5 Things to Do This Weekend: (Tipped over) Boise Tree Lighting, major rager in Garden City

1. (TIPPED OVER) TREE LIGHTING

You know Boise is a happenin’ place when the biggest news to rock the city is a Christmas tree falling over Downtown. (Kudos to Channel 7 for “standing by live at The Grove Plaza.”) Our beloved evergreen bit the bricks on Thanksgiving “due to unknown reasons,” according to the Downtown Boise Association. That answer lacks gravity, but fear not. Last week’s Boise Holiday Tree Lighting has been rescheduled. Hold a candle with your fellow Boiseans — including gracious Mayor David Bieter — at the rescheduled celebration from 6 to 6:30 p.m. Friday. It’s free, festive and everyone is welcome. (Yes, Virginia, there is life after that testy election.)

2. MAJOR RAGER

Speaking of toppling, Garden City likes to tip ... a glass. A whopping 14 breweries, cideries and wineries in GC will be connected by free shuttle transportation between noon and 6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Why? Because it’s Garden City Repeal Weekend, a celebration of Prohibition’s demise. Head down, grab a beer or wine at one of the venues, then hop a ride to the next spot and repeat. Shuttles will make stops every 20 minutes or so. Participants include Telaya Wine Co., Coiled Wines, Cinder Wines (closing at 5 p.m. Saturday), Bella Brewing, Split Rail Winery, Crooked Fence Brewing (closing at 4 p.m. Saturday), The Gulch Wine Room, Meriwether Cider Company, Barbarian Brewing, Potter Wines, Powderhaus Brewing Company, Par Terre Winery, County Line Brewing, Western Collective (Sunday only; holding its 1st Anniversary Party on Saturday), plus The Riverside Hotel, which is offering a special rate. See the event’s Facebook page for full details.

▪ Want a head start? Crash the Push & Pour Two Year Anniversary Party at 214 E. 34th St. in Garden City. From 6 to 10 p.m. Friday, the coffee shop will have have beer, wine, a food truck, new art, plus the release of an exclusive Pendleton Woolen Mills jacket — with free on-site chain stitching.

3. SEE SMOKIN’ GRASS

If you like bluegrass, you’re gonna love Friday and Saturday.

▪ Boise roots quartet Idyltime will celebrate the unleashing of its new album, “It’s Not Time,” by headlining Friday at Bluegrass and Birds: A Concert and Dance to Benefit the World Center for Birds of Prey. The event at the Mardi Gras Ballroom, 615 S. 9th St., begins with an “All About Owls Presentation” at 7 p.m. (including live owls; great for all ages). The Lonesome Jetboat Ramblers kick off music and dancing at 8 p.m., followed by Idyltime. Tickets are $10 adult, $5 youth, free for kids 4 and younger. Proceeds benefit the World Center for Birds of Prey.

▪ Ever witnessed Mumford & Sons’ evil twins? That’s the description applied — jokingly — to Canadian folk-bluegrass act The Dead South. The edgy group first gained fame with the video to its song “In Hell I’ll Be in Good Company,” which has nearly 162 million YouTube views. Stomp along to The Dead South at 7:30 p.m. Saturday at the Revolution Concert Center, 4983 N. Glenwood St. Tickets are $25 at Eventbrite. Danny Olliver opens.

4. CHOOSE BSU

▪ The Mountain West Conference football championship is here. After a disappointing result last year, Boise State (11-1, 8-0) will strive for a different outcome against Hawaii (9-4, 6-2) at 2 p.m. Saturday at Albertsons Stadium. (Finally! An early game!) There are still plenty of seats, sadly enough. Get ‘em at broncosports.com/tickets.

▪ Need more, Bronco Nation? Cruise across the parking lot after the football game. The Boise State Broncos men’s basketball team will attempt to dunk on Colorado State at 7 p.m. at ExtraMile Arena. Grab tickets at, yep, broncosports.com/tickets.

5. SKI BOGUS

Your friendly neighborhood mountain, Bogus Basin, opens seven days a week beginning Saturday. It’s limited to two lifts (Chair One and Coach) and the Nordic Center. Still, why not shred? Or want something less strenuous? The tubing hill also will be operating. And, unlike last weekend, the Glade Runner Mountain Coaster will be cranked up (11 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.). Heck, just go hang out in J.R. Simplot Lodge with a hot chocolate. P.S. The three-seat Morning Star lift is on schedule to be reopened as a high-speed quad later this month. (Pray for snow, bro!)

This story was originally published December 5, 2019 at 9:31 AM.