Happy October! My favorite month of the whole year and this year is extra special. There’s 5 Fridays and Saturdays this month AND Daylight Savings is on November 1, meaning we get an hour of Halloween. How amazing is that?!
Here’s a bunch of fun things to put on your calendar:
October 3: Idaho Cider Fest
Idaho Cider Fest is happening on Bannock Street between 8th and 9th in downtown Boise from 12–6pm. It’s a block party with cideries from the Northwest, plus local beer, food, vendors, and yard games. You can pre-purchase a bundle of 8 tokens here. It’s free and open to all ages!
October 3: Meridian Oktoberfest
Meridian Oktoberfest is in downtown Meridian from 10am–9pm. The festival takes over the streets with German-inspired food, beer, live music, vendors, contests, and activities for kids. Admission is free!
October 3: See Spot Walk
See Spot Walk is happening at Julia Davis Park from 10am–12:30pm. It’s the Idaho Humane Society’s 34th annual dog walk: a one-mile stroll along the Greenbelt with hundreds of pups and their people, followed by a big pet party with dog contests, food trucks, vendors and the adorable Alumni Pet Parade. Every step helps fund care and shelter for more than 10,000 animals a year. Registration is $25-$75.
October 3: Dogtoberfest at Dogtopia
Dogtoberfest is happening in the Dogtopia parking lot (3203 W Chinden Blvd.) in Garden City from 3–7pm. It’s a fall afternoon for the whole family with food, beer and cider, local vendors, and a bounce house with a slide for the kids. It’s free!
October 3: Witches on the Water
Witches on the Water is starting at 12pm from Barber Park. It’s a spooky season river float where witches trade broomsticks for paddleboards. It’s free to join or watch from the Greenbelt!
October 3: Hay Day
Hay Day is a new fall festival celebrating Caldwell’s farming roots, with pumpkins, grapes, hops, antique tractors, hands-on activities, vendors, live music and country dancing. It’s happening at Indian Creek Plaza in Caldwell from 1–5pm and it’s free to attend.
October 3: Boise State vs. Utah State
Boise State vs. Utah State is going down at Albertsons Stadium in Boise, with kickoff at 5:30pm. It’s the Broncos’ first Pac-12 home game, so get there early to tailgate. Tix vary by seat.
October 4: YMCA Harrison Classic Kid’s Race
The YMCA Harrison Classic Kid’s Race is happening on Harrison Boulevard in Boise at 3pm. It’s an all-inclusive one-mile run/walk for kids, and every participant gets a shirt, a medal and a healthy snack. Registration is $30.
October 8: Witches’ Night Out
Witches’ Night Out is an annual event at The Village at Meridian happening from 6–9pm. The event raises money for Faces of Hope and has live music, vendors, raffles, and costume prizes for the best witches and warlocks. It’s free!
October 9: Dogtoberfest
Dogtoberfest at Indian Creek Plaza in Caldwell is happening from 5–9pm. It’s a dog-friendly Oktoberfest with seasonal beer, live music, a stein-holding competition, and the crowd-favorite Running of the Wieners dachshund race. It’s free!
October 9: Spooky Movie Night
Spooky Movie Night is happening at Bernie Fisher Park in Kuna at dusk. It’s a screening of The Nightmare Before Christmas, and a fun, family-friendly way to kick off Halloween season. It’s free! There’s food trucks there and you can bring snacks, blankets, and low back chairs.
October 14 – 15: Bluey’s Big Play
Bluey’s Big Play is coming to the Morrison Center. It’s the Heeler family live on stage with puppets and original music. Shows start at 6pm both nights. Tix vary by seat.
October 15 – 17: Music Theatre of Idaho presents The Addams Family
Music Theatre of Idaho is performing The Addams Family at the Nampa Civic Center. Shows are at 7:30pm Thursday and Friday, and 1:30pm and 7:30pm Saturday. It’s the musical comedy about Wednesday Addams falling for someone way more “normal” than her famously macabre family. Tix vary by seat.
October 16: Viva Nampa Festival
Viva Nampa Festival is happening in downtown Nampa from 6–10pm. It’s a festival celebrating the vibrant culture of our Latino and Hispanic communities. It’s put on with 208 Night Market and Downtown Nampa Association. There will be street food, artisan crafts, unique vendors, folklorico performances, drinks, and plenty of great food, and vibes. It’s free and open to all ages.
October 17: Fall Festival at The WaterShed
The WaterShed’s Fall Festival is happening at 11818 W Joplin Road in Boise from 10am–2pm. It’s a family morning of pumpkin decorating, fall art, exploring the exhibit hall and meeting live reptiles from Idaho Reptile Zoo. It’s free!
October 17: Freshies & Friends
Freshies & Friends is happening at Loose Screw Beer Co. in downtown Meridian. For one day, Loose Screw becomes a block party with 14+ Treasure Valley breweries pouring once-a-year fresh hop beers and some of their favorites, plus live music and food trucks. Parking is free. Tix are $35 for unlimited pours.
