5 things to do this ‘packed’ Boise weekend: Scenic new concert spot; food, comedy fests
Need some entertainment in the Boise area?
You’re in luck. This weekend is packed. Here are some of the notable events on the calendar from Friday, May 20, through Sunday, May 22.
1. Do a concert
OK, if you don’t already have tickets, you’re actually out of luck. But a new outdoor music venue overlooking Boise will make its public debut Saturday. Country-rock band Reckless Kelly will headline a sold-out party at Performance Park, located outside Hayden Beverage Co., 2910 E. Amity Road.
Tylor & The Train Robbers and the Jeff Crosby Band will open. Music starts at 5 p.m. and will end by 9:30 p.m. The plan is for this to be the only concert there this summer, according to the promoter. Reckless Kelly multi-instrumentalist Cody Braun describes Performance Park as “a gorgeous spot.”
Other live music:
▪ The Marcus King Band: 8 p.m. Friday, Knitting Factory, 416 S. 9th St., Opening: Hannah Wicklund. Sold out.
▪ Kurt Vile and The Violators: 8 p.m. Saturday, Knitting Factory, 416 S. 9th St., Boise. $27.50. Ticketmaster.
▪ 311: 8 p.m. Saturday, Revolution Center, 4983 N. Glenwood St., Garden City. $39.50 general ($45 door), $79.50 VIP. Ticketmaster.
▪ Pedro the Lion: 8:30 p.m. Sunday, Neurolux, 111 N. 11th St., Boise. $18. TicketWeb. $20 at the door. Opening: Charlotte Cornfield.
2. Eat, eat, eat
The Southern Idaho Food Truck Association will line up “the Treasure Valley’s favorite food trucks” from 4 to 8 p.m. Saturday for Feastival at Memorial Stadium, 5600 N. Glenwood St. It will be a family-friendly hangout zone with live music, inflatable rides and games like cornhole — but also beer and wine action. You have to pay to enter: $12 with a drink voucher, $7 without. Or it’s free for kids 12 and younger. You save $2 per ticket if you buy online before the day of the event.
3. Have a laugh
A crowd of stand-up comedians will compete for the title of Idaho’s Best Comedian on Friday and Saturday at Visual Arts Collective, 3638 Osage St., Garden City. “With Liquid Laughs closed as a comedy club and local comics having less opportunity, I am doing this to give new comics something to work toward and old comics something to come back out for,” organizer Beth Norton explained in an email. “... I was awarded a grant from the Idaho Commission on the Arts to help make all this happen!”
The event — which starts Thursday — essentially is a miniature comedy festival with prizes and bragging rights on the line. Tickets are $20 advance for Friday ($25 a the door), $25 advance for Saturday ($30 door), at eventbrite.com. More details: idahosbestcomedian.com.
▪ Wanna rock and laugh at the same time? Check out the U.S. Air Guitar regional championships at 5 p.m. Saturday at The Shredder, 430 S. 10th St. It’s $10 to watch, $15 to compete, at eventbrite.com. This is an all-ages show, but you have to be 18 or older to strap on an imaginary ax and hit the stage.
4. Enjoy the Bard
Tickets are pretty scarce this weekend, but it’s definitely worth mentioning that Idaho Shakespeare Festival kicks off its season with “Much Ado About Nothing.” You can check on ticket availability for Friday, Saturday and Sunday shows at idahoshakespeare.org. Or call the box office at (208) 336-9221. Otherwise, there’s lots more “great theater in the great outdoors” later this spring and summer.
5. Watch indoor football
The Idaho Horsemen are smacking pads again — this time against the Oregon High Desert Storm — at 7 p.m. Saturday at the Ford Idaho Center in Nampa. Last week, the Horsemen (4-2) took out Wenatchee 36-26 — and are now on a three-game winning streak. Tickets are $12-$35 at fordidahocenter.com.
This story was originally published May 19, 2022 at 11:06 AM.