Community events in Star, Idaho

The Treasure Valley's Thanksgiving-morning 5K, in its 16th year, starts at 9 a.m. at Cecil Andrus Park by the Idaho State Capitol and benefits the Boise Rescue Mission and Camp Rainbow Gold. Registration is open online ahead of race day.

• Thursday, November 26, 2026, 9 a.m.
• Cecil Andrus Park, Idaho State Capitol, Boise

Confirm dates with the organizer

The Boise Farmers Market moved indoors for the winter at the Idaho Botanical Garden, now open Saturdays through December 19 with local growers and food vendors. Confirm hours with the organizer.

• Saturdays, November 7 through December 19, 2026
• Idaho Botanical Garden, 2355 Old Penitentiary Rd, Boise

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A recurring community dinner hosted at Cottonwood Grille in Boise's River Myrtle-Old Boise District, with tickets sold through Eventbrite. Confirm the program and ticket availability with the organizer.

• Thursday, November 19, 2026, 6 to 9 p.m.
• Cottonwood Grille, 913 W River St, Boise

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Downtown Boise's monthly arts and community night, with galleries, shops, and restaurants staying open late.

• First Thursday of each month; next on December 3, 2026
• Downtown Boise

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The lighting ceremony that opens the free holiday light display at Scentsy Commons in Meridian. Confirm the time with the organizer.

• Friday, November 13, 2026, 6 p.m.
• Scentsy Commons, 2701 E. Pine Ave, Meridian

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A flat, fast late-fall half marathon through downtown Boise. Confirm start time, route, and registration with the organizer.

• Saturday, November 14, 2026
• Downtown Boise

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The 2026 parade down Capitol Boulevard in downtown Boise carries the theme 'United in Service: 1776 to 2026', marking 250 years of American service, with opening ceremonies on the Capitol steps. Confirm the lineup with the organizers.

• Saturday, November 14, 2026, 10 a.m.
• Capitol Boulevard, downtown Boise

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A community breakfast at the Eagle Senior Center open to the public to honor all who served, hosted by the City of Eagle. Confirm the serving time with the city.

• Saturday, November 14, 2026, 8 to 10 a.m.
• Eagle Senior Center, 312 E. State St, Eagle

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Downtown Eagle shops and restaurants open late for a monthly community shopping evening, held the first Tuesday of the month from September through December. The next session is December 1, 2026; confirm participating businesses with the organizers.

• First Tuesday of the month; next on December 1, 2026
• Downtown Eagle

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A curated holiday maker's market with 100-plus regional artists at Boise Centre West, returning for its 15th annual edition. Admission is $10 Friday (good both days) and $5 Saturday, with kids 12 and under free.

• Friday, November 20, 4 to 9 p.m., and Saturday, November 21, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., 2026
• Boise Centre West, 850 W. Front St, Boise

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A three-day holiday maker's market on the Scentsy campus in Meridian, heavy on home decor, signs, soaps, jewelry, and baby gifts. Confirm hours with the organizers.

• Thursday, November 19 through Saturday, November 21, 2026
• Scentsy campus, Meridian

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The Saint Alphonsus Foundation's 42nd annual holiday festival with decorated trees, Santa visits, and LEGO displays at Boise Centre. Some organizers list slightly different dates, so confirm before you go.

• Tuesday, November 24 through Sunday, November 29, 2026
• Boise Centre, Boise

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The 30th annual holiday gift show at the Idaho Center in Nampa, with Santa and hundreds of vendor booths. Confirm hours and admission with the organizer.

• Friday, November 20 through Sunday, November 22, 2026
• Idaho Center, Nampa

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An evening winter festival at Indian Creek Plaza in Caldwell with lights, holiday vendors, and family activities; the winter market runs extended hours on the weekend. Confirm times with the organizer.

• Friday, November 20 through Sunday, November 22, 2026, 6 to 9 p.m.
• Indian Creek Plaza, Caldwell

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An evening holiday walk-through in Boise with decorated lanes and family activities. Confirm the exact location and start time with the organizer.

• Friday, November 27 and Saturday, November 28, 2026, 5:30 p.m. starts
• Boise

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The outdoor ice rink returns to The Grove Plaza in downtown Boise, open through early January for skating in the heart of the city.

