Treasure Valley Events for Kids & Families

The Peregrine Fund's signature fall raptor flight demonstration at the World Center for Birds of Prey. Held in an outdoor amphitheater, each narrated 45-minute presentation features owls, falcons, hawks, and vultures performing free-flight aerial displays while the Education team explains raptor behavior and conservation. Runs Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays from September 4 through October 31, 2026; doors open 10:00 AM, with arrival recommended by 10:30 AM. Not recommended for children under 4 (must be able to sit for the full demonstration); dogs prohibited.

Kuna's flagship fall agritourism destination: pumpkin patch, corn maze, farm animals, hay rides, kids play areas, and farm-themed attractions. The 2026 season runs September 12 to October 31: Monday to Thursday 4 to 9 PM, Friday and Saturday 10 AM to 9 PM, closed Sundays. Field-trip programming for school groups available on weekdays during season.

Boise Public Library's recurring baby/toddler story time. Rhymes, songs, stories, and open play. Offered at multiple branches: Mondays 10:30–11:30 AM and 2:00–3:00 PM; Wednesdays 10:30–11:30 AM; Thursdays 10:30–11:30 AM; Fridays 10:30–11:30 AM. Subject to change due to weather/health protocols: check libcal calendar before going.

Weekly Monday-evening market at Storey Park in Meridian. June 1 – October 5, 2026, Mondays 4–9 PM (excluding Labor Day September 7). 75+ vendors offer fresh local produce, handcrafted artisan goods, baked treats, beverages, food trucks, weekly raffles, live music, and activity booths. Free admission. Convenient access to picnic shelters, playground, restrooms, and open space: explicitly designed as a family-friendly summer evening destination.

Monthly homeschool morning at the Discovery Center of Idaho, giving registered homeschool families exclusive access to the science galleries before general admission. Runs monthly through the school year; registration required.

Weekly preschool storytime at the Pinnacle branch, offered twice each Monday morning (10:00-10:30 AM and 11:00-11:30 AM) so families can pick the session that fits. Stories, songs and early-literacy play for ages 0-5.

Weekly lap-sit program for babies and their caregivers at the Orchard Park branch. Rhymes, bounces, songs and open play for the youngest listeners.

Weekly Monday-morning upcycling and making session at the Children's Museum of Idaho, turning everyday materials into new creations. Included with museum admission.

Weekly Monday-afternoon multiplayer Nintendo Switch club at Boise Public Library's Bown Crossing branch, for youth and teens ages 6-17. Bring your own controller or console if you like: optional. Snacks provided.

Interactive stories and songs for babies from birth to 18 months and their caregivers, in the Library Corner.

Book discussion and activity for 1st and 2nd graders in the library Community Room.

20-week concert series at Indian Creek Plaza in downtown Caldwell. Free live music, food trucks, family-friendly atmosphere, kids playground onsite.

Weekly Tuesday-evening farmers market at Indian Creek Plaza in downtown Caldwell. May 19 through September 29, 2026, Tuesdays 5–8 PM. Around 30 local vendors with produce, baked goods, specialty foods, crafts, live music. Part of 'Tuesdays on the Creek'. Kids enjoy the Plaza's splash pads (free water play) during market hours. Family-friendly atmosphere with vendors, food trucks, and outdoor seating.

Weekly arts-and-crafts session at Boise Public Library's Collister branch, with a new project every week. Designed for kids ages 6-11; younger children may need adult assistance. Held in the Sycamore Room.

Weekly early-learning music and movement session at the Orchard Park branch. Songs, rhymes and movement play for ages 0-5 with a caregiver.

Weekly evening pajama storytime at the Pinnacle branch. Kids come in their pajamas for bedtime stories and songs. Ages 0-5 with a caregiver.

Weekly Tuesday-morning STEM program for the museum's youngest visitors, ages 6 months to 2 years. Included with museum admission.

Tuesday-morning movement session in the Sagebrush Room at Boise Public Library's Cole & Ustick branch, focused on healthy and fun ways to move, with activities like yoga and dance. Aimed at ages 2-5, all ages welcome.

