Wildflowers are in bloom, hiking and mountain biking trails are in great shape, and the summer menu items are delicious! ๐ฎ Donโt miss some of the exciting events happening on the mountain this weekend, including the Boise Mountain Bike Festival on Saturday, Music on the Patio on Saturday & Sunday, annnd Birding with a local ornithologist (for free!) on Sunday ๐ฆ
โSummer activities at Bogus Basin, including Idahoโs only mountain coaster, scenic chairlift rides, summer tubing, and more are open from 11am to 7pm, Wednesday - Sunday. See you up there! ๐ผ
credit Bogus Basin
ICYMI: Boise River Float Season Is Open
The 6-mile float from Barber Park to Ann Morrison Park is officially open and runs through Labor Day. Raft, tube, and kayak rentals are available at Barber Park, with shuttle service running between the two parks.
SPONSORED BY THE SOUTHWEST IDAHO TRAVEL ASSOCIATION AND CASCADE RAFT & KAYAK
The Payette River is calling. You should probably answer.
Just 45 minutes from Boise, Cascade Raft & Kayak has been taking people out rafting on the Payette River since 1985, and they know how to show you a good time and keep you safe. Whether you want a scenic, splashy float the whole family can do (kids as young as 5 are welcome!) or Class III-IV rapids that will get your adrenaline pumping, there's a trip for you. You pick your vibe: Chill or Thrill.
Cascade is family-owned and operated by the Long family, who have been doing this for decades and genuinely love it. Their guides are certified, fun, and really good at what they do. They also offer kayaking instruction, guided fishing, and a zipline. If you want to make a whole trip of it, rent a cabin in a small town nearby.
This is the kind of summer day you'll still be talking about at Christmas.
Paid for in part by a grant from Idaho Tourism. Start planning your next adventure now.
Things to do
Thursday, June 25
โConfluence Market, a Hyde Park Night Market, is happening at 1609 N 13th St from 5โ9:30pm. It's a beloved neighborhood market featuring handmade vendors, DIY booths, live music, a mobile coffee pop-up from MT Crate Coffee, and occasional flash tattoo events. It's free!
โThe Idaho Film Society's Summer Filmmaker Mixer is happening from 6โ11pm. It's an annual gathering for filmmakers, actors, and movie lovers featuring gear demos, local film shorts, a DJ set, and tabling from local film orgs. It's free! 21+
โWorld Cup Watch Party is happening at JUMP Lawn/Lobby from 6โ10pm. Watch the World Cup on the big screen with food, drinks, games, soccer activities, and more. Party starts at 6pm with the game kicking off at 8pm. It's free!
โSummer Movie Night on the Plaza is happening at Indian Creek Plaza in Caldwell at 6pm. Catch The NeverEnding Story under the stars with splash pads, Plaza games, and activities throughout the evening. It's free!
โInclusive Pool Party at Ivywild is happening at Ivywild Pool at 7pm. Hosted by Boise Parks and Recreation's AdVenture Program, it's an inclusive evening swim for individuals with disabilities and their friends and family, with a sloped pool entry and water chair available. Tix are $1.
Thursday, June 25 - Saturday, June 27
โMeridian Dairy Days is happening in Meridian through the weekend. It's an annual festival celebrating the city's dairy heritage with a parade, pancake breakfast, carnival, live entertainment, vendor fair, and more. It's free!
Friday, June 26
โDinosaurs in a Mobile Museum is happening at the Idaho Museum of Mining and Geology from 12โ4pm. The Idaho Museum of Natural History is bringing fossils and dino exhibits to Boise in their Mobile Museum. It's free!
โTwilight Tours is happening at the Old Idaho Penitentiary from 7โ11pm. Explore the historic prison on a self-guided or guided tour on a summer evening, with guided tours running every half hour from 7:30โ10pm. Tix are $16.
โBike Night is happening at High Desert Harley-Davidson in Meridian from 6โ8pm. It's a summer evening at the dealership featuring live music by Gary Tackett, food trucks, flash tattoos, raffles, a mobile bar, and a bike wash. All makes and models welcome. Itโs free!
โGreenbelt Night Market is happening at 521 E 41st St in Garden City from 5โ9pm. It's a weekly Friday night market along the river featuring local vendors, artisan goods, farmers market favorites, food trucks, and live music. It's free!
โSparklight Movie Night is happening at Settlers Park in Meridian from 7โ11:30pm. Catch Shrek on a giant inflatable screen under the stars with pre-movie activities and a concession stand. It's free!
โPride Bike Ride with the Boise Bicycle Project is happening at the Boise Bicycle Project at 6pm. Decorate your bike with pride accessories and roll out at 6:20pm sharp for a roughly 5-mile ride along the greenbelt and city streets, ending with a group photo on the Capitol steps. It's free!
