6 things to do in Boise over Christmas break: Comedy, ‘Hamilton,’ holiday lights tours

Need to keep friends and family entertained during holiday break? The Boise events calendar has plenty of things to do.

1. Comedy shows

Live music can be tough to find around Christmas. (By the way, The Blues Addicts show Dec. 26 at the Riverside Hotel’s Sapphire Room is sold out.) But plenty of live comedy is on tap at Watson’s Mystery Cafe & Spirits, 8001 W. Fairview Ave. in Boise.

▪ At 7 p.m. Dec. 27, Watson’s will host local stand-up comedians Emmanuel Christopher Michael Vera IV and Montana Burke, along with opening act Bree Jones. Tickets are $12 ($10 early-bird).

▪ At 7 p.m. Dec. 29, Watson’s will feature “A Classic Comedy Roast of Santa Claus.” Here’s the scoop: “Join classic Christmas characters, including Mrs. Claus, Rudolf, Ebenezer Scrooge, Krampus and more as they participate in a classic comedy roast led by none other than Santa’s own son (played by comedian Nate Ford).” Tickets are $25 ($20 early-bird). Online: watsonsmysterycafe.com.

2. Do ‘Hamilton’

There’s still time to see “Hamilton,” which is nearing the end of its three-week stay. The hugely popular musical runs through Dec. 26 at the Morrison Center, 2201 Cesar Chavez Lane at Boise State University. There’s even a show at 7 p.m. on Christmas Day, plus 1 and 7 p.m. shows on the final Sunday. Tickets are $59-$199 at Ticketmaster, with a limited number of premium seats starting at $299 for all shows.

3. Enjoy Winter Garden aGlow

▪ It’s an annual holiday tradition, and it is always breathtaking. More than a half-million lights are hung across the grounds of the Idaho Botanical Garden, 2355 N. Penitentiary Road, in Boise. There’s food and warm drinks for sale, live holiday caroling, a massive model train display and plenty of burn-barrel action.

Winter Garden aGlow runs Wednesdays through Sundays all the way through New Year’s Eve — but ticketing is being handled a bit differently than in past years. Limited one-hour time blocks are sold every 30 minutes from 6 to 9:30 p.m., and you have to buy tickets in advance. Repeat: No tickets are sold at the gate. The price is $15 general, $12 garden members and children 4-12, free for ages 3 and younger. You can call (208) 343-8649 or purchase online: idahobotanicalgarden.org.

▪ Bonus free light tour: A whopping 43 miles of lights decorate more than 450 trees — including a 75-footer — and a 250-foot light tunnel at the Scentsy Commons Holiday Lights, 2901 E. Pine Ave. in Meridian. It’s lit daily from sunset to sunrise on the Scentsy campus through Jan. 16.

4. Christmas in Color

▪ Are you a cold-weather wimp? Enjoy a lights tour from the comfort of your car. Christmas in Color, a drive-thru animated light show, is back at Expo Idaho, 5610 N. Glenwood St., Garden City. Here’s the scoop: “Drive through acres of more than 1.5 million lights perfectly synchronized to holiday music you’ll hear right through your radio. You’ll drive by giant candy canes, snowmen, arched pathways and more. It’s like being immersed in another world. In fact, we won’t judge you if you join the kids with your face pressed against the window.”

The show runs from 5:30 to 10 p.m. daily (except closed on Christmas Day) through Jan. 2. A general admission ticket is $35 per vehicle. Or you can drop $60 for VIP treatment, which includes skipping the general-admission line and receiving a “party pack” of diffraction glasses, light-bulb necklaces and more. Online: christmasincolor.net/boise.

5. Ice skating

▪ The Village at Meridian’s ice skating rink is open — with afternoon and evening hours available most days through Jan. 13. You need to make an advance reservation at The Village’s website. Time slots are booked in 30-minute increments. It costs $7 per adult, $5 per child 12 and younger. Prices include skate rental. You can even sign up for lessons from Fireworks Skating Academy. Online: villageatmeridian.com.

▪ Are you in Canyon County? There’s an ice skating rink and ribbon at Indian Creek Plaza in Caldwell. You can walk right up without a reservation. It costs $10 adult, $5 ages 5 and younger. Prices include skate rental. Online: indiancreekplaza.com/ice-skating.

6. Take a trolley tour

Check out holiday lights while cruising the city in a trolley, courtesy of Boise Trolley Tours. Seats are filling up fast, but evening holiday lights tours run through Dec. 28 (closed Christmas Day). They start at Evergreen Business Mall at Cole and Ustick roads. Tickets are $20 general, $12 children 3-12, $6 ages 2 and younger. Hot drinks are available. Call (208) 433-0849 for information, or check out boisetrolleytours.com.

This story was originally published December 21, 2021 at 4:00 AM.