Weekly Tuesday-afternoon reading practice with certified therapy dogs at Boise Public Library's Bown Crossing branch. Kids read aloud for 5-10 minutes while a dog listens, which lowers reading anxiety and builds confidence.

Weekly storytime paired with a hands-on art activity at the Orchard Park branch. Stories followed by a related craft or process-art project. Ages 0-5 with a caregiver.

Weekly after-school STEAM session at the Pinnacle branch - hands-on science, technology, engineering, art and math activities for school-age kids. Drop-in.

Weekly after-school drop-in for teens at the Pinnacle branch - games, snacks, crafts and space to hang out with other teens. Ages 12-18.

Eight-week homeschool STEAM series at the Children's Museum of Idaho in Meridian, meeting Wednesday afternoons for ages 8-12. Registration required through the museum's education portal.

Weekly Wednesday-morning hands-on sensory and art session at the Children's Museum of Idaho. Included with museum admission.

One-off tabletop roleplaying session for tweens and teens at Library! at Bown Crossing - play a cow escaping into the city. No experience needed; everything provided.

Wednesday-morning storytime of stories and songs in the Sagebrush Room at Boise Public Library's Cole & Ustick branch, designed for children ages 0-5 and their caregivers.

Weekly Wednesday-morning storytime in the Martie Brennan Room at Boise Public Library's Bown Crossing branch, for children ages 2-3 and their caregivers. Songs, stories and learning together.

Free guided walking tour of the Idaho Botanical Garden every Thursday at 10:00 AM through October 2026. An hour-and-a-half introduction to the garden's history, plant collections, and key features. No reservations required. The walk itself is free; standard garden admission applies (children 5 and under always free). Family-friendly: kids welcome on the tour. Garden also features a sandbox area, treehouse, and koi pond: a natural pair-up activity for after the walk.

Weekly after-school program for tweens at Garden City Public Library: a different activity each week, rotating through science experiments, art projects, and games. Free drop-in on Thursday evenings.

Weekly evening session at Boise Bicycle Project where kids can bring a bike in and learn to repair and maintain it with volunteer help. Hands-on mechanical skill-building rather than a drop-off repair service.

Weekly lap-sit program for babies and their caregivers at the Pinnacle branch. Rhymes, bounces, songs and open play for the youngest listeners.

Weekly daytime STEAM session at the Orchard Park branch - hands-on science, technology, engineering, art and math activities for school-age kids. Drop-in.

Weekly Pokemon club for kids and teens - trading, deck-building and play. The host branch alternates between the Pinnacle and Orchard Park branches, so check the library calendar for the week's location.

Weekly Thursday-morning STEM session for children ages 3 and up at the Children's Museum of Idaho. Included with museum admission.

Weekly Thursday live-animal encounter at the Children's Museum of Idaho. Included with museum admission. Start time alternates between early afternoon and late afternoon: check the museum calendar for the week you plan to visit.

Long-running self-serve pumpkin patch in Star with a loyal Treasure Valley following, open daily through October from daylight to dark. Offers large and small pumpkins, white, red and green varieties, classic orange Howden pumpkins, gourds, corn stalks, straw bales and Indian corn. Low-key and free to wander: families pay only for what they pick.

Kindergarten-readiness storytime and craft in the Sagebrush Room at Boise Public Library's Cole & Ustick branch, held every Thursday morning. Designed for children ages 3-5 with a caregiver.

Month-long writing challenge at the Ada Community Library's Star Branch through October. Participants set a word-count goal (5K, 10K, 25K or 50K) for October 1-31 and visit the library for incentives as they make progress. Open to all ages.

Handcrafted scarecrows built by families, classrooms, businesses and artists are displayed along the Garden's paths through October. Visitors vote for favourites via QR codes. Included with Garden admission and free for members.

Monthly art program where youth ages 8-16 make their own creation; caregivers welcome. October's project: Halloween treat tote bags.

Weekly teen program with a different activity each week; October 1 is a black light craft night.

The Middleton Friends of the Library fall book sale, with bargains in every genre including children's and young adult books, plus DVDs.

