Big July calendar: Summer offers things to do after months of little to no activity
March got hit hard with the cancellation of events due to the coronavirus pandemic.
And the months to follow continued the trend — a bare calendar, with the exception of virtual activities. Previously announced events were marked as “postponed” or “rescheduled.”
But here we are about to head into July, and music and some other festivities are expected to trickle back onto the scene.
It’s not at all what it used to be, but that is to be expected. After all, public gatherings had to be completely restructured to follow guidelines for our safety.
Annual events will look a bit different this year.
For instance, some cities will opt to keep the tradition and have fireworks for their Fourth of July celebrations. Others will ax the show and replace with more virtual activities.
Speaking of virtual, that’s how Alive After Five is being experienced this year. But the Idaho Botanical Garden’s Great Garden Escape Concert Series will still be an in-person event with a limitation on guests per day.
So there will be some changes, but any start at returning to our dearly missed normal is uplifting.
And cancellations are still bound to happen, especially since Ada County has returned to Stage 3, so confirm the event is still happening before going out.
Stay safe and cheers!
Fourth of July
Plaza Palooza: Noon to 4 p.m. Saturday, July 4, Indian Creek Plaza, 120 S. Kimball Ave., Caldwell. Kid-focused celebration with waterslides, dunk tanks, slip n’ slides, splash pads and fountains, water games, plus a kids fair with vendors, cool drinks and frozen treats. Free. indiancreekplaza.com/plaza-palooza-kids-fair.
Caldwell 4th of July: Out of concern for the coronavirus spread among the community, the 4th of July Parade, Memorial Park events, music and kids’ activities have been canceled this year. There will be fireworks at dusk, however, on Saturday, July 4, Memorial Park, 618 Irving St. The park will be open so place chairs and blankets at 6-foot increments, or watch from home or another area conducive to social distancing.
Lakeside Liberty Fest: McCall’s Fourth of July celebration in the mountain destination will not include fireworks this year due to crowd health and safety concerns. Instead, the community is planning several new events that include a drive-in concert with Jeff Crosby, drive-in movies, a patriotic boat brigade, a light-up caravan and more for the holiday weekend. Check mccall.id.us/lakeside-liberty-fest-2020 for updates.
Concert Series
Alive After Five Virtual Concert Series: Alive After Five merchandise, beer, wine and water will be available for purchase to-go on The Grove Plaza starting at 4:30 p.m., with the concerts kicking off at 6 p.m. on facebook.com/DowntownBoiseAssociation and facebook.com/aliveafterfiveboise each Wednesday. Plans for the remainder of the 34th season (through August) will be virtual for now, but is being reassessed on a weekly basis. downtownboise.org. July’s bands so far:
▪ July 1: Red Light Challenge, opener The Phets
▪ July 8: The Broadcast, opener The Hollowed Collective
Great Garden Escape Concert Series: 6 to 9 p.m. Thursdays, July 2 through Sept. 3, Idaho Botanical Garden, 2355 N. Penitentiary Road, Boise. Bring low-back chairs or blanket. Picnic baskets are welcome or purchase from on-site vendors. $15 in advance or at the gate, $12 IBG and AARP members. In order to responsibly hold this event, there will be a limited number of tickets being offered to each concert. 208-343-8649, idahobotanicalgarden.org. July’s bands:
▪ July 2: The Soulmates
▪ July 9: Delvon Lamar Organ Trio
▪ July 16: Hillfolk Noir
▪ July 23: Lounge on Fire
▪ July 30: Joshy Soul
Tuesdays on the Creek Concert Series: 6 to 9 p.m. Tuesdays, through Oct. 13, Indian Creek Plaza, 120 S. Kimball Ave., Caldwell. indiancreekplaza.com. July’s bands:
▪ July 7: SKAR
▪ July 14: The Velvet Hour
▪ July 21: Dodgy Mountain Men
▪ July 28: Free Peoples
Blues on Indian Creek: 7 to 11 p.m. Friday-Saturday, July 31-Aug. 1, with gospel brunch from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 2, Indian Creek Plaza, 120 S. Kimball Ave., Caldwell. Featuring local, regional, and national blues artists. Benefits the Brad Carrow Scholarship Fund and the SK8 Ribbon Coalition. indiancreekplaza.com/blues-on-indian-creek.