Friday, June 26 - Saturday, June 27
โEagle Fun Days is happening in Downtown Eagle and Eagle City Hall. Friday kicks off with live music, food, drinks, and an inflatable amusement park at Heritage Park and City Hall from 5โ8pm. Saturday's main event runs 11amโ9pm with live music, a vendor market, parade at 1pm, car show from 12โ3pm, cornhole tournament at 3pm, and a Rotary Club ball drop at 4pm. It's free!
โBoise Mountain Bike Festival is happening at Eagle Bike Park on Friday from 2โ7pm and at Bogus Basin on Saturday from 11amโ7pm. It's a two-day festival featuring group rides, skills clinics, vendor booths, bike demos, a raffle supporting local trail associations, and a whip-off competition. Tix are $45, or $30 for Bogus Basin season pass holders. Kids 8 and under are free.
โShakespeare's "The Tempest" performed by the Boise Bard Players is happening at Hidden Gem Events in Meridian at 7pm both nights. It's Shakespeare's romantic comedy performed outdoors as part of a Treasure Valley touring run. Tix are $20.
Saturday, June 27
โA Slice of History: Civic Bites and Historic Sites is happening starting at the Idaho State Museum from 1โ4pm. Follow a map across three downtown historic sites completing hands-on activities, then earn your way to a free pizza party at Payette Brewing's beer garden. Tix are $7.
โSalsa Under the Stars is happening at JUMP's The Deck from 8โ11:45pm. It's a Latin dance social featuring salsa, bachata, timba, reggaeton, and more. A free beginner class is out front at 6pm, open to all ages. Tix are $15 in advance, $20 at the door. 18+
โMeridian Fine Art Festival is happening at Julius M. Kleiner Park in Meridian from 9amโ5pm Saturday and 10amโ4pm Sunday. Over 150 artists and craftsmen from Idaho and the Northwest will be on hand selling original work, with live entertainment and food. It's free!
โFamily Fun Fest is happening at 3355 E Fairview Ave in Meridian from 10amโ1pm. It's a free family event featuring carnival games, a live reptile experience, the Building Steam Lego Bus, a kids' painting workshop, and a DJ. It's free!
โHoneybee Festival is happening at Victory Gardens Nursery in Meridian from 9amโ4pm. Come enjoy honey tastings, pollinator plant sales, beekeeper demos, a kids' scavenger hunt, and pollinator-inspired goodies. It's free!
โPlanting for Pollinators is a free class happening at North End Organic Nursery in Garden City from 2โ3pm. Instructor Lynn Kinter will teach which plants support pollinators from early spring through fall. Registration required, call 208-389-4769. It's free!
โClay Collective's Broadway Open House is happening at 1701 S Broadway Ave from 12โ6pm. It's a soft opening of their brand new pottery studio where you can meet the team, tour the space, and get first dibs on classes and memberships. It's free!
Sunday, June 28
โMineral Identification is happening at the Idaho Museum of Mining and Geology from 1โ2pm. Bring in your rocks, minerals, fossils, or Native American artifacts and a professional geologist will help you identify them. Tix are $5.
โThe June Spelling Bee is happening at Boise Brewing from 5โ6pm. This month's theme is Juno, goddess of marriage, family, and motherhood, so expect words associated with all things family and matrimony. It's free!
โThe Boise Flea is happening at Boise State's East Stadium Lot from 10amโ4pm. It's a bonus pop-up of the beloved Boise Flea market, with tons of vendors and plenty of fun. It's free!
โPunk Flea Market is happening at Realms Arcade from 12โ5pm. It's an all-ages punk-adjacent flea market with vendors, plus an optional $10 unlimited arcade pass if you want to keep the fun going. It's free!
โDT Plays in Boise is happening at Oppenheimer Green Space from 10amโ1pm. It's a free yard game pop-up featuring cornhole, giant Jenga, hula hoops, and more, plus a Storytime with Rediscovered Books at 11am and a free Pilates class with Embody Pilates at noon. It's free!
โTrivia: The Finale of Pride Queernament is happening at Hap Hap Lounge from 6โ8pm. It's the grand finale of the month-long Pride trivia tournament, wrapping up a June of queer competition. It's free! 21+
โInternational Rosรฉ Day is happening at Veer Wine Project GC in Garden City from 1โ6pm. It's a celebration of all things pink wine with rosรฉ, frozen cocktails, and summer vibes on the patio.
Tuesday, June 30
โRed Wines for White Wine Lovers is happening at House of Wine from 6:30โ7:30pm. It's a guided tasting class with wine guide Michael exploring the progression and range of red wine styles โ perfect for white wine drinkers curious about making the jump. Tix are $45.