After-dark haunted version of the Shindig Farms straw maze, running Friday and Saturday nights in October on ten nights only: October 2, 3, 9, 10, 16, 17, 23, 24, 30 and 31. This is a scarier, separately-ticketed experience from the daytime farm season: admission is $25, or $10 as an upgrade on top of regular daytime admission. Best suited to older kids and teens; younger children are better served by the daytime season.

Weekly Friday after-school LEGO building club at Boise Public Library's Bown Crossing branch, for youth ages 6-11. New themes every week.

Weekly Friday after-school sewing club at Boise Public Library's Collister branch for ages 6-17. Sewing machines, fabric and supplies provided, with beginner and intermediate patterns for hand and machine stitching.

Every-other-week after-school comic book club for teens ages 12-17 at Boise Public Library's Hillcrest branch, covering graphic novels and superheroes with history lessons, group discussions and craft activities.

Saturday farmers market with 100+ vendors focused on Idaho agriculture (95% food, 5% non-food). Seasonal local produce, herbs, locally raised meats (beef, pork, lamb, rabbit, goat, chicken, turkey), eggs, breads, kombucha, pastries, jams. Family-friendly, dog-friendly (leashed).

Downtown Boise's flagship Saturday public market at The Grove Plaza. 100+ vendors: local farmers, artisans, small businesses. Family activities include bean bag toss where every kid wins a prize. Opening day raffle giveaways every 30 minutes.

Weekly Saturday farmers + artisan market at Meridian City Hall Plaza in downtown Meridian. April 11 – October 17, 2026, Saturdays 9:00 AM – 1:30 PM. Locally grown produce, homemade goodies, handmade arts and crafts, and live music every Saturday. Family-friendly and pet-friendly (leashed). The market provides opportunities for youth and helps the public support local small businesses, farms, and entrepreneurs.

37th-season weekly Saturday farmers market at Lloyd Square Park in downtown Nampa. April – November 2026, Saturdays 9:00 AM – 1:30 PM. Local vendors offer produce, meat, dairy, plants, prepared food, crafts, and artisan goods. Live entertainment most weekends: kids tend to enjoy the kettle corn and music. Family-friendly and dog-friendly. Special seasonal events layered on top include a Mother's Day Plant a Flower celebration, Father's Day Weekend Kids Day, Independence Day Block Party, and Christmas in July.

Weekly Saturday-morning storytime and craft session for young children at Rediscovered Books in downtown Boise. Free; bookstore story times are open to the public.

Annual free open-studios tour where 125+ Treasure Valley artists welcome the public into their working studios across two October weekends. Weekend 1 is October 3–4, 2026. Self-guided driving / walking tour: view artwork in progress, ask techniques, see demonstrations, purchase original work directly from artists. Family-friendly: many artists genuinely engage with kids interested in their process. Weekend 2 features the other half of participating artists (separate event).

A harvest-themed family afternoon at Indian Creek Plaza in downtown Caldwell, 1:00–5:00pm. Celebrates the grape and hops harvest with pumpkins, seeds, antique tractors and industrial equipment on display, local vendors, and hands-on agricultural activities for kids and families.

Free family open house at Eagle Fire Station #1 for Fire Prevention Month. Free food, live demonstrations, interactive activities for kids, and crafts hosted by the Eagle Public Library.

Free drop-in zine-making and swapping session at Library! at Collister. Materials provided; bring zines to trade if you have them.

Scaled-down indoor triathlon for first-timers aged 13 and up - a 1/8-mile swim, a 4-mile ride on an upright stationary bike and a 1.5-mile run on the indoor track. Available as an individual or a team entry. No swim aids allowed; shoes required on the bike and track.

Nampa Library Foundation fundraiser 5K at Orah Brandt Park, with a bounce house for young children, music and the library bookmobile. Every registration includes an event shirt; proceeds support the Nampa Public Library.

Supervised foam-sword games for kids that build coordination, confidence and teamwork, anchored by an Oath of Fairplay that teaches honesty and respect. Listed for children, tweens and teens.

Story time and art activity led by a Young Ambassador, introducing free educational resources from the Smithsonian's National Museum of the American Latino. All ages.