• Opens Saturday, November 28, 2026, through January 10, 2027
• The Grove Plaza, Boise

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The Idaho Botanical Garden's holiday light display, now in its 30th season, with roughly 900,000 lights and the Lake of Lights, open on winter evenings Wednesday through Sunday from the day after Thanksgiving through New Year's Eve. Confirm hours with the organizer.

• Wednesday through Sunday evenings, Friday, November 27 through Thursday, December 31, 2026
• Idaho Botanical Garden, Boise

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The 78th annual downtown Boise holiday parade carries the 2026 theme 'Christmas is for Giving', a Treasure Valley tradition with floats, bands, and Santa on Grove Plaza. Confirm the lineup with the organizers.

• Saturday, November 28, 2026, 10 a.m.
• Downtown Boise

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The 30th anniversary tour of The Ghosts of Christmas Eve stops at ExtraMile Arena with two shows the day after Thanksgiving. Confirm ticket availability and times with the venue.

• Friday, November 27, 2026, 2 p.m. and 7 p.m.
• ExtraMile Arena, 1401 Bronco Ln, Boise

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The free candle-lighting ceremony and tree lighting at The Grove Plaza, with live music, on the same day as the Boise Holiday Parade.

• Saturday, November 28, 2026, 5 to 6 p.m.
• The Grove Plaza, Boise

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Downtown Boise's monthlong holiday celebration at The Grove Plaza opens Friday, November 27, with the tree and the plaza decked out for the season alongside the ice rink and holiday market. Confirm hours and the full lineup with the organizers.

• Begins Friday, November 27, 2026, running through the holiday season
• The Grove Plaza, downtown Boise

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Meridian's annual holiday celebration in downtown with pre-parade activities, the Winter Lights Parade, and the tree lighting.

• Friday, December 4, 2026; pre-parade activities 5:30 p.m., parade 7 p.m.
• Downtown Meridian

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The Meridian Arts Commission's annual ornament drop in downtown Meridian, timed with the Christmas in Meridian weekend. Confirm the drop times and locations with the city.

• Friday, December 4 and Saturday, December 5, 2026
• Downtown Meridian

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A one-day holiday craft market in Meridian with local vendors, listed on the city's community calendar. Confirm vendor lineup and hours with the organizers.

• Saturday, December 5, 2026, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Meridian

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A two-day Christmas market in Meridian with local makers and vendors, listed on the city's community calendar. Confirm vendor lineup and hours with the organizers.

• Friday, December 11, 4 p.m. through Saturday, December 12, 5 p.m., 2026
• 2976 S. Meridian Rd, Unit 130, Meridian

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Eagle's holiday celebration at Heritage Park with community performances, Santa, and the lit gazebo in downtown Eagle.

• Saturday, December 5, 2026, 2 to 6 p.m.
• Heritage Park, downtown Eagle

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Idaho's largest outdoor market, with local growers, makers, and food vendors at The Grove Plaza. The Saturday, December 19 market is the final one of the season; confirm hours with the organizer.

• Saturdays, through Saturday, December 19, 2026
• The Grove Plaza, Boise

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The outdoor ice rink at The Village at Meridian opens for the season on Saturday, November 14, 2026, and runs through January 19, 2027, weather permitting. Confirm hours, pricing, and skate rental with the organizer.

• Saturday, November 14, 2026 through Monday, January 19, 2027, weather permitting
• The Village at Meridian, Meridian

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The Village at Meridian's holiday season opens with a magical tree lighting celebration on Thursday, November 19 at 6 p.m., with the dancing-light shows running through the season. Confirm the lineup with the organizer.

• Thursday, November 19, 2026, 6 p.m.
• The Village at Meridian, Meridian

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The free drive-around holiday light display at Scentsy Commons in Meridian opens with a lighting ceremony on Friday, November 13 and runs nightly through January 18, 2027, according to the organizer's published dates. Confirm the ceremony time with the organizer.

• Nightly, Friday, November 13, 2026 through Monday, January 18, 2027
• Scentsy Commons, 2701 E. Pine Ave, Meridian

Confirm dates with the organizer

An early December holiday market on the Basque Block in downtown Boise with Basque food and handcrafted gifts. The exact 2026 dates had not been posted as of early November; confirm with the organizers.

