Looking for Memorial Day weekend plans? Here are open, closed attractions around Boise

Shaun Goodwin
·4 min read

The first three-day weekend of the summer is upon us, and thousands of Idahoans will be flocking to enjoy the outdoors over Memorial Day weekend.

Although there is a chance of thunderstorms in the Treasure Valley — and a near-certain chance of storms at higher elevations — the forecast won’t stop many people from enjoying the long weekend in and around Boise.

But with Memorial Day being a federal holiday, not all attractions will be open on Monday. Here’s where you can and can’t visit on Memorial Day this weekend.

Camping

Backpacking at Trailcreek Lake in the Sawtooth Mountains.
Backpacking at Trailcreek Lake in the Sawtooth Mountains.

Memorial Day weekend signals the opening weekend of the camping season, but much of the central Idaho mountains are still covered in snow. Snowpack data from the United States Department of Agriculture shows that some parts of the Sawtooth Mountains have over 200% of their normal snow water equivalent for this time of the year.

The Boise Basin, which includes the foothills and mountains just north of Boise, is also about 126% of normal.

But that hasn’t stopped many campgrounds from opening. A full report of open and closed campgrounds can be found on the Idaho Statesman’s website, but here are some highlights for campgrounds close to Boise:

Zoo Boise

Zoo Boise recently adopted a 2-year-old lionness to accompany its male lion, Revan.
Zoo Boise recently adopted a 2-year-old lionness to accompany its male lion, Revan.

Zoo Boise will be open during its regular hours of operation on Memorial Day — 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., with last admission at 4 p.m. The zoo will not be doing any special programming for Memorial Day, a zoo staff member told the Statesman.

Old Idaho Penitentiary

People go on a paranormal investigation tour of the Old Idaho Penitentiary, led by Big River Paranormal.
People go on a paranormal investigation tour of the Old Idaho Penitentiary, led by Big River Paranormal.

Memorial Day is considered the first day of summer for the Old Idaho Penitentiary. The prison-turned-attraction will begin its summer hours on Monday, opening at 10 a.m. and remaining open until 5 p.m., with the last admission at 4 p.m.

The penitentiary will remain on its winter schedule on Saturday and Sunday, opening at noon and closing at 5 p.m.

Guided tours are available for an extra $2 admission fee but are subject to weather conditions — with storms likely at some point, guided tours cannot be reserved and are only available to book on-site.

Idaho Botanical Garden

Bees visit a flower at the Idaho Botanical Garden during the summer of 2022.
Bees visit a flower at the Idaho Botanical Garden during the summer of 2022.

This will be the last weekend to see the Idaho Botanical Garden’s Fairy and Gnome House Exhibit, which has been on display since April 29.

The exhibit turns the garden’s into a mystical wonderland, dotting the colorful gardens with hand-made fairy and gnome houses crafted by local artists.

The garden will be open all weekend from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., with last admission at 4 p.m.

JUMP

The view of downtown Boise from the JUMP center.
The view of downtown Boise from the JUMP center.

Boise’s catch-all event center, JUMP, will be open on Saturday from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. but is closed on Sunday and Monday.

The large outdoor slide in the middle of the event center will also be open on Saturday from 10 a.m. to noon. There will be no special events or programming for Memorial Day, a JUMP staffer told the Statesman, but the lobby and its regular attractions will be open all of Saturday.

Movie Theaters

A statue in the Egyptian Theater based on ancient Egyptian statuary.
A statue in the Egyptian Theater based on ancient Egyptian statuary.

Especially if it’s rainy out, the movie theater is an excellent option for getting the family together when everyone has a day off. Boise has multiple movie theaters, from the unique to the classic big-screen experience. Here’s what’s showing over the weekend for some of the area’s most popular theaters:

  • The Egyptian Theater - Showing “Toy Story,” and “Dead Poets Society” and “Easy Rider” on Saturday, no shows or movies showing on Sunday or Monday.

  • The Flicks - Showing “You Hurt My Feelings,” and “Book Club: The Next Chapter,” as well as “Monica,” and “Fool’s Paradise,” and “Everything Went Fine” every day, Saturday through Monday.

  • BoDo Cinema - Open and showing multiple movies daily, Saturday through Monday.

  • Regal Edwards - Open and showing multiple movies daily, Saturday through Monday.

Museums

Visitors to the museum’s Origins Gallery will see a massive digital screen highlighting Idaho’s ecology, changing seasons and lifeblood: water.
Visitors to the museum’s Origins Gallery will see a massive digital screen highlighting Idaho’s ecology, changing seasons and lifeblood: water.

Julia Davis Park is home to three museums, all within walking distance and all doable within a day for those who thirst for knowledge. Here’s when each museum will be open:

  • Idaho State Museum - The museum will be open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday and noon to 5 p.m. on Sunday and Monday.

  • Boise Art Museum - The museum will be open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, noon to 5 p.m. on Sunday and closed on Monday.

  • Idaho Black History Museum - Despite usually being open on Saturdays, the Black History Museum is closed this Saturday as it prepares to unveil a new exhibit called Idaho Exceptionalism. It will also be closed on Sunday and Monday, which is normal.