One-mile kids' run/walk down Boise's tree-lined Harrison Boulevard, in its 41st year. All-inclusive and family-friendly: the YMCA's framing is that everyone who takes part is a winner. Open to kids 14 and under.

Monthly evening family storytime at Boise Public Library's Bown Crossing branch. Pajamas encouraged but not required. Books, rhymes, songs and fun, designed for families of any age or make-up.

Special edition of Pajama Storytime at Bown Crossing: children bring a stuffed animal to stay overnight at the library, where it will read books and make new friends. Stuffed animals are ready for pickup on Friday October 9.

Monthly reduced-admission day at the Children's Museum of Idaho: $5 admission with extended hours from 10am to 7pm, on the second Thursday of each month.

Thursday-morning preschool storytime. The October 8 session is led by Caldwell Mayor Eric Phillips. Some Thursdays host a special program instead.

Read-to-a-dog program: kids practice reading aloud to a calm therapy dog, a low-pressure way for hesitant readers to build confidence. Friday afternoons at the Pinnacle branch, with additional Thursday-morning sessions at Orchard Park on some weeks.

The Halloween edition of the City of Kuna's family movie-night series: an outdoor screening of The Nightmare Before Christmas under the stars, hosted by the Mayor. Local businesses decorate car trunks for a trunk-or-treat at K-Square (the greenbelt lawn behind City Hall) beforehand, with the film starting at sunset.

Monthly session combining reading with sensory activities, sensory bins, felt stories, songs and dance, in the Martie Brennan Multipurpose Room. Designed for children ages 2-5, with mini-sensory bins built for that age group.

Junior Master Gardener program pairing garden and ecology picture books with hands-on activities, presented by University of Idaho Extension Canyon County volunteers. Ages 6 and up; younger children welcome with a caregiver.

Hands-on introduction to basic woodworking tools and techniques for ages 8-12 with a parent or caregiver participating. Held after hours; enter through the Multipurpose Room. Sponsored by Beyond the Books. Free; registration required.

Monthly family programming at Idaho State Museum: themed activities, crafts, demonstrations.

The City of Eagle's annual autumn street festival at Heritage Park in downtown Eagle. Fiddle music, produce and food vendors, craft and artisan booths, food trucks and fall-themed family activities fill the park and the surrounding downtown blocks for the day.

Jordan's Garden Center's annual Trunk-or-Treat and food drive, run with St. Vincent de Paul and several local businesses and organisations. The free pumpkin patch is open during the event, and the event and most of its activities are free. 2:00–6:00 PM.

The Friends of the Meridian Library used book sale at the Orchard Park branch - a full day of low-cost used books including a children's section. Tagged All Ages/Families by the library.

Free community costume exchange at Boise Public Library's Hillcrest branch. Donate kids' and adult costumes and swap for a free costume. You may take a costume without donating, donate without taking, or both. Clean, gently used costumes requested; donations accepted October 1-10.

Kids read or tell a story to a Go Team therapy dog in the children's area. All ages welcome.

Celebrate A.A. Milne's bear and friends with snacks, giveaways and games. All ages.

Free fall-themed story time at The WaterShed. Designed for children ages 2-5 to learn and play, but all ages are welcome. Hear a story and take part in a fall activity.

Paint a pumpkin (no carving, paint and props only) and drop it at the 1st Floor Info Desk October 12-17. Entry forms are at the desk. Age groups: preschool, 5-8, 9-12, teens 13-17 and adults. Patrons vote from October 19 and each age group's winner gets a prize.

Monthly after-hours sensory-friendly session at the Discovery Center of Idaho for visitors with sensory-processing differences and their families. Lights, sound, and crowd levels are adjusted for a calmer experience exploring the hands-on science exhibits. June session is the 9th, 5:00–7:00 PM.

Live Disney concert tour bringing the casts and music of Descendants, ZOMBIES, and Camp Rock together on one stage at ExtraMile Arena in Boise. Doors 6:00 PM, show 7:00 PM.

The Bluey stage show comes to Boise's Morrison Center for a two-day run on October 14 and 15, 2026. A theatrical production using life-size puppetry, built for preschool and early-elementary fans of the series.

