Boise Trick-or-Treat Guide
|
Happy Halloween week! If you’re wondering where to take the fam for the best trick-or-treating in Boise, we’ve got you covered. From the iconic houses on Harrison Boulevard to the quieter, candy-filled streets of the Bench, Sonya Feibert-Kuhn has rounded up the top neighborhoods for treats, costumes, and spooky fun around town. Have fun! Boise Trick-or-Treat GuideBy Sonya Feibert-Kuhn What was trick-or-treating like when you were a kid? I grew up in the country, so trick-or-treating always meant driving to a friend’s neighborhood to take part in the candy-fueled festivities. In college, my roommate and I dressed up as ninjas and walked around the neighborhood near our school. The neighbors were good sports about two college-age kids-at-heart taking part. I got a mini watercolor set from one house, and I was thrilled. As an adult, when I first saw Harrison Boulevard in late October, I was enchanted. I’d never experienced anything like it: houses decked out to the nines celebrating the full spectrum of the season, from The Shining to Dia de Los Muertos. It’s now an annual pilgrimage for me. Harrison is just the beginning of the Halloween fun. Here are 3 prime neighborhoods for trick-or-treating around Boise. North End: Harrison Boulevard & beyondWhen I asked my friend Anna R. where she loved trick-or-treating, she was quick to weigh in: “Harrison Boulevard!!! And the North End area in general. Absolute blast as a kid and young teen.” One of the first residential neighborhoods in Boise, Harrison has been a Halloween haven for at least the last 50 years (maybe more, according to Karen). On October 31st, Harrison — and its residents — are devoted to the thousands of trick-or-treaters who come their way. From about 2 p.m. to midnight, the road is closed to cars. Enjoy the epicness of it all, or, if it gets overwhelming, try heading a few blocks east or west of Harrison for a more relaxed North End trick-or-treating experience. What to expect: Long lines depending on when you go, amazing decorations, Harrison free of cars. Pro tip: Bike or carpool to get there. I like to walk along Harrison during the day around the week of Halloween to see all the decorations, minus the big crowds. Plus, as an easily spooked person, the spooky ones are a little less scary during the day :)​ East End: Warm Springs + The Old Pen​Warm Springs is like Harrison’s East End sibling, with all the old-Boise charm and potentially fewer crowds. As one Reddit contributor reported a year ago, “The Warm Springs area is a lot less crowded and reminded me of trick-or-treating when I was a kid.” Like Harrison, you can also wander further into the neighborhood and explore other streets. ​For teens and adults who want a different flavor of Halloween fun, The Old Idaho Penitentiary is hosting its annual Locktober festivities. That includes an all-ages Fright Night where different buildings of the penitentiary are transformed into haunted spaces. There’s also food, music, and tours of the historic prison cemetery. Recommended for ages 13+. I’ll say as someone who volunteered at this event and was too scared to go into any of the buildings after, it can get pretty spooky. Pro tip: Roosevelt Market (run by The Wylder) is open until 8pm. It's an excellent place to get a warm drink, an adult beverage, and dinner/snacks if you need something more than candy. Boise Bench: Kootenai & Randolph-Robertson​Kootenai, especially West Kootenai, is another lovely, walkable street with a relaxed yet festive vibe and plenty of trick-or-treating options around, including the areas around South Junior High and the Central Rim. North of Kootenai on Latah, Relyea Funeral Chapel is hosting their Haunted Hearse Trunk-or-Treat for the 4th year on October 22. If the many costumed folks walking up and down that part of Latah are any indication, it’s giving a RIPpin’ good time. While you’re in the area, visit the legendary Annual Zombie Haunted Toyland off of Vista. For another sweet Boise neighborhood, check out the Randolph-Robertson area. As a Reddit contributor said, “very classic 80’s movie trick-or-treating vibes.” It’s giving Stranger Things before the Upside Down. Pro tip: Try Push & Pour, The STIL, or Wyld Child for food and drinks. Winstead Park/ West Bench: Ustick + beyondNorth and south of Ustick, you’ll find some quieter streets and a more relaxed feel — yet still with plenty of tricks and treats. In previous years, a house at 6114 Lubkin Street has hosted a spooky selfie station. Another at 9550 Linfield Drive has a James Wan-inspired yard (the filmmaker behind the Saw movies, The Conjuring, and Insidious) with handmade props, animatronics, and backdrops. Pro tip: If I were trick-or-treating in this neighborhood, I would meet at Common Grounds before or after for a drink and snacks. Where are your favorite neighborhoods to go trick-or-treating in Boise? What did we nail? What did we miss? As always, staying in your neighborhood and trick-or-treating with neighbors and friends is an awesome bet. Above all, stay safe out there!​ Thanks for reading! Happy trick-or-treating! With love from Boise, Marissa This story was written by Sonya Feibert Kuhn, a writer, improviser, and performer in Boise. She's an avid Treeforter and an enthusiastic patron of and participant in the storytelling and comedy scenes. On sunny days, find her in the foothills hiking with her pup, Chloe, and partner, Mitch.
​ ​ |
​How locals find things to do in Boise
Join 23,000+ locals already reading 👇