Wednesday, July 1
โVictory Street Eats is happening at Victory Gardens Nursery in Meridian from 5โ9pm. It's a weekly Wednesday food truck mini market featuring local food trucks, The Tipsy Trailer, live music, and local vendors. It's free!
New(ish) food spots worth checking out
โVessel Kitchen: A new spot in Eagle that just opened serving scratch-made plates, bowls, salads & tacos. Itโs healthy food served in a fast casual setting. They have kid-friendly options, too!
โSusina: A romantic prix-fixe European bistro on the Boise Bench from the team behind Wild Plum catering. Almost everything is made from scratch, from the pasta to the house-pickled olives. Open WedโSat by reservation, with patio snacks and drinks if you want something more casual.
โSidequest: Also on the Boise Bench, this cozy neighborhood spot from Wylder Hospitality Group (the folks behind Percy and The Wylder) serves housemade pasta and focaccia sandwiches. Counter seating is first-come, first-served โ perfect for a quick solo lunch or low-key dinner.
โHemlock: Downtown's newest steakhouse inside the Inn at 500 Capitol, from the same team behind Spitfire Tacos + Tequila. Think prime and Wagyu cuts, a tableside baked potato cart, creative cocktails, and a vibe that's upscale but not stuffy. Happy hour daily 3โ5pm.
โThe Boardwalk: Garden City's riverside complex just got a major refresh. The same crew behind Hemlock and Spitfire has taken over with four new concepts: Descanso (an outdoor Greenbelt bar for spritzes and cold drinks), Spitfire Tacos + Tequila (slow-roasted protein tacos), Ground Rules (a sports bar with pub fare), and Peregrine Overlook (a fifth-floor rooftop cocktail bar coming this summer).
credit Susina
SPONSORED BY CORPUS COMMONS
There's a Christmas party in Boise on July 1. Here's why it matters.
Corpus Commons is throwing a Christmas party this summer, and it's not just for the festive vibes. Christmas in July is happening Wednesday, July 1, and the whole point is this: our most vulnerable neighbors need support in July just as much as they do in December. So why wait?
The party is free, family-friendly, and pretty delightful. Come for the gingerbread decorating mini-challenge and mulled wine, stay for two big announcements: the launch of Friends of Corpus, Corpus's new monthly giving program, and the theme reveal for The Great Gingerbread Build, happening December 11-13.
Join Christmas in July on Wednesday, July 1 from 5-6:30pm at the Idaho Housing and Finance Association (565 W Myrtle St). Itโs free and thereโs free parking!
โMs. Holmes & Ms. Watson: Apt. 2B is running at the Idaho Shakespeare Festival Amphitheater, with shows at 8pm Thursday through Saturday and Tuesday, and 7:30pm Sunday. It's a fast-paced, modern reimagining of Sherlock Holmes with Sherlock and Joan Watson as quirky, codependent roommates turned crime-fighting duo. Tix start at $29.68.
Thursday, June 25
โRyan Taylor: Live Mediumship Experience is happening at The Comedy Lounge at 7pm. Psychic medium Ryan Taylor connects with passed loved ones to deliver messages from spirit in an evening of insight, healing, and closure. Tix are $35.
โPride Film Night: Desert Hearts is happening at The Flicks at 7pm. The 1985 queer classic gets a Pride month screening at Boise's beloved indie movie theater. Tix are $7.61 (donation).
Friday, June 26
โHear You Loud and Queer is happening at The Comedy Lounge at 7pm. Portland's premiere queer stand-up showcase comes to Boise for Pride month, headlined by Ally J Ward (Portland's Funniest Person 2025) with a lineup of queer, trans, and nonbinary comedians. Tix are $25.
โThe Secret Show is happening at Liquid Laughs Underground from 8โ10pm. It's a monthly comedy variety show hosted by Krystal Moore featuring a surprise lineup of comedy, drag, burlesque, improv, and more, plus anonymous audience secrets shared throughout the night. Tix are $23.
Saturday, June 27
โThe Teacher Show is happening at The Comedy Lounge at 6pm and 8:30pm. It's a NSFW stand-up showcase featuring real-life educators with an unfiltered take on classroom dynamics, created and hosted by Don Gavitte. Tix are from $30.23.
Tuesday, June 30
โThe Pretty Good Open Mic is happening at Ochos at 8pm (sign-ups at 7:30pm). It's a weekly stand-up open mic hosted by Max Knudson with a list capped at 15 comics. It's free!
Wednesday, July 1
โLaugh Your Tits Off is happening at Liquid Laughs Underground at 8pm. It's Boise's first queer and femme-focused comedy open mic, welcoming femme, nonbinary, and queer comedians and comedy lovers every Wednesday. It's free!
Tunes & shows
Thursday, June 25
โHillfolk Noir at Idaho Botanical Garden (folk/punk/bluegrass)