Boo, Boise! October brings Halloween events, concerts and laughs — and a sheep parade?
Whoa, October is here!
Crazy.
Have you started thinking about a Halloween costume yet? Better start if you want to win that $1,000 grand prize. Yep, there’s much cash to be won at the Halloween Bar Crawl on Oct. 29, which features a costume contest, bar hopping with drink and food specials, after-parties, photographers and more. Check-in is at 4 p.m. at the Cactus Bar and two drinks or shot are included with the ticket price.
Of course, you don’t have to buy a crawl ticket to enjoy yourself downtown, but you will pay individual cover charges for a majority of the bars, most likely.
If the downtown scene is not really your thing, you can always stir up enough courage to venture through The Haunted World. The spooky attraction will be open every night, except Sundays, through Halloween day.
For a less-scary, family-friendly option, JUMP will be transformed into a Wacky World of Wonder for the JUMP or Treat event on Oct. 22. Costumed kiddos can enjoy inflatables and treats as they explore the park. The Lowe Family Farmstead is also open Mondays through Saturdays, through Oct. 29, where families can enjoy a corn maze, pumpkin patch, a variety of games, food, animals and more.
Halloween aside, you might enjoy leaving the Treasure Valley for some beautiful scenery at the annual Trailing of the Sheep Festival on Oct. 5-9 in the Sun Valley area.
Or stick around for a concert or two — country artist Thomas Rhett (Oct. 6, Ford Idaho Center), In This Moment (Oct. 7, Revolution Center), The Quebe Sisters (Oct. 14, Cinder Winery).
Just want some laughs? Catch David Spade at the Morrison Center on Oct. 14.
Note: Check with event websites or social media before attending. Events might be canceled or postponed after press deadline because of the pandemic, or might have new rules in place regarding masks and proof of vaccination.
Halloween
The Haunted World: Dusk to 10 p.m. Mondays-Thursdays and dusk to midnight Fridays-Saturdays, through Oct. 31, Northside Boulevard and Idaho 20/26, four miles north of the Nampa sugar factory. Features a 35-acre outdoor haunt and a hostel asylum gone wrong (Skullvania). $29 general, $34 for fast-track pass (shorter wait time), $50 skip-the-line pass, free for ages 5 and younger, at the gate or hauntedworld.org.
JUMP or Treat: 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 22, JUMP, 1000 W. Myrtle St., Boise. The JUMP Park will be transformed into a Wacky World of Wonder with inflatables, backdrops, and decorations. Ghosts and goblins of all ages are encouraged to dress up in costumes while exploring the JUMP Park and receiving treats and treasures along the way. Free. jumpboise.org/jump-or-treat.
Freaky Fest 5 feat. Benny Benassi: 8 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 27, Revolution Center, 4983 N. Glenwood St., Garden City. $30 first 100 tickets sold, $35 after ($40 door), $65 VIP, $100 meet-and-greet. Ticketmaster.
Halloween Bar Crawl: 4 p.m. to midnight Saturday, Oct. 29, Downtown Boise. Check-in from 4 to 6 p.m. at Cactus Bar, 517 W. Main St. Costume contest ($1,000 grand prize), two drinks or shots included with ticket, drink and food specials, waived cover at venues, photographers, after-parties, custom Halloween badge with vouchers. $15 per person, $10 group tickets. eventbrite. Ticket prices increase after Oct. 1.
Festivals
Lowe Family Farmstead: 4 to 9 p.m. Mondays-Thursdays and 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Fridays-Saturdays, through Oct. 29, 2500 S. Eagle Road, Kuna. Corn maze, pumpkin patch, hayrides, u-pick flower field, food, potato sack slide, games, pig races, cow train, more. $20.99 Friday-Saturday, $15.99 Monday-Thursday. Free for ages 3 and younger. 208-922-5678, lowefamilyfarmstead.com.
Trailing of the Sheep Festival: Wednesday-Sunday, Oct. 5-9, Sun Valley area. Nonstop activities in multiple venues — history, folk arts, a Sheep Folklife Fair, lamb culinary offerings, a Wool Festival with classes and workshops, music, dance, storytelling, championship sheepdog trials, and the Big Sheep Parade (Oct. 9) with 1,500 sheep hoofing it down Main Street in Ketchum. trailingofthesheep.org.
Performance Arts
Idaho Dance Theatre “Taking Flight: A New Generation”: 7:30 p.m. Thursday-Saturday, Oct. 27-29, and 2 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 30, Special Events Center, Boise State University. $25 general, $35 premiere, $15 students, seniors, military, and for preview performance Oct. 27. idahodancetheatre.org/box-office.
