Experience the magic of the holiday season in Boise City, ID, where festive lights, local traditions, and unique markets create an unforgettable atmosphere. From the enchanting Winter Garden aGlow, where over 500,000 lights illuminate the Idaho Botanical Garden, to the dazzling Boise Christmas Lights Tour showcasing the city's most creatively decorated homes, there's something for everyone.
Don't miss the Boise Holiday Market, where local artisans present their handcrafted treasures in a bustling marketplace filled with seasonal aromas. Whether you're a local or a visitor, Boise's Christmas events promise warmth, creativity, and community spirit.
Please contact us if you have suggestions or corrections!
Got questions? Like to help? Check out our Boise City Holiday discussion here!
The Top Christmas Events in Boise City
See these and even more events listed below!Nearby Events
Winter Garden aGlow (Boise)
What to Expect:
Botanical garden transformed with over 500,000 lights
Description:
Boise's Idaho Botanical Garden transforms into a luminous spectacle during Winter Garden aGlow. Over 500,000 lights adorn the garden's diverse plant life, creating a dazzling contrast between nature and technology. Visitors can stroll through illuminated pathways, discovering hidden light sculptures and glowing topiaries. The event pays homage to Idaho's agricultural heritage, featuring light displays of local crops and wildlife. As you explore, the crisp winter air carries the scent of pine and hot cocoa. This annual tradition began in 1997, quickly becoming a beloved part of Boise's holiday season.
Website:
Boise Christmas Lights Tour (Boise)
What to Expect:
Self-guided tour of elaborately decorated homes
Description:
The Boise Christmas Lights Tour showcases the city's most elaborately decorated homes. This self-guided adventure allows you to explore neighborhoods at your own pace, marveling at intricate light displays and creative themes. Some homeowners incorporate Idaho's outdoor spirit with skiing Santas or illuminated mountain scenes. The tour originated in the 1950s as a friendly neighborhood competition, evolving into a citywide phenomenon. Visitors can vote for their favorite displays using a mobile app, adding an interactive element to the experience. The twinkling lights reflect off the snow-covered streets, creating a captivating winter ambiance.
Website:
Boise Holiday Market (Boise)
What to Expect:
Showcases local artisans and Idaho-made products
Description:
The Boise Holiday Market celebrates Idaho's creative spirit by showcasing local artisans and their handcrafted wares. This bustling marketplace brings together over 100 vendors, offering unique gifts ranging from hand-blown glass ornaments to small-batch preserves. The market emphasizes sustainability, with many artisans using reclaimed or locally-sourced materials. Visitors can watch live demonstrations of traditional crafts, connecting them to Idaho's rich artistic heritage. The air is filled with the aroma of freshly baked goods and locally roasted coffee. This event has its roots in Boise's early 20th-century farmers' markets, continuing the tradition of supporting local producers.
Website:
Festival of Trees (Boise)
What to Expect:
Elaborately decorated trees auctioned for charity
Description:
The Festival of Trees transforms the Boise Centre into a forest of elaborately decorated Christmas trees. Each tree is a unique work of art, adorned with themes ranging from Idaho's outdoor adventures to whimsical fairy tales. Local businesses and organizations compete to create the most stunning displays, which are then auctioned off to benefit local charities. Visitors can admire the intricate designs and vote for their favorites. The festival originated in 1984 as a small fundraiser and has since grown into a major community event. Throughout the week, live performances by local choirs and dance groups enliven the atmosphere.
Website:
Christmas Dinners (Boise)
What to Expect:
Community-wide effort to provide meals for those in need
Description:
Boise's Christmas Dinners initiative unites the community in a collective effort to ensure no one goes hungry during the holiday season. Local restaurants, churches, and community centers open their doors to serve warm, hearty meals to those in need. Volunteers from all walks of life come together to prepare and serve dishes that often feature Idaho's famous potatoes and locally sourced ingredients. This tradition dates back to the Great Depression when Boise residents banded together to support their neighbors. You can participate by donating food, volunteering your time, or simply sharing a meal with others in the spirit of community.
Website:
Downtown Boise Holiday Tree Lighting (Boise)
What to Expect:
Ceremonial lighting of a massive tree in the heart of downtown
Description:
The Downtown Boise Holiday Tree Lighting ceremony marks the official start of the holiday season in Idaho's capital. A towering evergreen, carefully selected from Idaho's forests, takes center stage in Grove Plaza. As the switch is flipped, thousands of lights illuminate the tree, casting a warm glow over the gathered crowd. The event features performances by local choirs and dance troupes, showcasing Boise's vibrant arts scene. This tradition began in the early 1900s as a small community gathering and has grown into a major celebration. Attendees can warm up with cups of locally-made apple cider while admiring the newly lit tree.
