Every Friday through the summer, I am posting a roundup of weekend events happening in the Treasure Valley that are perfect for families. If there's an event I haven't listed, please feel free to post in the comments section below.
BOISE
Boise Hawks -- Friday-Sunday
Boise Hawks Baseball vs. Eugene Emeralds: 7:15 p.m. Aug. 12-14, Memorial Stadium, 5600 Glenwood St., Garden City. $6-$12. 322-5000, www.boisehawks.com.
EAGLE
Nightfire Nationals at Firebird Raceway -- Friday-Sunday
The Nightfire Nationals will celebrate its 40th year this weekend and the who’s who of drag racing will make their way to Firebird Raceway to tear up the track and vie for big bucks. You’ll see the reigning AA/Fuel Dragster champ, Utah’s Brett Harris, as well as former world champion AA/Funny Car racer Paul Romine and home-track Pro Modified racer Dennis Radford.
7 p.m. Aug. 12, 2 and 7 p.m. Aug. 13, 2 p.m. Aug. 14, Firebird Raceway, 8551 Idaho 16, Eagle. $5-$70. Family night is Aug. 12. Get discount coupons at Stinker Stores. All Les Schwab Tires have coupons good for Aug. 13 and 14. 938-8986, www.firebirdonline.com.
MERIDIAN
CableONE Movie Night in Meridian -- Friday
Grab your family and bring your lawn chairs and blankets for movie night at Settlers Park in Meridian. Tonight (Friday, August 12), enjoy 'Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga Hoole' on the huge inflatable movie screen. All movies start at dusk.
Gold’s Gym Sports, Fitness, Arts Festival -- Saturday
This event is divided up into “villages” and has something for everyone. In the Sports Village, players will compete for prizes in multiple sporting activities. The Fitness Village will host competitions and prizes, martial arts and more. The Art Fair Village will feature competitions and local arts and crafts booths. And finally, the Vendor Village will host area vendors and fair food. Go to www.meridianfestival.com for more information.
9 a.m. Aug. 13, Settlers Park, 3245 N. Meridian Road. Free for spectators; small fees for competitors.
NAMPA
Nampa Festival of the Arts -- Saturday-Sunday
Artisan booths, food, entertainment, children’s art booth. 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Aug. 13 and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Aug. 14, Lakeview Park, Garrity Boulevard and 16th Avenue North, Nampa. 468-5858, www.namparecreation.org. Free.
IDAHO CITY
Gold Discovery Days -- Friday-Sunday
Music, dancing, gold panning, tours. Aug. 12-14, Idaho City. (208) 866-8454.
NEW PLYMOUTH
Rodeo fun in Payette County -- Friday-Saturday
If you have ever wanted a good reason to visit the “World’s Largest Horseshoe,” here’s your chance. Take that 45-minute drive to the city of New Plymouth and party it up with the “Pilgrims” at the annual rodeo. There’ll be bull riding, bareback riding, open calf roping, wild cow milking and so much more. Go to www.payettecountyfair.org for more information.
8 p.m. Aug. 12-13, Payette County Fairgrounds, 310 E. Blvd., New Plymouth. $8 general, $5 children 6-12, free for ages 5 and younger.
GLENNS FERRY
Three Island Days -- Friday-Sunday
OK, so they no longer reenact the dangerous Snake River crossing that Oregon Trail pioneers would make at Glenns Ferry, but hey, it was dangerous. You can still celebrate Idaho’s pioneer spirit with gusto during Three Island Days with a host of events held at Three Island State Park, downtown Glenns Ferry and other venues. You’ll find a chili cook-off and street dance on Aug. 12; a parade, gold panning, pioneer games and more on Aug. 13 at the park; and a classic car show on Aug. 14. There will be lots of food, arts and crafts all weekend long.
Aug. 12-14, Glenns Ferry. ThreeIslandDays.org. Free.
IN THEATERS
THE HELP
Rating: PG-13 for thematic material.
What it’s about: The civil rights era as seen by black maids working for rich white people in 1960s Jackson, Miss.
The kid attractor factor: This subject is coming up in school this year, might as well see the movie before reading the book.
Good lessons/bad lessons: Ignorance and intolerance can be passed down, generation to generation.
Violence: Off-camera spousal abuse, old TV news coverage.
Language: A smattering of Old South profanity, racial epithets.
Sex: None.
Drugs: A drunk scene, cigarettes.
Parents’ advisory: Profanity and adult themes aside, this is a must-see for school-age children in need of a history lesson. OK for 12 and older.
-- Roger Moore, The Orlando Sentinel
FIND EVEN MORE THINGS TO DO
Find even more family-friendly events using our entertainment calendar here
SHARE WHAT YOU'RE DOING THIS WEEKEND
What are your plans? Are you going camping? Headed some place fun for vacation? We'd like to hear from you. Post your plans in the comments section below or on our Facebook page here.
