I don’t mean to scare you, but somehow it’s October. So this month, find a little balance between the busy times, Halloween, and cozy autumn vibes Boise brings.
Take a Breather Outside
Here at City Cast Boise, we advocate for fall camping and day trips to see beyond our front doors. Idaho may mostly turn into a vast array of browns in the fall, but you just need to watch a cool, clear sunrise on the Foothills to understand why fall is so beautiful here.
I’ve got a guide for getting outdoors in the autumn, to which I need to add a hot springs trip and the World Center for Birds of Prey fall flights, which are at 11 a.m. Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays.
Once you’ve taken a nature reset, it’s time to lean into the rest of the fall festivities.
Bare Your Teeth For Halloween
October 31 falls on a Friday, so let’s all drink electrolytes and buckle up for a rowdy Halloweekend, whether you’re participating or not. Luckily, Halloween in Boise has a little of everything.
There’s a whole website (which looks pretty comprehensive to me) for the haunted house lovers. And if you’ve been pondering a trip to the Haunted Mansions of Albion, I can vouch as a former Magic Valley kid that they’re worth it. But they used to be scarier.
For something less scary, try the Idaho Botanical Garden’s Scarecrow Stroll. For something kid-friendly but definitely very haunted, the Old Idaho Penitentiary’s Fright Night on Friday, Oct. 24 still has tickets available for $30.
And for the weekend of Halloween itself, the Shrining will descend once again on the Shrine for essentially a “mini music festival,” according to From Boise’s Marissa Lovell.
For a cozy dinner, make sure to hit Bar Gernika at least once this fall. (Blake Hunter / City Cast Boise)
Coat Check and Catch a Show
Live theater is back and movie season is picking up, so it’s time to make your shortlist of things you want to watch this year. Boise Contemporary Theater’s season is up and running, with other live theater on the way. The Morrison Center’s Broadway in Boise season kicks off this month, with symphonic and other performances in between.
On the big screen, any movie theater will of course suffice, but we’re entering the best time of year to visit the Flicks (perfect your popcorn order now for Christmas). The Idaho Film Society has a full schedule of intimate screenings, and the Egyptian Theatre is playing a ton of movies right now as well, which is a babysitter’s salvation.
Rounding Out the Month
There’s always something happening in Boise that doesn’t fit into a neat category, which is a blessing. Here are a few other October happenings to keep on your radar:
- Build up to the November election! Local races don’t seem to be exactly buzzing yet, so per usual the races could be closely decided. There’s one related event that I’m keeping an eye on: An Idaho Banned Books Week Community Read-In on Oct. 6.
- Downtown restaurants will get to let loose for Taste of Downtown, the final full week of October.
- Finally, fall sports are heating up at every level! The Boise State football team has home games on the 11th and 18th of this month, so join in on the blue or at the very least, be prepared for traffic on Broadway Avenue!