Website:
Downtown Boise Holiday Tree Lighting
Boise Philharmonic Holiday Concert (Boise)
What to Expect:
Classical renditions of holiday favorites with a local twist
Description:
The Boise Philharmonic Holiday Concert elevates the season with a sophisticated musical experience. The orchestra performs classical renditions of holiday favorites, interspersed with lesser-known pieces that reflect Idaho's cultural heritage. A highlight of the concert is the premiere of a new composition inspired by Boise's winter landscape. The Philharmonic, founded in 1960, has made this concert a cherished annual tradition. The Morrison Center's excellent acoustics allow every note to resonate clearly, creating an immersive auditory experience. Audience members can participate in a sing-along portion, joining their voices with the professional musicians.
Website:
Boise Philharmonic Holiday Concert
Nutcracker Ballet (Boise)
What to Expect:
Local adaptation with Idaho-themed elements
Description:
Boise's Nutcracker Ballet offers a unique twist on the classic tale, incorporating elements of Idaho's landscape and history. The production features custom-designed sets that blend traditional Victorian scenes with Idaho's rugged mountains and flowing rivers. Local dancers bring the characters to life, with the Sugar Plum Fairy's costume adorned with syringa, Idaho's state flower. This adaptation, first performed in 1973, has become a beloved annual tradition. The graceful movements of the dancers are accompanied by live music from the Boise Philharmonic, creating a seamless fusion of visual and auditory artistry.
Website:
Christmas in Color Drive-Thru (Garden City)
What to Expect:
Drive-through light show synchronized to music
Description:
Christmas in Color Drive-Thru reimagines the traditional light display as an immersive, multi-sensory experience. Visitors drive through a carefully choreographed light show, with millions of LED bulbs pulsing and changing in sync with holiday music broadcast directly to your car's radio. The display features towering light tunnels, giant candy canes, and animated scenes that come to life as you pass. This modern take on holiday lights began in 2015 and quickly became a regional favorite. You can control the volume and pace of your journey, creating a personalized experience. The show's energy-efficient LED technology reflects Boise's commitment to sustainability.
Website:
Santa at The Village (Meridian)
What to Expect:
Santa's visit combined with outdoor shopping experience
Description:
Santa at The Village combines the excitement of meeting Father Christmas with the charm of outdoor holiday shopping. Set in Meridian's premier open-air lifestyle center, this event creates a festive atmosphere with twinkling lights and holiday decor. Children can share their wishes with Santa in a cozy cottage, while parents explore unique boutiques and eateries. The Village, inspired by European town squares, opened in 2007 and quickly became a community gathering place. Visitors can enjoy live performances by local musicians and carolers, adding a soundtrack to their holiday shopping experience.
Website:
Holiday Ice Show (Boise)
What to Expect:
Professional and amateur skaters perform holiday-themed routines
Description:
The Holiday Ice Show glides into Boise, showcasing the talents of both professional and amateur figure skaters. Performers execute intricate routines set to a mix of classic and contemporary holiday music, their blades etching patterns into the gleaming ice. The show features elaborate costumes that sparkle under the arena lights, bringing winter characters to life. This event, which began as a small community performance in the 1980s, now attracts skaters from across the region. Spectators can marvel at gravity-defying jumps and graceful spins, all choreographed to tell beloved holiday stories with a uniquely Idahoan flair.
Website:
Christmas Craft Bazaar (Eagle)
What to Expect:
Focus on traditional and contemporary Idaho crafts
Description:
The Christmas Craft Bazaar celebrates Idaho's rich tradition of handicrafts, featuring both time-honored techniques and modern interpretations. Artisans from across the state gather to showcase their work, from hand-carved wooden ornaments to contemporary jewelry made with Idaho gemstones. The bazaar, which began in the 1970s as a small church fundraiser, now fills the Expo Idaho with a diverse array of handmade goods. Visitors can watch live demonstrations of traditional crafts like quilting and blacksmithing. The event also features a section dedicated to upcycled and eco-friendly crafts, reflecting Boise's commitment to sustainability.
Website:
Eagle Country Christmas (Eagle)
What to Expect:
Old West-themed holiday celebration
Description:
Eagle Country Christmas transports visitors to a holiday celebration with an Old West twist. The charming town of Eagle, just outside Boise, embraces its frontier heritage with cowboys on horseback, wagon rides, and storefronts decorated in vintage style. Live bluegrass and country music performances add an authentic soundtrack to the festivities. This event, which began in the 1990s, pays homage to Eagle's roots as a 19th-century farming community. Visitors can participate in old-fashioned games and contests, such as gingerbread house building with a Western theme. The aroma of roasting chestnuts and spiced cider fills the air, evoking memories of Christmases past.