Spectator Sports
Boise State Broncos football: Albertsons Stadium, 1400 Bronco Lane, Boise. $60-$84 general, $40-$55 junior. Group discounts available. 208-426-4737, broncosports.com.
▪ vs. Fresno State: 7:45 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 8.
▪ vs. Colorado State: Saturday, Oct. 29.
Farmers Markets
Boise Farmers Market: 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturdays, through Oct. 29, 1500 Shoreline Drive, Boise. theboisefarmersmarket.com.
▪ Drive-thru option: Shop the online store from 7 a.m. Tuesday to 11 p.m. Wednesday, then pick up the order on Saturday during a chosen pickup time window (between 8:30 and 10:30 a.m.) at 1500 Shoreline Drive. theboisefarmersmarket.com/bfmdrivethru.
Nampa Farmers Market: 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturdays, through Oct. 29, Lloyd Square Park, 13th and Front streets. 208-412-3814, nampafarmersmarket.com.
Capital City Public Market: 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Saturdays, through Dec. 17, The Grove Plaza at 8th and Main streets, Boise. capitalcitypublicmarket.com.
Meridian Main Street Market: 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturdays, through Oct. 15, Meridian City Hall Plaza, 33 E. Broadway Ave. 208-918-3480, meridianmainstreetmarket.com.
Emmett Farmers Market: 3 to 6 p.m. Wednesdays and 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturdays, through Oct. 29, Blaser Park, N. Washington Avenue and W. Park Street, Emmett. 208-550-4459, emmettfarmersmarket.com.
Oct. 1
Boise Basin Quilters’ Treasures of the Valley Quilt Show: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 1, Expo Idaho, 5610 N. Glenwood St., Garden City. Professionally judged quilt show with hundreds of traditional, modern, and art quilts, as well as exhibits and shopping. $10 for one day, $15 for two-day pass (Sept. 30-Oct. 1), at the door. Free for children 6 and younger. boisebasinquilters.org.
Life’s Kitchen Sparkling Wine Spectacular: 6 to 9 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 1, 8574 W. Fairview Ave., Boise. Oktoberfest-themed menu, beer and wine, Fund-A-Scholar paddle raise, live auction items and a dessert auction with items prepared by Life’s Kitchen trainees. $100. lksws.afrogs.org/#/index.
Summer Concert Series w/Candlebox, The Glorious Sons, Aryon: 7 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 1, Expo Idaho, 5610 N. Glenwood St., Garden City. $45. idahoconcertseries.com.
Oct. 2
A Mad Music Weekend: Continues 5 to 9 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 2, Mad Swede Brew Hall, 816 W. Bannock St., Boise. Features The Kitchen Syncopation, Tuc DeCroy, Kid Catapult, Sef Idle, more. $20 advance, $25 at the door. eventbrite.com.
Oct. 3
Chvrches: 8 p.m. Monday, Oct. 3, Knitting Factory, 416 S. 9th St., Boise. $35 general ($37 door), $85-$95 reserved balcony. Ticketmaster.
Oct. 5
Nurse Blake: 7 and 9:45 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 5, Knitting Factory, 416 S. 9th St., Boise. $29.50-$60. Ticketmaster.
Gary Clark Jr.: 8 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 5, Revolution Center, 4983 N. Glenwood St., Garden City. $49.50 general, $99.50 VIP. Ticketmaster.
Oct. 6
Thomas Rhett: 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 6, Ford Idaho Center, 16200 N. Idaho Center Blvd., Nampa. $30-$109.75 fordidahocenter.com.
Oct. 7
In This Moment: 6 p.m. Friday, Oct. 7, Revolution Center, 4983 N. Glenwood St., Garden City. $39.50 general ($45 door), $79.50 VIP. Ticketmaster. Special guests: Nothing More, Sleep Token, Cherry Bombs.
La Dispute: 8 p.m. Friday, Oct. 7, Knitting Factory, 416 S. 9th St., Boise. $25 general, $50-$60 reserved balcony. Ticketmaster. Special guests: Sweetpill, Pictoria Vark.
Oct. 8
The Big Race at Tamarack: Saturday, Oct. 8, 311 Village Drive. Features 5k and 10k trail runs and a vertical trail run, or the Big Vertical Challenge. Fundraiser for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Southwest Idaho (BBBS) to benefit youth mentorship in Idaho. Sign up at runsignup.com/Race/ID/Tamarack/TheBigRaceatTamarack and select the event you’d like to participate in. For more information on how to get involved, email info@bbbsidaho.org or call BBBS at 208-377-2552.