• Early December 2026; exact dates not yet posted
• Basque Block, downtown Boise

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The Village's holiday season with its decorated tree, dancing-light shows, and Santa arrival and tree lighting.

• November through December 2026
• The Village at Meridian, Meridian

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A holiday maker's market at Revolution Concert House with local vendors and seasonal goods.

• Saturday, November 28, 2026, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
• Revolution Concert House, 4983 N Glenwood St, Garden City

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A two-day holiday vendor market at Boise Towne Square, part of the mall's holiday season. Confirm vendor lineup and hours with the organizer.

• Saturday, November 28 and Sunday, November 29, 2026
• Boise Towne Square, 350 N. Milwaukee St, Boise

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A drive-through holiday light show with tunnels of lights synchronized to music on your car radio, set up in the Roaring Springs Waterpark parking lot. It moved to Meridian from Expo Idaho in 2024, and tickets are purchased online in advance.

• Lights begin Friday, November 20, 2026, running nightly through early January
• Roaring Springs Waterpark, 400 W. Overland Rd, Meridian

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A holiday arts and crafts show at Expo Idaho with 225-plus regional vendors and a visit from Santa; kids 12 and under enter free, adult admission around $5. Confirm hours with the organizer.

• Friday, December 4 through Sunday, December 6, 2026 (Friday and Saturday 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., Sunday 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.)
• Expo Idaho, 5610 N Glenwood St, Garden City

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The Treasure Valley's annual production of The Nutcracker at the Morrison Center, with the Boise Philharmonic in the pit. Confirm performance times and ticket availability with the venue.

• Sunday, December 13 through Wednesday, December 23, 2026
• Morrison Center, 2201 W. University Dr, Boise

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Cabela's Boise offers free Santa photos and its Santa Christmas Tales story reading on select days in early December, a popular stop for families with kids. Confirm the exact times with the store.

• Tuesday, December 1 and Friday, December 4, 2026 (times set by the store)
• Cabela's Boise, 1099 S. Eisenman Rd, Boise

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The 20th annual holiday kids bike giveaway from the Boise Bicycle Project, where children receive refurbished bikes, helmets, and locks. Families should confirm registration requirements with the organizer.

• Saturday, December 19, 2026, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Boise Bicycle Project, 1027 Lusk St, Boise

Confirm dates with the organizer

Boise's New Year's Eve celebration at Cecil Andrus Park by the State Capitol, with live music and the GlowTato, a glowing potato, dropping at midnight. Confirm the lineup and start time with the organizers.

• Thursday, December 31, 2026, from early evening through midnight
• Cecil Andrus Park, Idaho State Capitol, Boise

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Star's signature annual event: a parade down State Street, the Firecracker Fun Run, a pie auction, kids' games, a food court, live music, and a big fireworks show.

• July 4, with related events on the days around the holiday
• Star Riverhouse and State Street, Star

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Free live music on the lawn at the Star Riverhouse through the summer.

• Friday evenings, June through August
• Star Riverhouse, 960 S. Main St, Star

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A summer Saturday market with Treasure Valley vendors, food, and crafters at the Star Riverhouse, hosted by the Southwest Idaho Business Alliance.

• Selected Saturdays through the summer
• Star Riverhouse, 960 S. Main St, Star

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An outdoor screening on a summer evening, held in recent years at Blake Haven.

• July, date announced each year
• Blake Haven, Star

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The City of Star's official calendar lists Christmas at the Riverhouse at the Star Riverhouse for Saturday and Sunday, December 5 and 6, 2026. In recent years this has been the town's holiday tree-lighting celebration with family activities along the Boise River, so plan for the season's kickoff here; confirm the full 2026 program, parade details, and times with the City of Star as the date approaches.

• Saturday, December 5 and Sunday, December 6, 2026
• Star Riverhouse, 960 S. Main St, Star

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The city's holiday tree lighting on the Star corridor, often with carols, cocoa, and a visit from Santa. It is part of the December holiday celebration at the Star Riverhouse; confirm the exact program with the City of Star.

• Early December, within the December 5-6, 2026 Christmas at the Riverhouse dates
• Star Riverhouse area, Star

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A holiday market at the Star Riverhouse with local vendors and seasonal goods. The 2026 dates had not been posted as of mid-November.

• December, dates announced each year
• Star Riverhouse, 960 S. Main St, Star

Confirm dates with the organizer