7 things to do during Thanksgiving break in Boise: Beer, bands, big holiday lights
Kids acting bored? House guests getting restless already?
Yep, Thanksgiving break is here.
Fortunately, the Boise events calendar is filled with things to do.
1. Beer on Black Friday
▪ Forget shopping and start sipping. Payette Brewing Co., 733 S. Pioneer St., will host its 12th annual Black Friday beer festival from noon to 8 p.m. A celebration of imperial stouts, porters and barrel-aged behemoths, it will feature more than 30 choices. They range from a bunch of Payette brews — including this year’s 12 Gauge Barrel Aged Imperial Stout and a variant, Choco Coconut Macadamia Nut 12 Gauge — to well-known heavy hitters such as Deschutes Black Butte XXXI, Firestone Walker Parabola and Fremont Rusty Nail.
Entry is free. A commemorative sampler glass costs $4. Drink tokens for 5-ounce pours are $4. You can buy in advance at payettebrewing.com through Wednesday. Or just show up with cash, preferably, for transaction speed — or with your credit card.
Multiple food trucks will sell cuisine. Live bands will perform, too: Audio Moonshine from 1 to 4 p.m. and Aaron Golay & The Original Sin from 5 to 8 p.m. Leave your dog home, please. (They’re fine in the tap room but aren’t allowed in the production area, where Black Friday is held.) Same with children; you must be 21 or older to attend this event.
The Boise State football game will be shown on giant screens starting at 2 p.m. and on TVs in the tap room, which will be open, as usual, from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. with beer, hard cider, wine, canned cocktails and more.
2. Tour holiday lights
▪ Most of us are familiar with Winter Garden aGlow. With hundreds of thousands of lights draped across the grounds of the Idaho Botanical Garden, 2355 N. Penitentiary Road, it’s a Boise tradition. But the annual holiday fundraiser has been freshened up with new displays and larger attractions this year. There are tons of photo opportunities, including the new life-size Kid’s Gingerbread House. Oh, and want an adult beverage? Check out the Snow Globe Bar, a pop-up alcohol oasis with holiday-themed drinks.
Winter Garden aGlow opens at 6 p.m. starting Thanksgiving Day, then runs Wednesday through Sunday evenings. Cost? $18 general, $14 garden members and children 4-12, free for ages 3 and younger. Call (208) 343-8649 or purchase online: idahobotanicalgarden.org. If the time slot does not appear on the ticketing page of the Garden’s website, it’s sold out. The last ticketed admission slot is at 8 p.m; the garden closes at 9. Tickets also will be sold at the gate on a first-come, first-served basis.
▪ Bonus free Meridian tour: Brilliant lights decorate trees (including a 75-foot-tall one) and a 250-foot tunnel at the Scentsy Commons Holiday Lights, 2901 E. Pine Ave. In all, more than 900,000 lights illuminate the Scentsy campus. The show runs daily from sunset to sunrise through Jan. 15. You don’t need a ticket; just stroll and enjoy.
3. Go to a BSU football game
▪ What’s better than brisk, sunny weather and an afternoon football game? The Boise State Broncos (5-2 Mountain West Conference, 6-5 overall) welcome Air Force (5-2, 8-3) for a 2 p.m. battle Friday at Albertsons Stadium. The winner probably will play in the Mountain West title game. Grab tickets for $45-$75 general admission, $30-$45 junior. (Group discounts are available.) Call (208) 426-4737, or visit broncosports.com.
4. Hit a concert
▪ New Jersey indie-rockers Teenage Halloween will rock the Shrine Basement, 1118 W. Idaho St., in an 8 p.m. show Friday. Tickets are $12 in advance at Eventbrite or $15 at the door. Opening: Switch Full Lotus, Leaway.
▪ Joy to the World! A Sacred Christmas Celebration with Grammy-nominated violinist Jenny Oaks Baker and her children’s musical group Family Four hits the Morrison Center, 2201 Cesar Chavez Lane, at 7 p.m. Saturday. Tickets: $27-$65 at Ticketmaster.
▪ Boise indie band College Level headlines Treefort Music Hall on Saturday. Tickets to the 8 p.m. show are $12 in advance at Eventbrite or $15 at the door. Opening: CMMNWLTH, Leading Lines.
5. Treat the toddlers
Ah, the joys of parenting. Child entertainment phenom Blippi will teach young kiddos all sorts of fun stuff during Blippi’s Wonderful World Tour, which rolls into the Ford Idaho Center at 6 p.m. Friday. “Dance, sing, and learn with Blippi and special guest Meekah as they discover what makes different cities unique and special,” Blippi’s website explains. “Will there be monster trucks, excavators, and garbage trucks galore? You bet! So get ready to shake those wiggles out and OJ Twist your way through this brand-new musical party!” Tickets are $27.50-$67.50 through fordidahocenter.com. P.S. Yes, Dad, beer definitely will be sold at this event.
6. Join a tree lighting
▪ Mayor Lauren McLean will fire up the free downtown Boise Holiday Tree Lighting from 5 to 6 p.m. Friday at Grove Plaza downtown. The candlelit celebration will include entertainment from local singer McKenna Esteb.
▪ Downtown Nampa’s tree lighting shindig — also free — will begin at 5:15 p.m. Saturday with words from Mayor Debbie Kling. The actual lighting will happen at 6 p.m., followed by photos with Santa and Mrs. Claus. It’s at 12th Avenue at Front Street.
7. Go ice skating
▪ A free synthetic ice skating rink has been installed at Grove Plaza in downtown Boise — with free helmet, skate (and skate aid) rentals, too. Glide on Grove kicks off from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday, then will be open from noon to 8 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. For more information about hours in following weeks — it runs through the final Saturday in January — check out downtownboise.org/GlideOnGrove.
▪ The Village at Meridian’s ice skating rink is open with afternoon and evening hours available most days through mid-January. You make a reservation at The Village’s website or walk up to reserve a slot. Times are booked in 30-minute increments. It costs $7 per adult, $5 per child 12 and younger. Prices include skate rental. Online: thevillageatmeridian.com.
▪ If you’re in Canyon County, there’s an ice skating rink and ribbon at Indian Creek Plaza in Caldwell. You can book a session in advance or walk up. With skate rental, it costs $14 adult, $7 ages 5 and younger. Helmet rentals are free. Information online: indiancreekplaza.com/ice-skating.