Idaho Senior Lifestyle Expo: 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Oct. 8, Expo Idaho, 5610 N. Glenwood St., Garden City. Educational seminars, products, services, and activities for the 50+ age community. Free health screenings and the Saint Alphonsus Mobile Mammography unit will be on site. Free. IdahoSeniorExpo.com.
Boise Phil ”Musical Gems”: 1 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 8, Morrison Center, 2201 Cesar Chavez Lane, Boise. Internationally renowned violinist Timothy Chooi joins the Boise Phil for Mozart’s sunny Violin Concerto No. 3 and the orchestra performs Mozart’s Overture from Don Giovanni and Tchaikovsky’s “Pathétique” Symphony No. 6. $31.93-$96.59. Students w/ID are half off in advance or $15 at the door. 208-344-7849, boisephil.org.
Clutch: 7 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 8, Knitting Factory, 416 S. 9th St., Boise. $38.50. Ticketmaster. Special guests: Quicksand, Helmet.
Oct. 9
La Invasion Tour: 3:30 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 9, Memorial Stadium, 5600 N. Glenwood St., Garden City. Headlined by Banda El Recodo and Gerardo Ortiz, with Banda Los Recoditos, Banda Los Sebastian’s, Julio Preciado, and others. $70 general, $780 VIP table (include four admission tickets), at the Memorial Stadium Box Office or boisehawks.com.
Stars of Steinway w/Frederic Chiu: Classical Smackdown “Debussy vs. Prokofiev.” 4 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 9, First Presbyterian Church, 950 W. State St., Boise. $15 suggested donation at the door. starsofsteinway.com.
Oct. 12
Jimmy Buffett and The Coral Reefer Band: 8 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 12, Ford Idaho Center, 16200 N. Idaho Center Blvd., Nampa. $54.50-$154.50. fordidahocenter.com. Canceled.
Oct. 13
Vir Das: 7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 13, Egyptian Theatre, 700 W. Main St., Boise. $39.50-$89.50. egyptiantheatre.net.
Oct. 14
The Quebe Sisters: 7:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 14, Cinder Winery, 107 E. 44th St., Garden City. $25-$65. Brown Paper Tickets. Special guests: Andy Byron, Steve Baker.
David Spade: 8 p.m. Friday, Oct. 14, Morrison Center, 2201 Cesar Chavez Lane, Boise. $45-$65. Ticketmaster.
Oct. 15
Hoptober Freshtival: Noon Saturday, Oct. 15, Boise Brewing, 521 W. Broad St. More than 70 fresh hop and seasonal beers from 35-plus local to regional craft breweries. Also, music, festival games, bicycle races. $40 for stainless steel cup plus 10 tokens, $20 for cup plus 5 tokens. boisebrewing.com/hoptober-freshtival.
Oct. 19
A Chefs’ Affaire: 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 19, Boise Centre, 850 W. Front St. Appetizers, wine tastings, dinner, silent and live auctions. Fundraiser for The Idaho Foodbank. $150 per person. Sponsorships available. Ticket sales end at 10 p.m. Oct. 7. idahofoodbank.org/event/a-chefs-affaire.
Oct. 20
Nick Swardson: 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 20, Revolution Center, 4983 N. Glenwood St., Garden City. $35-$45. Ticketmaster.
Oct. 23
Black Lips: 8 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 23, The Olympic, 1009 W. Main St., Boise. $20. TicketWeb. $22 day of show. Special guests: The Soft Palms.
Oct. 25
Petty Fever: 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 25, Nampa Civic Center, 311 3rd St. S., Nampa. Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers tribute.$27, $32 and $37 (VIP). ICTickets.
Rare Americans: 8 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 25, 9th Street Parallel, Knitting Factory, 416 S. 9th St., Boise. $15. TicketWeb. $20 day of show.
Oct. 26
Ned Evett: 7 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 26, Sapphire Room, The Riverside Hotel, 2900 W. Chinden Blvd., Boise. $35 general, $40 preferred. eventbrite.com. Special guests: Noble Holt and Captain Snafu with Todd Chavez on drums.
Oct. 27
CoComelon Live JJ’s Journey: 6 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 27, Ford Idaho Center, 16200 N. Idaho Center Blvd., Nampa. $30-$75. fordidahocenter.com.
Oct. 28
“Apoca-Lips”: 8:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 28, Visual Arts Collective, 3638 Osage St., Garden City. Presented by LipsInc!, Idaho’s professional drag troupe. $20 at visualartscollective.com.
This story was originally published September 30, 2022 at 4:00 AM.