Outdoor homeschool program exploring how land protects and keeps water healthy. Timed walks to the ponds at 9:30 am, 11:30 am and 1:30 pm, with exploration from The WaterShed.

Monthly Nintendo Switch tournament series alternating Super Smash Bros Ultimate and Mario Kart 8 Deluxe. Competitive but pitched as fun for all skill levels, run as double elimination with pool play for seeding, and winners receive a prize. Mario Kart runs 150cc with smart steering and auto-acceleration off; Smash runs a 7-minute limit with 3 stocks. Ages 9 and up.

Monthly after-school hangout for ages 8-17. October's edition is a hot cocoa bar with whipped cream making and a spooky movie.

Family trivia on haunted houses, ghost sightings and the movies they inspired, played on the Kahoot app. Bring a phone or tablet, and a lawn chair or blanket; held on the library's front patio.

Caldwell Public Library evening of spooky stories at Canyon Hill Cemetery (Block 78) with professional storyteller Jim Cogan. All ages welcome. Bring a chair and dress for the weather.

Two-day reptile, amphibian, and exotic-pet expo at Expo Idaho featuring live animals, breeders, and vendors. A reliable draw for animal-obsessed kids. Saturday 10:00 AM-5:00 PM, Sunday 10:00 AM-3:30 PM.

Halloween-themed evening dance for mothers and sons hosted by Eagle Parks and Recreation. Costumes encouraged.

Free daytime community craft workshops at JUMP in the lead-up to its Day of the Dead celebration, including mini-altar making. Open to families.

Afternoon of autumn family fun at the Harward Recreation Center with giant inflatable bounce houses, obstacle courses and slides, plus games, treats, face painting and storytelling. Adults are free with a paid child.

Family fall celebration at The WaterShed with fall-themed art, pumpkin decorating, the Exhibit Hall, and live reptiles in the classroom with Idaho Reptile Zoo. Treats available.

A not-so-spooky costume dance party for ages 5-10 with music, movement and imaginative games, presented free by Idaho Rhythm's Arts in Motion. Registration recommended; walk-ins if space allows.

The City of Meridian's annual Halloween Trunk or Treat at City Hall Plaza: more than 90 businesses decorate their vehicles and hand out candy, alongside music, a dance floor, costumes and live performances. Free to attend; a $1-per-child donation to the Meridian Food Bank Backpack Program is encouraged, with a donation booth and dry-goods barrels on site.

Ada County opens its new 50-acre riverside park at Expo Idaho to the public. The park carries more than three miles of nature trails through restored wetlands, a destination nature playground with log scrambles, boulder gardens, climbing walls and misting areas, a shaded Nature Play Pavilion, an all-wheel skate garden built by California Skateparks, a roller derby rink, a wetlands boardwalk and a Greenbelt food-truck plaza. Free, and connected directly to the Boise River Greenbelt.

Hallowe’en-season pool party at the Harward Recreation Center featuring a great pumpkin hunt in the water, plus games, races and pumpkin-themed activities. Pre-registration is required.

The Friends of the Kuna Library annual fall book sale in the library's Eagle meeting rooms. Children's and young adult books are $1, and Saturday is half-price day.

Annual family Halloween event at Zoo Boise featuring trick-or-treat candy stations, costume contests for all ages, vendors, photo opportunities, face painting, and special Halloween-themed treats for the zoo animals. Two-day event Saturday and Sunday before Halloween. Family-friendly daytime event: distinct from any 21+ events on the calendar.

JUMP-or-Treat returns to JUMP Park for Halloween 2026. Saturday October 24, 5:00-8:00 PM. The famous inflatables transform the JUMP grounds into an 'inflatable forest' for trick-or-treating with local nonprofit partners distributing treats. Free community event open to all ages. Costumes encouraged. JUMP (Jack's Urban Meeting Place) sits adjacent to The Grove Plaza in downtown Boise.

Costumed Halloween race at Ann Morrison Park with a kid-scaled Monster Mile alongside the Freaky 5K, plus prizes for best costume. 5K starts at 10:00 AM, Monster Mile at 10:15 AM.

