Planning a holiday trip to Boise this year? Here’s a date-by-date guide to the biggest Christmas events in Boise and the Treasure Valley for 2026, plus tips and a home big enough for the whole family.
Boise Christmas events 2026: the calendar
November
- Nov 20–21: Wintry Market at Boise Centre West. A big holiday makers’ market for early gift shopping.
- Nov 25–29: Saint Alphonsus Festival of Trees at Boise Centre. Decorated trees, wreaths and family activities over Thanksgiving week. Confirm the final dates and hours on the Saint Alphonsus Foundation website.
- Nov 27 (expected): Downtown Boise Holiday Tree Lighting at The Grove Plaza. It’s traditionally held the day after Thanksgiving. Check the Downtown Boise Association for this year’s time.
- Nov 27–Dec 31: Winter Garden aGlow at the Idaho Botanical Garden, open Wednesday through Sunday evenings. Hundreds of thousands of lights and timed entry from about 6 to 9 p.m. Buy tickets ahead, because weekends sell out.
- Nov 28: Boise Holiday Parade, 10 a.m. in downtown Boise. It’s also Small Business Saturday downtown.
December
- Early December: Basque Christmas Market (Eguberriko Azoka) on the Basque Block. A free, uniquely Boise holiday tradition.
- All season: holiday lights around the valley. These include the free Scentsy Commons lights in Meridian, Winter Wonderland and ice skating at Indian Creek Plaza in Caldwell, and Christmas at the Village at Meridian.
- Dec 18–23: Ballet Idaho’s The Nutcracker at the Morrison Center. Performances sell out close to Christmas, so book early.
- Dec 19: final Capital City Public Market of the season, downtown on the Grove Plaza (9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.).
- Dec 31: Idaho Potato Drop at Cecil D. Andrus Park by the Capitol. It’s Boise’s New Year’s Eve party, with the glowing potato dropping at midnight.
Event dates and times can change, so double-check each organizer’s website before you go.
Snow days: Bogus Basin
Bogus Basin is targeting a late-November opening, so skiing, tubing and night skiing should be part of most holiday trips. See our Bogus Basin 2026–27 season guide for hours and tips.
Holiday trip tips
- Book lodging early. Christmas week and New Year’s Eve are among the busiest nights of the year in Boise.
- Get timed tickets ahead for Winter Garden aGlow and The Nutcracker.
- Dress warm. December evenings in Boise are often below freezing, so bring layers for lights and the parade.
- Plan a cozy night in. With a big group, a home-cooked holiday dinner is often easier than finding a restaurant table for 12.
Where to stay: one home for the whole family
Malibu Manor is a 5-bedroom home in Boise’s Warm Springs foothills that sleeps up to 16, with larger groups considered on request. It’s about 10 minutes from downtown, the Grove Plaza and the Idaho Botanical Garden.
- A full kitchen and a dining table for 16 for Christmas dinner together
- A game room with a retro arcade, foosball and a PS5 for the cousins
- A big deck with city and Table Rock views, plus a fire pit
- Laundry, fast Wi-Fi and parking for several cars
- Book direct and save about 10% compared to Airbnb
Check holiday dates and book direct. For more ideas, see our Christmas in Boise guide.