Christmas in the City takes place throughout downtown Boise starting with the Holiday Tree Lighting Celebration on Saturday, November 27th and wrapping up on Christmas Eve. It is a magical time in the urban heart of our city, a time of celebration, giving and community. See the window displays and decorations throughout downtown Boise and while you are there enjoy Boise's finest shopping, retail services and dining at over 250 locations. Explore downtown, visit Santa! Pick up your Christmas in the City information insert from the Boise Weekly on November 17th and December 8th...see schedule of events.
Idaho
Steelheads Hockey
Idaho
Stampede Basketball
Make
CenturyLink Arena your destination for fun this winter! Enjoy Idaho
Steelheads hockey and Idaho Stampede basketball downtown! Both teams
have put together a series of great promotions- from family ticket
packages to kids club nights to ladies night! Check out details and
game schedules at www.centurylinkarenaboise.com
Holiday Farmer’s
Market
Saturdays
November
5 - December 17, 10am–2pm
8th
Street from Bannock to Main, the Grove Plaza, and Idaho Street from
Capitol to 9th
Street.
This
is Boise’s most unique shopping experience! Featuring local
winter produce, fresh northwest cranberries, holiday wreaths and
floral arrangements, Idaho specialty foods & wines, handmade
cards, art, and so much more. Visit capitalcitypublicmarket.com
for more information.
Gingerbread Holiday
Village
Friday,
November 18,
6:00pm
BSU
Jordan Ballroom
A
dinner and gala event!
This is a fundraiser for the Family Advocate Program. Professional,
amateur and youth chefs create exquisite, themed, gingerbread houses
for our judges. The gingerbread houses, along with other items, are
auctioned off at our Gala Dinner.
The Family Advocate Program works to keep abused children out of
danger and in safe homes. www.familyadvocate.org
Boise Holiday Parade
Saturday, November 19, 9:45am
11th & Jefferson/ 4th Street/
Idaho Street.
The
Holiday Parade is a Boise tradition and a source of pride for our
community. Bring the family to this year’s parade to celebrate
An Outdoor Idaho Christmas with Grand Marshals the Zamzow family.
www.boiseholidayparade.org
Hymns of Thanksgiving
Sunday,
November 20,
7:30 pm
CenturyLink
Arena
A
community choir and orchestra of about 350 musicians have been
organized to present this event. Open seating, no tickets required.
Doors open at 6:30. Free to the public. Bring the entire family!
Guests are invited to make a monetary donation to the Idaho Foodbank
at the event. www.hymnsthanks.com
St. Alphonsus
Festival of Trees
November
23 - 27
Boise Centre
Festival
of Trees has become a favorite seasonal tradition for residents of
the Treasure Valley. During Thanksgiving week, Boise Centre becomes
home to a wonderland of holiday beauty that is enhanced by a series
of special events designed to please people of all ages. From
the black-tie Gala to Breakfast with Santa, there is something for
everyone to enjoy.
www.saintalphonsus.org
Trans-Siberian
Orchestra
Taco
Bell Arena
Wednesday, November 23, 4 & 8pm
Trans
Siberian Orchestra will rock your winter season, performing the
timeless classic “Christmas Eve and Other Stories” in its
entirety, followed by excerpts from the upcoming Rock Theater
installment “Gutter Ballet and The New York Blues Express”.
Don’t miss TSO’s unique combination of story-telling,
virtuoso musicianship and over the top production. tacobellarena.com
Turkey
Day 5K
Thursday,
November 24, 2011
6:30 to
7:30 a.m.--Race day registration, bib number and t-shirt pickup
8:00
a.m.--Turkey Day 5K start
There's
never been a better way to prep for your Thanksgiving dinner! Join
runners, joggers and walkers for a morning of fun along a scenic,
flat 5k course highlighting downtown Boise in a unique, unhurried
way. The Turkey Day 5K Boise starts on Main Street at Capital
Boulevard and follows a very flat course around downtown, finishing
on 8th
Street between Bannock and Idaho. Best Thanksgiving costume will win
a prize! www.turkeyday-5k.com
Idaho Foodbank- Empty
Bowls Event
Friday,
November 25,
11am-3pm
Grove
Plaza and
the Brick Oven Bistro
Throughout
the year the Idaho Foodbank collects handcrafted and
handpainted bowls from professional and amateur artisans,
students, and studios. The event offers participants the
opportunity to select a unique bowl from thousands and then enjoy a
hot bowl of soup generously donated by several of our finest local
restaurants. While guests enjoy their meal, they are encouraged
to remember that not all our Idaho neighbors are able to meet the
basic need of feeding their families, so financial support
from the event helps to provide free emergency food to those in
need. www.idahofoodbank.org
A
Candle in the Window
Boise
Little Theater
November
25, 26, December 2, 3, 9, 10, 16, 17 at 8pm,
December 1, 8 at
7:30pm, December 4 & 10 at 2pm
A
small group of weary travelers discover the power of the season while
trapped in a lonely train station on Christmas Eve. As a blizzard
rages outside, the troubled people are forced to turn to each other
for companionship. In this play we realize the mysterious stop in the
travelers' journey was more than accidental and has given them a
renewed spirit and resolve.
