1 — will be an exception. The city’s free, inaugural downtown Oktoberfest party will include an outdoor boxing ring. Up to a dozen amateur fights will be presented by Marin Boxing Academy. (Fights go from 3 to 7 p.m.). Aside from that, this will be a typical, upbeat Oktoberfest bash: beer gardens, food, games and live music (RJ McGinnis, Broken Tip Jar, Red Light Challenge and Pilot Error, which headlines at 7 p.m.). Roads will be closed to traffic inside the area surrounded by Main Street, Broadway Avenue, 3rd Street and Pine Avenue. “Over 40 vendors will be lining the streets to showcase their business services and products,” according to a press release. “Downtown Meridian restaurants will be open to serve hungry festival goers, and various food trucks will be offering a variety of fare to satisfy the whole family.” More info: meridianchamber.org/oktoberfest.
▪ The annual Oktoberfest at the Nampa Civic Center, 311 3rd St. South, happens from 5 to 10 p.m. Friday, Sept. 30. You’ll find lots of beer, German food, music by the Boise Valley Edelweiss Band, ax throwing, a petting zoo and games. Advance tickets are available at nampaciviccenter.com/events/oktoberfest, or you can pay $12 at the gate.
2. EDM and other music
Odesza drew nearly 8,000 fans this week for a concert at the Ford Idaho Center Amphitheater — an event organizers are calling the biggest EDM show in Idaho history. Another major act, Rufus Du Sol, will headline the second significant, electronica-laced show at the Nampa venue this week. Here are live-music highlights this weekend.
Rufus Du Sol: 7:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 30, Ford Idaho Center Amphitheater, 16200 N. Idaho Center Blvd. $39.50-$69.50. fordidahocenter.com. Opening: Paraleven.
Boot Juice/Lounge on Fire: 8 p.m. Friday, Sept. 30, The Olympic, 1009 W. Main St., Boise. $15. eventbrite.com. $20 at the door.
Candlebox: 7 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 1, Expo Idaho, 5610 N. Glenwood St., Garden City. $45. idahoconcertseries.com. Opening: The Glorious Sons.
A Mad Music Weekend: 7 p.m. to 1 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 1, and 5 to 9 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 2, Mad Swede Brew Hall, 816 W. Bannock St., Boise. Saturday: $20 advance, $30 at the door. Sunday: $20 advance, $25 at the door. $35 weekend pass. eventbrite.com. Saturday lineup includes Cabeza, Switchfull Lotus, Moon Owls Sage, Anti-Feds, James Plane Wreck, more. Sunday features The Kitchen Syncopation, Tuc DeCroy, Kid Catapult, Sef Idle, more.
Jenny Don’t and The Spurs: 8 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 1, Neurolux, 111 N. 11th St., Boise. $12. TicketWeb. $15 at the door. Opening: Parade of Bad Guys.
3. See Spot Walk
After two years of virtual events, See Spot Walk will return for its 30th annual bash. A dog-walk fundraiser for the Idaho Humane Society, the party starts at 10 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 1, in Julia Davis Park. From a press release: “This community celebration provides opportunities to engage with fellow dog enthusiasts, experience fun contests and prizes, sample dog-related goodies from vendors, purchase tasty eats from local establishments and take in the beautiful fall colors on the 1K dog walk. ... Registration is open at www.seespotwalk.org. All who register will receive a limited-edition T-shirt, a dog bandanna and an assortment of additional goodies.” Registration costs $30 until Saturday, when it goes up to $40.
4. BSU football
At starting quarterback? Hank Bachmeier out, Taylen Green in. At offensive coordinator? Tim Plough fired, Dirk Koetter hired. Boise State fans are about to find out whether early-season drama in the program will translate into wins. The Broncos (2-2) take on San Diego State (2-2) at 6 p.m. Friday, Sept. 30, at Albertsons Stadium, 1400 Bronco Lane, Boise. Tickets are $60-$84 general, $40-$55 junior. Group discounts are available. Call (208) 426-4737 or visit broncosports.com. Can’t attend? The game will be broadcast on Fox Sports 1.
Firing Plough surprises me but Andy is convinced it’s better to go a different direction. Only he knows and away he went. To be able to get Dirk to do it? Unreal. We will now find out if it’s the players or the coaching.
— Jeff Caves (@JeffCaves) September 24, 2022
5. Party at Wepa!
Idaho’s only Puerto Rican restaurant will celebrate its one-year anniversary on Saturday, Oct. 1. Join Wepa Café — 175 E. 35th St. — for a marathon of fundraising fun from 2 to 9 p.m. “We are going all out to bring Puerto Rico to Garden City with a traditional lechon pig roast,” Wepa promises in a press release, “along with other menu items we rarely offer in-house. In addition, we will have DJ Tomas spinning tunes from the Caribbean including salsa, merengue and bachata. Carpe Danza will also be in attendance offering dance lessons throughout the evening. Finally, we will be raffling a variety of prizes.” All proceeds go to Puerto Rican nonprofit ProTechos. Tickets are $35 at wepaprcuisine.com.