The City of Kuna's fall celebration at Bernie Fisher Park, 3:00–7:00pm. Includes pumpkin decorating with the Mayor and the Kuna Arts & History Center, a kids' zone at the Bernie Fisher Playground, food vendors, and the Kuna Chamber of Commerce Trunk or Treat at the baseball fields where local businesses decorate vehicles and hand out candy to costumed children.

Themed evening where children swim, play games and eat pizza at the Harward Recreation Center while parents get a night off. A parent or legal guardian must register the child and check them in on arrival; pick-up is between 10:45 and 11 PM.

Free Halloween night on the City of Eagle campus: costumed Trunk-or-Treat, spooky decorations around the Haunted City Hall, a chili cook-off, food trucks and 1,000 carved jack-o'-lanterns. Bring a canned or non-perishable item for the Eagle Food Bank.

Donate gently used costumes for any age at the Children's Desk October 1-24 to earn costume tickets, then swap them for other donated Halloween costumes at the swap.

Help the Old Witch make a Halloween pie in this not-too-scary musical story with parachute play, bubbles, movement and classical music. Best for ages 0-8; all ages and abilities welcome.

A family Harry Potter trivia night at the Kuna Library District for fans of all ages.

City of Caldwell departments hand out Halloween candy to children and families across City Hall and six other participating city buildings: the library, fire station, parks & recreation, police department, street department and water department. A free, safe, daytime trick-or-treat route through the city's own offices.

Costumed trick-or-treating along a route of downtown Nampa businesses, including the Nampa Public Library, ending at Lloyd Square for activities. Free.

All-ages Halloween celebration at Boise Public Library's Hillcrest branch with spooky activities, treats and other fun.

Free drop-in family art-making at the Boise Art Museum on the last Saturday of every month, Noon–3 PM. All ages welcome: adults and kids make art together using rotating materials and themes tied to current exhibits. Free with museum admission.

Star's annual Halloween trunk-or-treat, which the city reports draws well over 1,000 people. Families come in costume for trunk-or-treating and candy, a costume contest, bounce houses, kids' activities and food trucks. No registration is needed to attend. Businesses, organizations and individuals who want to host a trunk are asked to register in advance so the city can plan vehicle placement.

Free community Day of the Dead celebration at JUMP in downtown Boise, with altars, music and family activities. Preceded by free Dia de Muertos craft workshops at JUMP on Oct 17.

A drop-in day of themed book talk and crafts for tweens and teens at the Meridian Library District's Orchard Park branch. The theme is Friends, with friendship bracelets and coloring.

Free dinosaur-themed story time at The WaterShed. Designed for children ages 2-5, all ages welcome. Hear a story and take part in a dinosaur activity.

Idaho's largest Veterans parade, held annually on the Saturday nearest Veterans Day in downtown Boise. The 2026 theme is 'United in Service 1776-2026, Celebrating 250 Years of Service and Sacrifice.' Opening ceremonies are held on the Capitol steps, followed by the parade featuring local veterans, military families and marching bands. Free to watch from the sidewalk and a straightforward outing for families with young kids.

All-ages outdoor evening program from Eagle Parks and Recreation marking National Take a Hike Day, combining a walk at Reid W. Merrill Sr. Park with making backcountry-style desserts.

Live interactive Hunger Games board-style game for teens: draw a district and skill, then roll to survive the rounds until two players remain.

Caldwell's annual Winter Wonderland: the city decorates Indian Creek in downtown Caldwell with over 1 million lights from the weekend before Thanksgiving through mid-January. Features include the lighted ice ribbon (Caldwell's signature outdoor ice-skating loop), cozy fire pits, surrounded lighted trees, Christmas tree displays, the Treasure Valley Night Light Parade (typically the first weekend of December: date TBD for 2026), the Lights of Lewis & Clark, and Festival of Trees. Free to walk through; ice skating ticketed separately. One of Idaho's largest holiday family destinations.

Drop-in school-break programming at The WaterShed across three days (Nov 23-25). Free all-ages activities, crafts and scientific demonstrations in the classroom. All ages and homeschools welcome; no pre-registration required.

