Annual events for a community are something to look forward to each and every year. For Boise, with the returning of these annual events, you can expect them to be bigger and better each year. One of the most rapidly growing events that the city hosts is Treefort Music Fest. This festival is a prime example of how unified the Boise community is and has even been named the cities cultural ambassador. Boise city also hosts a set of other diverse themed events that have run for many years and attract attendees from around the country.
Events
Race to Robie Creek
Over 40 years of Racing to Robie Creek solidifies this event as a Boise tradition. Held the third Saturday of each April, Boiseans get the chance to race in what is known as the “toughest half-marathon in the northwest” to support local.
Treefort Music Fest
What started in 2012 as a vision to bring the community together, has grown rapidly into the community’s most beloved festival of the year! Named the cities cultural ambassador for bringing together all things music, comedy, film, art, yoga and beer.
Goathead Fest
The Boise Goathead Fest has become a downtown tradition to increase awareness about goatheads and the cleanup method surrounding them. The Goathead Festival is utilized to honor and award those who clean up the most goatheads in the area. If you hate goatheads plaguing your bike tires, this one’s for you!
Boise Music Festival
Beginning in 2010, the Boise Music Festival has been a prominent factor in encouraging the visits of various music artists including Vanilla Ice, Jason Derulo and Pitbull. The Boise Music Festival is hosted at Expo Idaho at the end of June- a summer celebration!
Festival of Trees
For over 30 years Saint Alphonsus has brought the community together to celebrate the holidays at the Festival of Trees. The weekend event helps bring the best health care opportunities to the community through a gala, fashion show and hundreds of lavishly decorated Christmas Trees.
Winter Garden aGlow
Taking Christmas light looking to the next level! The Idaho Botanical Gardens cover their land with over 400,000 multi-colored lights. Different nights include Santa visits, princess appearances, the Holiday Express train, and local choirs caroling in the Garden.
Greek Food Festival
Greek Food is an annual labor of love and delicious Greek dishes. Saints Helen and Constantine Greek Orthodox Church host a weekend filled with Greek food, live music and dance performances.
Hyde Park Street Fair
40 years of local vendors, bands and food trucks make the Hyde Park Street Fair a Boise staple. Benefiting the North End Neighborhood Association, visitors get to experience one-of-a-kind artisans and enjoy the presence of the community.
Twilight Criterium
Every year downtown Boise gets turned into a high-speed, high-stakes race course for local and national cyclists. Over the last 33 years, the Twilight Criterium has grown to include a full three-day weekend of cycling events that support the youngest or oldest of riders, pros and amateurs, and bring together the community for one of the most exciting sports on the streets.
Spirit of Boise
For about 30 years, the Spirit of Boise Balloon Classic has been a Boise tradition. Locals and tourists fill Ann Morrison to watch as the Boise sky gets filled with hot air balloons. Recognized every year to celebrate the end of summer, the Spirit of Boise allows families and friends to come together and embrace Boises beauty.
Other Events
Idaho Shakespeare Festival
During the summer months of June through September, the Idaho Shakespeare Festival presents a series of five different plays that brings Boise the true essence of world-class theatre.
Pray for Snow
One of the best family-friendly events held in the fall at the Idaho Botanical Gardens, the Fall Harvest Festival offers entertainment for the whole family.
Goddess Fest
Hosted in Julia Davis Park, typically the last weekend in July, Goddess Fest brings a spiritual growth experience to Boise. It’s a chance for the community to share wisdom and rituals to help initiate peace externally and within.
Boise Pride Fest
During the second weekend of June, Boise Pride Fest has been hosted at Cecil D. Andrus Park in front of the State Capitol Building for over 30 years now. The vision of the festival has been to create a community that celebrates the diversity of sexual orientations and identities constantly.
Art in the Park
Each year The Boise Art Museum puts on a premiere cultural art event for the entire Boise Community during the first weekend of September. Along with having over 200 artists showcase their work, there is live entertainment, food, and arts and crafts.
Bogus Fest
Bogus Fest is an unrivaled tribute music festival experience that includes an array of classic rock and country music stars that play across two stages at Bogus Basin Recreation Area.
Western Idaho Fair
Who doesn’t love the fair?! The Western Idaho Fair is held at Expo Idaho and includes all things you could imagine that belong there. Carnival rides, concerts, competition, concessions and so much more are available for over a week at the fairgrounds.
Old Boise Oktoberfest
Old Boise is considered to be located on Sixth and Main in Downtown Boise and hosts an annual Oktoberfest in commemoration where games, dancing, and drinking are strongly encouraged.
Alive after Five
Every Wednesday in Summer enjoy a free summer concert series in the middle of the Grove Plaza. Local beer and wine vendors are there, as well as raffles for chances to win prizes.
Emmett Cherry Festival
“A family-friendly hometown tradition,” is the perfect way to describe the Emmett Cherry Festival. It’s always held the second full week of June, where over 50,000 people get together for a no cost to enter, free daily entrainment, and nightly concerts.