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City Cast Boise

Summer’s finally here. Here's how to make the most of it.

We’re kicking off the first astronomical weekend of summer with the final edition of our Summer Entertainment Guide. Here’s what we’ve put together already:

live music venues and shows to look forward to

, depending on what you’re looking for.

Today, we’re focusing on Boise traditions: summer events you should do at least once, and possibly every summer after.

🎭 Pull up a chair or a blanket for an 

 play. “As You Like It” is running now, “Sense and Sensibility” opens July 7, “Natasha, Pierre, and the Great Comet of 1812” starts on Aug. 4, and “Dracula: The Bloody Truth” closes the season in September.

🕺 Why not pick up or sharpen your dance skills this summer? 

, but summer is unofficially dance season, in my opinion, so there’s no better time.

🎸 Every Wednesday, you can catch free live music in The Grove Plaza during 

📽️ Idaho’s dearth of drive-in movies is somewhat remedied in the summer with 

✍️ There are still spots left in some of 

, and there are lots of different camps and age levels to select from.

 is a free batch of shows designed to be just around the corner, so check which one is closest to you — they run every other week.

🌭 I can’t guarantee that a baseball crowd will be entirely PG, but going to a 

 game at least once a summer is a must. And it’s super cheap!

⛰️ For an arts-and-craft fix (with food and music, of course), head up to the 

🍧 Another good family-friendly pick is spending the 

. Don’t expect to have much space to yourself in town, but the festivities are worth it.

That’s all for our recommendations — now what have you got? Any summer traditions I missed that I should share? Send them my way.

Boise's Can't-Miss Summer Traditions and Activities

Summer Guide

We’re celebrating summer with a series of guides over the next few weeks that will help you make the most of the season. First up, it’s our live music edition, showcasing the venues and concert series that you can keep coming back to for a good time all summer long.

 of 10 shows starts in a few weeks with Kelsea Ballerini on June 28. You won’t find a live music event that screams “summer” more than a show at the Outlaw Field — it’s gorgeous and fun, but you might get a little warm, so come prepared.

Not only is the Idaho Botanical Garden home to an incredible lineup of summer shows at Outlaw Field, but they also hold weekly 

 shows. If you haven’t been, it’s truly a joy: you can get a charcuterie board, some drinks, bring a blanket or lawn chair, and just relax surrounded by the greenery. Those shows actually start next Thursday!

 (which claims to be “Idaho’s largest electronic music and arts festival”) is taking over Horseshoe Bend with dozens of artists, accompanied by food vendors, workshops, and art installations.

This isn’t much of a surprise, but if you get an itch on any given day to see some live music, the 

 is your best bet. They’ve got several shows a week, ranging in genre, venue, and price. Plus, when wildfire smoke season rolls around and the temperatures are in the triple digits, Duck Club will have plenty of air-conditioned shows to go to.

Speaking of indoor shows, our biggest venues, from the 

 on the Boise State campus, have a slew of concerts lined up this summer.

 has returned to downtown Boise for the 36th year! It’s at the Grove Plaza, it’s free, and full of local talent.

 — every Sunday and Thursday, KIN Boise hosts musicians out on their patio, so you can feel tucked away in the heart of downtown while enjoying some of the city’s best food.

 is a summer series of weekly shows (featuring some local talent) at the Indian Creek Plaza. Plus, it’s free!

These are the Boise-area venues and concert series that you can keep coming back to for a good time all summer long.

Summer Guide

Boise's Can't-Miss Summer Traditions and Activities

Where to See Live Music in Boise This Summer