Drop-in hands-on learning stations for children ages 3-5 and their caregivers, focused on kindergarten readiness.

Drop-in early literacy play stations for children ages 0-2 and their caregivers.

Free, all-ages holiday kickoff on The Grove Plaza in downtown Boise. A 46-foot Blue Spruce with more than 5,000 lights and a custom tree topper is lit during a candle-lighting ceremony with live holiday music (local band Payette), special guests, and the official countdown. New in recent years is the 'Holidays on the Grove' vendor market with vendor sheds on the plaza during the lighting and throughout December. Presented by the Downtown Boise Association; the tree stays lit through December 31.

The City of Nampa's free downtown holiday kickoff, held on Shop Small Saturday (the Saturday after Thanksgiving) at 12th Ave & 1st Street. Entertainment leads up to the lighting of a 60-foot spruce, followed by free photos with Santa and Mrs. Claus at the Nampa Train Depot. The day also includes free s'mores and vendor booths, Mrs. Claus story time at the library, complimentary horse-drawn carriage rides (special-needs riders first, then open to the public), live entertainment, and the Nampa Farmers Market 'Winter Wonderland Market.'

Downtown Boise's long-running holiday parade: marching bands, floats, historic vehicles, veterans, and Santa fill the streets for about 90 minutes on the Saturday morning after Thanksgiving. Free to watch and firmly family-oriented; dress warmly and arrive early for a curbside spot.

Meridian's flagship holiday kickoff in Downtown Meridian. Pre-parade activities and watch parties begin at 5:30 PM with free hot cocoa stands; the illuminated Winter Lights Parade of floats runs down Main Street at 7:00 PM (route from Meridian Speedway), followed by a community tree lighting at Generations Plaza and visits with Santa. Free and family-friendly.

The City of Eagle's free annual living-Christmas-tree lighting on the City Hall / Community Hall campus. A family evening of youth performers, free hot cocoa and snacks for kids, and visits with Santa and reindeer, culminating in thousands of sparkling lights illuminating the campus Christmas tree. Part of Eagle Country Christmas week.

Holiday craft afternoon at the Harward Recreation Center where children make seasonal crafts, play games and get a holiday treat. Santa makes an appearance. A parent must accompany children under five.

A free holiday festival from Meridian Parks & Recreation: two rooms of Christmas crafts and games, and every child leaves with a photo with Santa.

Free winter-themed story time at The WaterShed. Designed for children ages 2-5, all ages welcome. Hear a story and take part in a winter activity.

Ballet Idaho's annual production of The Nutcracker at the Morrison Center: the only Nutcracker in Idaho performed with a live orchestra (Boise Philharmonic). Young Clara's journey through the Land of the Sweets, with eight performances across the December 18–23 run including matinees well suited to younger children. Audio-described performances are offered for low-vision patrons.

Family movie night in the pool at the Harward Recreation Center - bring a pool float or relax poolside while Elf plays on the big screen.

New holiday 5K fun run from Nampa Parks and Recreation with a separate youth entry for ages 12 and under. Participants are encouraged to dress in their favourite Santa outfit.

Boise's free, all-ages New Year's Eve celebration on the Idaho State Capitol steps and in Cecil D. Andrus Park. A ski and snowboard rail jam and family activities start in the late afternoon, live music runs on the main stage through the evening, and the illuminated 'Glow-tato' drops at midnight with fireworks. Free and open to everyone, with food vendors and photo ops with Spuddy Buddy.

Treefort Music Fest's family-friendly programming track at The Nest Stage in Julia Davis Park + Idaho State Museum. Free for all ages. Live performances, workshops, hands-on activities. Past performers have included Mega Ran (Grammy-nominated rapper/educator), Ants Ants Ants (Parents' Choice Award kindie band), Fluff Hardware crafts. Kids under 12 free at all of Treefort with adult.

Statewide free fishing day: no license required to fish anywhere in Idaho. Idaho Fish and Game hosts events at local fishing waters with free instruction. Loaner rods and reels available (limited). Take Me Fishing Trailers in all 7 regions.