www.boiselittletheater.org
Zions Bank Holiday
Tree Lighting Celebration
Saturday,
November 26,
5pm-7pm
The Grove Plaza
Bring
your family to the event that lights up downtown and welcomes the
holiday season to Boise. The event includes the lighting of the
community Christmas tree, live music, caroling, candle lighting, and
food and beverages. www.downtownboise.org
City Santa
Saturdays
Nov. 26 – Dec. 17, 11am-4pm
First
Thursday Dec. 1, 5pm-8pm
DL
Evans Bank, 213 N 9th St
For
a small donation, children may tell Santa their Christmas wishes and
have their picture taken with Old St Nick! Proceeds benefit the
American Cancer Society, made possible by DL Evans Bank.
Giving
Tree to benefit the Women’s and Children’s Alliance
November
26–
December 16, All Hours
The
Grove Plaza
Take
a tag from the Giving Tree and support victims of domestic abuse and
sexual assault at the Women’s and Children’s Alliance
(WCA). Drop off NEW, UNWRAPPED gifts to the WCA (8-5pm, M-F) or to
the following Zion’s Bank branch locations: 890
Main St., Boise; 7402 W. Fairview Ave., Boise; 6176 N. Eagle Rd.,
Boise; 3715 E. Overland Rd., Meridian; 2121 W. Karcher Rd., Nampa;
and 509 S. Kimball Ave., Caldwell.
The WCA provides safety, healing, and freedom to women and children
escaping domestic abuse and sexual assault. Your donation will
provide hope– the most precious gift of all! www.wcaboise.org
Old
Boise N Scale- Model Railroaders and Santa
Saturdays
November 26– December 17, 10am-5pm Santa noon til 4pm
Old
Boise, Pioneer Building, 106 N 6th,
Mezzanine 1
Visit
the model railroaders exhibit, complete with numerous towns, villages
and trains! Santa Claus will be available for free polaroid
pictures with your child, (limited supplies, you are welcome to bring
your own camera) also Santa will be roaming the Old Boise 6th &
Main area, thanks to the generous support of the Old Boise
Merchants Association. www.oldboise.com
First Thursday
December
1,
5pm-9pm
Downtown Boise
Experience
Downtown Boise at it’s finest as retailers, galleries, and
restaurants entertain you with a variety of mini-events, including
the 5th Annual Winter Window Gallery! Stroll through downtown Boise
to admire the seasonal works of art on the windows of many different
businesses! Best of all– it’s free! Find a map &
listings of locations at www.downtownboise.org
Winter Window Gallery
Stroll
December
1-31,
All hours
Downtown Boise
This
Christmas as you stroll through the streets of downtown, you’ll
see much more in the storefront windows than just the latest
fashions. Local artists and businesses have teamed up to create
fantastic holiday window art for the 6th Annual Winter Window Gallery
Stroll, beginning on First Thursday, December 1st. The Winter Window
Gallery features the work of many local artists who have loaned their
creative talent to dress downtown Boise in holiday style.
www.downtownboise.org
for locations
Boise
Tuba Christmas
Saturday,
December 3
3:30pm—The
Grove
4:30pm—
State Capital Rotunda
Tuba
and baritone players known collectively as Boise Tuba Christmas will
once again serenade downtown Boise with traditional Christmas carols
such as Deck the Halls, It Came Upon a Midnight Clear, Silver Bells,
O Come All Ye Faithful, and Silent Night. Each concert site
will host a half-hour concert of over twenty carols. Members of
the ensemble include tuba players from local high schools, local band
directors, BSU students, and community members.
Great
Fruitcake Follies Baking Contest
Saturday,
December 3
The
Downtown Boise Association and Capital City Public Market invite you
to compete in the Great Fruitcake Follies Baking Contest! Not all
fruitcakes are created equal! Dig out your grandmother's
favorite recipe or create your own special recipe and bring your
best fruitcake to be judged by a panel of Market vendors. The
contest will take place on Saturday at the Market. Winners will
receive a Market shopping tote and Market $$'s. LONG LIVE THE
FRUITCAKE!!!! www.SeeYouAtTheMarket.com
Opera
Idaho Presents Amahl and the Night Visitors
Saturday,
December 3, 2:30 and 7:30pm
Sunday,
December 4, 2:30pm
The
Egyptian Theatre
Amahl
and the Night Visitors,
Menotti's classic holiday story of faith and miracles has been seen
by more people than any other opera in history. Following the
Bethlehem star, the Three Kings shelter at the home of Amahl, a
crippled young shepherd who lives with his widowed mother. Inspired
by their tale of a kingdom "built on love alone," the boy
offers his own gift to the Christ Child. And lo, a miracle occurs...
