Weekend things to do in Boise: Egg hunts, Sockeye opens, First Friday, free Applebee’s

Michael Deeds
·4 min read

The weather is warming up in Boise this weekend — just in time for Easter. But there’s more than egg hunts if you feel like hopping around.

Here are some of the things to do on the entertainment calendar.

1. Drink like a fish

The new Sockeye Alehouse at 36th Street and Hill Road already is a neighborhood hit. But the huge place will celebrate its official grand opening from 4 to 9 p.m. Friday and 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday. “We’ll have beer and drink specials, TONS of raffle prizes to give away, and so much more!” Sockeye posted. The restaurant’s adjoining golf bar, The Turn features a nine-hole putting course and lots of TVs. The Turn will air every round of the Masters “while we serve up pimento cheese sandwiches and a signature cocktail, The Azalea!” Sockeye wrote. “Come sink a few putts.” If this weekend is anything like Sockeye’s soft opening, it will be rockin’. I dropped in for a beer last Sunday, and the place was teeming with Boiseans eating and drinking.

2. Chase Easter eggs

▪ Easter Egg Hunt on the Blue: 10 to 11 a.m. Saturday, Albertsons Stadium, 1400 Bronco Lane, Boise. Register in advance.

▪ Easter EGGstravaganza: Candy stations, animal enrichment, activities, photo ops, face painting, vendors, more. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday (last admission at 4 p.m.), Zoo Boise, 355 Julia Davis Drive, Boise. $12 general, $9 children 3-11 and seniors, free for ages 2 and younger and Zoo Boise members.

▪ Capital Community Egg Hunt: With 150,000 stuffed eggs, two opportunities for egg hunts on each age-specific field (ages 0-12), a live show, food trucks, bubble soccer, jump houses, carnival swings, more. 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Julius M. Kleiner Memorial Park, 1900 N. Records Ave., Meridian. Free.

▪ Kiwanis Club of Emmett Easter Egg Hunt: Divided hunt for ages 1-10 with eggs filled with candy and prizes Also, photo ops, Easter Bunny, games, face painting, tattoos, and popcorn. 11 a.m. Saturday, Emmett City Park, 400 E. Main St.

▪ Spring EGGstravaganza: More than 20,000 eggs, Easter Bunny, Homes of Idaho “cutest chick” contest, children’s activities, spring market. 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Indian Creek Plaza, 120 S. Kimball Ave., Caldwell. Free.

▪ Easter Egg Scramble: 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Fenrich Field, Memorial Park, 619 Irving St., Caldwell. 208-455-3060, cityofcaldwell.org. Free. For ages 12 and younger.

▪ Star Chamber Easter Eggstravaganza: Music, games, Easter Bunny, Easter egg hunts, booths, food, more. Noon to 2 p.m. Saturday, Hunters Creek Sports Park, 1500 N. Star Road, Star. Free.

In this 2016 photo, hundreds of kids toting baskets found more than 10,000 Easter eggs on the blue turf of Albertsons Stadium at Boise State University.
In this 2016 photo, hundreds of kids toting baskets found more than 10,000 Easter eggs on the blue turf of Albertsons Stadium at Boise State University.

3. Hit First Friday

Garden City wants you to come hang. The year’s inaugural First Friday Art and Studio Stroll runs from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. in the Surel Mitchell Live-Work-Create District — aka that cool area over near the Boise River. Walk around, invade galleries and meet artists. Or drop into Barbarian Brewing or Split Rail Winery for a drink; they’ll have artwork on display, too. Check out the full interactive map at surelsplace.org/firstfriday. If you can’t make this Friday’s event, mark your calendar: The next one is June 2. (First Friday happens every other month.)

4. Do a concert

▪ Blues Directors: 7 p.m. Friday, Sapphire Room, The Riverside Hotel, 2900 W. Chinden Blvd., Boise. $24 general, $28 preferred. Eventbrite. Special guest: Two Wound Up Trio.

▪ Gene Harris Jazz Festival Showcase Concert: Showcase Ensembles (7 to 8 p.m.), Boise State Jazz Orchestra (8 to 8:30 p.m.), and Gene Harris Superband (8:45 to 10 p.m.). 7 p.m. Friday, Morrison Center, 2201 Cesar Chavez Lane, Boise. $16.25 general, $3.75 children and non-BSU students. Ticketmaster. Free tickets for BSU faculty, staff, and students with valid ID at the Morrison Center Ticket office (in person only).

▪ Paul Wall and Lil Flip: 7 p.m. Friday, Knitting Factory, 416 S. 9th St., Boise. $39 general, $99-$125 reserved balcony. TicketWeb.

▪ Don’t Fake The Funk: Featuring Zackey Force Funk, DJ Mike Moses, and The Magnificent DJ Xclusive. 8 p.m. Friday, Neurolux, 111 N. 11th St., Boise. $10. Eventbrite.

▪ Tejon Street Corner Thieves/Them Coulee Boys: 8 p.m. Friday, The Olympic, 1009 W. Main St., Boise. $15. Eventbrite. $18 at the door.

▪ Tom Russell: 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Sapphire Room, The Riverside Hotel, 2900 W. Chinden Blvd., Boise. $40 general, $45 preferred. Eventbrite

▪ Moontricks: 8 p.m. Saturday, The Olympic, 1009 W. Main St., Boise. $20. Eventbrite. $25 at the door.

▪ Humbird: 7 p.m. Sunday, Sapphire Room, The Riverside Hotel, 2900 W. Chinden Blvd., Boise. $25 general, $28 preferred. Eventbrite.

5. Eat free, kid

All day Easter Sunday, Applebee’s restaurants will offer a Kids Eat Free special — dine-in only, and you have to mention the deal. Buy an adult entree, and you get a free meal from the Kid’s Menu for your rugrat 12 or younger. Participating locations in Idaho include Boise, Garden City, Meridian, Nampa, Coeur d’Alene, Idaho Falls, Lewiston, Moscow, Pocatello, Rexburg and Twin Falls.