Bands? Food trucks? New festival-style ‘social hub’ to open on Boise Greenbelt
When Boiseans head to the city’s familiar food truck area soon along the Greenbelt, some might be in for a surprise.
What they won’t find? Green Acres Food Truck Park. It will be relocated a short walk east when it opens May 1.
What they will find? An ambitious new concept in its former spot.
Bluebird Social is taking over the grounds at 14th Street and Shoreline Drive. Describing itself as “Boise’s new riverside gathering place,” Bluebird will be part food park and part music venue — with the goal of providing a do-it-all entertainment destination for the city.
“We’re really excited,” said CEO Jaxson Power-Thornton, 26. “For us, this is like a really cool playground to build out what we think Boise’s missing, which is a really great outdoor social club where people can congregate.”
Along with creative director Lyelca Rodrigues, 31, he envisions a variety of diversions six days a week — almost always free. Live music will be a focus. At least two food trucks are planned, along with an old trolley that will serve grab-and-go meals and drinks, including alcoholic beverages.
“We’re going to have a full festival-type stage and sound system,” Power-Thornton said. ”We’re building out some decks and some bars ... trying to do our best to make it feel a bit like a boutique festival ground — where people can just show up and know that you’re going to have a great time no matter what we have going on.”
The possibilities are nearly endless, he said, whether it’s a massive screen showing Boise State football games and World Cup soccer, or a venue offering dance lessons, dating events or chess-club meetups.
Power-Thornton comes from an event-producing family. He works for TAG Presents, which was founded by his dad, Paul Thornton, its CEO. Thornton also co-founded now-defunct Bravo Entertainment, which dramatically impacted Boise’s concert scene in the 1990s and early 2000s.
“Our expertise really lies in how we activate spaces,” Power-Thornton said.
Bluebird Social — the name is a nod to Idaho’s state bird — is on track to debut in early June. The plan is to operate Tuesdays through Sundays, April through October, serving lunch and dinner. And although most entertainment will be free, there will be exceptions.
“We definitely hope to do big events and block parties, and the occasional bigger-ticket touring act,” he said. “But alongside that we want to do as much local music as often as we can.
“If we’re selling a ticket,” he added, “it’s gonna be something pretty damn cool.”
The ultimate hope? That Bluebird Social is a joint effort.
“We really want the community to come and get involved and help us build this thing. Any artists that are out there, whether it’s music or food or visual arts ... We want you to come to our website and reach out to us. We want to be your platform and your logistical support to help make it happen and put it out to Boise.”
This story was originally published April 24, 2026 at 1:58 PM.