Boise
mezzo-soprano Tiffany Calás will once again star as Amahl’s
Mother. The matinee performances and a special family ticket price
are designed to make the short, one-act opera appeal to families with
children. Perfect
for the whole family! Tickets at the Egyptian Box Office.
www.operaidaho.org
Annual
Family Holiday Concert
Sunday,
December 4, 7:30pm – 9:30pm
Morrison
Center
The
Boise State University Music Department invites the community to
celebrate the season with this yearly tradition for music lovers in
the Treasure Valley. music.boisestate.edu
Ballet
Idaho,
The Nutcracker
Friday,
December 9, 8pm
Saturday, December 10, 2 & 8 pm
Sunday,
December 11, 2 pm
Special
Events Center
The
Ballet joins with the Boise Philharmonic and Opera Idaho’s
Children’s Chorus to present this community favorite, Ballet
Idaho’s annual production of The
Nutcracker.
Whether
it is a family tradition or a once-in-a-lifetime experience this
glittering classic ballet will stay with you forever and warm your
spirit. This dazzling production music by Tchaikovsky and
choreographed by Peter Anastos will transport you to a magical place.
The performance will feature beautiful and original scenery and
costumes with the cast of Ballet Idaho Company members and a large
and enthusiastic cast of children from throughout the Treasure
Valley. www.
balletidaho.org
Great
Fruitcake Follies Downtown Caroling Contest
Saturday,
December 10
The
Downtown Boise Association and Capital City Public Market invite you
to enjoy The 2nd Annual Great fruitcake Follies Downtown Caroling
Contest! The contest will take place on Saturday December 11th on the
Grove Plaza and 8th Street. Get your friends, classmates or office
mates together and join in the fun! Let's "Jingle the
Bells" and "Deck the Halls" and kick-off the Holiday
Season! Let the Merriment begin!
Treasure
Valley groups competing in the caroling contest will be judged by
community volunteers based on presentation, movement, and quality of
singing. www.SeeYouAtTheMarket.com
Free
Parking Day!
Saturday,
December 10th, 8am-5pm
Various Downtown lots
Just
in time to finish up that last-minute Christmas shopping! Thanks to
the generous holiday spirit of Capital City Development Corporation,
Republic Parking, The Car Park, and Diamond Parking Services, parking
will be F-R-E-E in many lots and structures across downtown. Also,
don’t forget that parking is always free on Saturdays in
metered parking spaces.
Handel's
Messiah
Saturday,
December 17th, 7:30pm
Sunday,
December 18, 2:00pm
Morrison
Center
Enjoy
this holiday tradition, performed by the Boise Philharmonic and Boise
Philharmonic Master Chorale. www.boisephilharmonic.org
A
Christmas Carol
Sunday,
December 18, 2 & 4pm
Morrison
Center
Be
a part of the action as you enter the backstage world of the Morrison
Center and take your seat on the stage. The
immortal classic story of redemption by Charles Dickens. Listen as
old miserly Ebeneezer Scrooge learns the lessons that could change
his life forever. He'll meet his past, present and future -- all in
one night! Part
of the Family Reading Series presented by Morrison Center Arts
Education.
Mannheim
Steamroller
Thursday,
December 22, 8pm
The
Morrison Center
Mannheim
Steamroller brings a family tradition to the Morrison Center in
Boise! Celebrate your holidays with Mannheim Steamroller, bringing
their beloved Christmas concert to Boise. Grammy Award® winner
and mastermind behind the group, Chip Davis will direct and
co-produce both the East Coast and West Coast tour ensembles of
Mannheim Steamroller. The shows will feature the favorite Christmas
music of Mannheim Steamroller along with state of the art multimedia
effects. mc.boisestate.edu
Miracle
on Idaho Street
Christmas
Day, 11am-3pm
Old
Chicago Restaurant, 730 W Idaho Street
For
the 8th year, over 1,000
of Boise’s homeless and displaced guests will arrive at Old
Chicago for a Christmas Day celebration. Each guest will receive a
warm welcome and an extraordinary dining experience, a finely dressed
table and a meal with all the trimmings. New gifts of warm clothing,
toys, books, school supplies, and blankets will be distributed, and
each guest will have the chance to enjoy a visit and picture on
Santa’s lap! For more information please call 363-0037.