10 things to do in Boise over Christmas break: comedy, concerts, lights — headbanging?

Got Uncle Rico staying with you over Christmas break? Need to escape the house? Or just hope to keep friends and family entertained? The Boise events calendar is teeming with things to do Dec. 23-30.

1. Have a naughty Christmas

It ain’t family-friendly. But it should be funny. The Xmas Sexual Extravaganza — Friday, Dec. 23, at the Lounge at the End of the Universe — is actually a concert. Local band The Guardians of Virginity, aka The GOV, will crank up original holiday songs about “relatable subjects like snowball fights, Santa enslaving elves, being sick of holiday food, and how sexy Christmas can be.” Hosted by J. Mantooth, the event also will include a Naughty or Nice Costume Contest with prizes from Adam & Eve. The debauchery unfurls at 9 p.m. at 2417 Bank Drive in Boise. Tickets are $10 at loungeboise.com, or at the door.

2. See some improv

Adult humor will fill the air during Improv Insanity on Friday, Dec. 30, at Watson’s Mystery Cafe and Spirits, 8001 W. Fairview Ave. Audience interaction is encouraged at this wild show, which starts at 8 p.m. (Doors at 7 p.m. and, nope, no minors allowed.) Tickets are $15 in advance at Eventbrite.com, or $20 at the door. Dinner options are available for purchase, too.

3. Do a concert

It’s not all Christmas carols when it comes to live music in the next week.

▪ Blues Addicts: 7 p.m. Friday, Dec. 23, Sapphire Room, The Riverside Hotel, 2900 W. Chinden Blvd., Boise. SOLD OUT.

▪ Marcus Eaton: 7 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 29, Sapphire Room, The Riverside Hotel, 2900 W. Chinden Blvd., Boise. $30-$35, eventbrite.com. The singer-guitarist and former Boise resident is back in town for an evening of original music.

▪ Local Nights at the Knit: Featuring Karin Comes Killing, Black Marrow, Final Underground and Ghostbox. 7 p.m. Friday, Dec. 30, Knitting Factory, 416 S. 9th St., Boise. $10-$15. Ticketmaster. If you love hard rock and heavy metal, prepare to headbang at this one.

▪ Emerald City Sound Machine — New Year’s Eve practice party: 7 p.m. Friday, Dec. 30, Sapphire Room, The Riverside Hotel, 2900 W. Chinden Blvd., Boise. $25 general, $30 preferred, eventbrite.com. Based in the Pacific Northwest, this high-energy cover band plays dance hits from the 1980s and 1990s. They’ll be there on actual New Year’s Eve, too, but tickets will be way spendier.

▪ One Night in Manchester feat. The Smites: A Smiths Experience with post-set UK Madchester dance party. 8 p.m. Friday, Dec. 30, Neurolux, 111 N. 11th St., Boise. $10. TicketWeb. $12 at the door. Love the Smiths? This Boise tribute band should be up your alley.

4. Go to a game

The Idaho Steelheads have a hockey game this weekend, but it’s sold out. And the Boise State men’s basketball team? They’re on the road next week. But the Broncos women’s hoops team will host San Diego State at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 29, at ExtraMile Arena. Tickets are $5-$20 at broncosports.com.

5. Hear a ‘Sight’

Story Story Night returns to action Tuesday, Dec. 27, at Jack’s Urban Meeting Place (JUMP), 1000 W. Myrtle St. The series is “ ‘Making Sense of it All,’ with true stories told onstage by the people who lived them” — focusing on “Sight” on this particular evening. Doors open at 6 p.m., music starts at 6:15 p.m., stories begin at 7 p.m. and go until 9 p.m. Tickets are $12 at eventbrite.com, or $15 at the door.

6. Ice skate

▪ The Village at Meridian’s ice skating rink is open — with afternoon and evening hours available most days through Jan. 16. 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: thevillageatmeridian.com.

▪ Are you in Canyon County? There’s an ice skating rink and ribbon every day this month at Indian Creek Plaza in Caldwell. Hours vary — so check the website — but 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.

7. Get aGlow

▪ An annual holiday tradition, Winter Garden aGlow runs Wednesday through Sunday starting Thanksgiving Day, lasting through New Year’s Eve. More than 600,000 lights are draped across the grounds of the Idaho Botanical Garden, 2355 N. Penitentiary Road, in Boise. Stroll garden paths and enjoy free cookies and hot cocoa, live holiday caroling, and nicely spaced burn barrels to toast your hands over. Additional food and drink is for sale, too. It opens at 6 p.m., and you must buy tickets in advance. Repeat: No tickets are sold at the gate. The last admission is at 9 p.m. (for 8:30 p.m. time-slot tickets; the garden closes at 9:30 p.m.). Cost? $18 general, $14 garden members and children 4-12, free for ages 3 and younger. Call (208) 343-8649 or purchase online: idahobotanicalgarden.org.

8. Visit Scentsy’s lights

Hundreds of thousands of lights decorate trees (including a 75-footer) and a 250-foot tunnel at the Scentsy Commons Holiday Lights, 2901 E. Pine Ave. in Meridian. It’s free and illuminated daily from sunset to sunrise on the Scentsy campus through Jan. 16. You don’t need a ticket; just come as you please.

9. Go cruisin’

Not loving the freezing temps? Then enjoy a lights tour with your car heater cranked. Christmas in Color, a drive-thru animated light show, has returned to Expo Idaho, 5610 N. Glenwood St., in Garden City. Here’s the sales pitch: “Drive through millions of lights perfectly synchronized to holiday music you’ll hear right through your radio. Drive by giant candy canes, snowmen, arched pathways and more. Take your time enjoying this lighting extravaganza — 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 (closed on Christmas Day) through Jan. 1. A general admission ticket is $35 per vehicle. Or you can drop $55 for VIP treatment, which includes skipping the general-admission line and receiving a “party pack” filled with 3D glasses, light-bulb necklaces and more. Purchase online at christmasincolor.net/boise. A portion of proceeds benefits the Make-A-Wish Foundation.

10. Ride a trolley

Check out holiday lights while cruising the city in a trolley, courtesy of Boise Trolley Tours. Seats are filling up fast, but evening tours run through Tuesday, Dec. 27 (except closed Christmas Day. Also, there’s a chance tours might run Dec. 28; check the website or phone closer to the date). They start at Evergreen Business Mall at Cole and Ustick roads. Tickets are $20 general, $12 children 3-12, $6 ages 2 and younger. Food and hot drinks are available. Call (208) 433-0849 for information, or check out boisetrolleytours.com.