October 17: Behind the Scenes Tours at the Old Pen
Behind the Scenes Tours are happening at the Old Idaho Penitentiary in Boise. It runs 6–10pm with last admission at 9pm, and it’s your chance to explore buildings and cells that are normally off-limits, with guides stationed throughout to share stories. Tix are $15, and Idaho State Historical Society members get in free. Recommended for 13+.
October 22: Meridian Trunk or Treat
Meridian’s 12th annual Trunk or Treat is happening at Meridian City Hall Plaza from 6–9pm. It’s a giant Halloween party with more than 90 local businesses handing out candy, plus music, a dance floor and live performances. It’s free! A $1 donation per child to the Meridian Food Bank Backpack Program is encouraged.
October 23: YMCA Halloween Carnival
YMCA’s Halloween Carnival is happening at the Downtown Boise YMCA from 5–7pm. It’s a costume-friendly night of carnival games, treats, and Halloween activities. It’s free!
October 23 – 24: Idaho Steelheads Home Opener
The Idaho Steelheads are back at Idaho Central Arena in downtown Boise. The home opener is October 23 and 24, puck drops at 7:10pm both nights. Tix vary by seat.
October 24: YMCA Halloween Run
The YMCA Halloween Run is happening at Ann Morrison Park in Boise, with the Freaky 5K at 10am and the Monster Mile at 10:10am. It’s a costume fun run (neon and glow sticks encouraged!) with costume prizes, and a Micron Trunk or Treat follows the race. Tix are about $39 for the 5K and $34 for the Monster Mile.
October 24 – 25: Boo at the Zoo
Boo at the Zoo is happening at Zoo Boise from 10am–5pm both days, with last admission at 4pm. It’s a big family Halloween weekend with trick-or-treat stations, costume contests for all ages, face painting, vendors, photo ops, and Halloween treats for the animals. Regular zoo admission applies, and Zoo Boise members get in free.
October 24: JUMP-or-Treat
JUMP-or-Treat is happening at JUMP in downtown Boise from 5–8pm. It’s an “inflatable forest” of JUMP’s giant inflatables, with local nonprofits handing out treats and treasures along the way. It’s free!
October 29: Spooky Safari
Spooky Safari is happening at Zoo Boise from 6–8:30pm. It’s basically Halloween at the zoo for adults. Wear a costume and take a guided after-dark tour focused on the animals’ nighttime behaviors, with beer, cider and wine for purchase. Tix are $25 and registration is required. 21+
October 29: Downtown Nampa Trick-or-Treat
The 39th Annual Downtown Nampa Trick-or-Treat is going from 4–7pm. It’s a longtime tradition where thousands of costumed kids trick-or-treat at downtown businesses. It’s free!
October 30 – 31: Fright Nights at the Old Pen
Fright Nights is happening out at the Old Idaho Penitentiary from 7–11pm. It’s a one-of-a-kind Halloween party with music, photo ops, food trucks, drinks for purchase, spooky history performances, and the haunted Terror on Cell Block 4. You can also add a tour of the historic prison cemetery. Tix are $30. Friday is recommended for 13+ (under 18 with an adult), and Saturday is 18+ only.
October 31: Star Trunk or Treat
Star’s annual Trunk or Treat is happening at Riverhouse Pasture (960 S Main Street) in Star from 3–5pm. It’s a hometown Halloween afternoon with decorated trunks, a costume contest, bounce houses, kids activities and food trucks, wrapping up in time for neighborhood trick-or-treating. It’s free!
October 31: Boise State vs. Texas State
Boise State vs. Texas State is happening at Albertsons Stadium in Boise, with kickoff at 8pm. It’s the first time the Broncos have ever played Texas State. Tix vary by seat.
October 31: The Shrining
The Shrining is happening at Shrine Social Club in downtown Boise, with doors and music starting at 5pm. It’s Duck Club’s annual Halloween party, headlined by BIG SIS (a Liverpool sibling duo making cheeky, dance-y pop) and Stop Light Observations. Local favorites Moon Owl’s Mages, Deep Heaven, Lobo Lara, Brand New Companion and Degler round out the night. There’s food, flash tats, and more. Tix are $26.20. It’s open to all ages!
More things to do in October
Walk Harrison Blvd and the North End. It’s the classic Boise Halloween tradition!
Scarecrow Stroll at Idaho Botanical Garden is up from October 1 – November 2 from 9am–5pm every day. Scarecrows are made by local artists, schools and businesses, and you can vote for your favorite by QR code.
Take a Haunted Boise Trolley tour. Hop aboard the “fright train” for a 90-minute spooky ride around Boise, with a couple of stops along the way. This tends to sell out so book your seat asap. It’s recommended for ages 12 and up.
Visit a pumpkin patch – Lowe Family Farmstead, 10 Mile Farms, Shindig Farms, The Berry Ranch, Jordan’s Garden Center, Cherry Hill Farms, Wissel Farms, The Farm in Emmett, Lovely Hollow Farm, Pumpkin Palooza.
Visit a haunted house – Boise Bench Haunted Zombie Toyland, Haunted World, Requiem, Neider’s Nightmare Forest or take a lil road trip to the Haunted Mansions of Albion.
Watch a movie at Idaho Film Society. The October calendar is absolutely packed!
Thanks for reading!
With love from Boise,
Marissa
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