Festivals/Fairs
Eagle Fun Days: Virtual activities plus modified in-person events, including a drive-in fireworks show (Friday, July 10, Eagle Island State Park) and a revamped Eagle Fun Days Market downtown called “Eat. Shop. Eagle” (Saturday, July 11), where the vendor list is Eagle businesses and people are encouraged to shop locally. Virtual events include: #FunDaysFillUp Challenge, backyard float competition, Eagle Fun Day Run, custom car show. Updates and more info: cityofeagle.org/498/Virtual-Eagle-Fun-Days.
Ketchum Arts Festival: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday-Saturday, July 10-11, and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, July 12, Festival Meadow, Sun Valley Road. Features approx. 90 Idaho artists. Free. 208-720-5425, ketchumartsfestival.com.
Sun Valley Museum of Art Virtual Wine Auction: Bid on curated wine lots, special travel experiences, and Vintner Dinners July 15-17 at sunvalleywineauction.org. Raise funds for arts education in Blaine County.
Estate Sale: 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Fridays-Saturdays, July 24-25 and 31-Aug. 1, 484 Eastland Avenue South, Twin Falls. Fundraiser for Idaho Educational Services for the Deaf and the Blind (IESDB). facebook.com/iesdbfoundation.
Literary Arts
Bloom : A Summer Reading Series: Partnering with the folks behind Storyfort to bring a safely-distanced reading series that reflects an array of themes from fiction writers, poets, creative nonfiction writers, more. Bring low-back chairs or blanket. Picnic baskets welcome or purchase from on-site vendors. Meditation Garden, Idaho Botanical Garden, 2355 N. Penitentiary Road, Boise. Attendance will be capped at 100. Tuesdays: $10 general, $7 IBG members. Saturdays: $8 general, $6 seniors, $5 youth 4-12, free for ages 3 and younger and members. idahobotanicalgarden.org/event/bloom.
▪ July 11: 12:30 to 2 p.m., Leta Marie Harris Neustaedter, Hannah Rodabaugh, Joplin Morgan
▪ July 14: 5:30 to 7 p.m., Jodeen Revere, Daphne Stanford
▪ July 25: 12:30 to 2 p.m., Grace Ward, Susan Bruns Rowe, Ben Chappel
▪ July 28: 5:30 to 7 p.m., Shriram Sivaramakrishnan, Amy Pence-Brown
Farmers Markets
Boise Farmers Market Mobile Market: Mondays-Wednesdays, through Sept. 2, 13 neighborhood locations. Full schedule of stops at theboisefarmersmarket.com/mobile-market.
Farm to Fork Farmers Market: 5 to 8 p.m. Tuesdays, through Oct. 13, Indian Creek Plaza, 120 S. Kimball Ave., Caldwell. indiancreekplaza.com/farm-to-fork-farmers-market-1.
Summertime Farmer’s Market: 2 to 6:30 p.m. Wednesdays, through Sept. 30, Chateau des Fleurs, 176 S. Rosebud Lane, Eagle. 208-939-7700, Facebook.
Boise Farmers Market Drive-Thru: Customers will place their orders online by 11:30 p.m. Wednesday, choose a pick-up time through the Eventbrite ticket system and arrive at the appointed time at the market at 1500 Shoreline Drive. Orders will be delivered to their car. Pickup times offered every 15 minutes between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. Saturdays, through October. There are 25 slots for every 15-minute period. Go to theboisefarmersmarket.com/bfmdrivethru.
Meridian Main Street Market: 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturdays, through Oct. 17, Meridian City Hall Plaza, 33 E. Broadway Ave. 208-918-3480, meridianmainstreetmarket.com.
Nampa Farmers Market: 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturdays, through Oct. 31, Lloyd Square Park, 13th and Front streets. 208-412-3814, nampafarmersmarket.com.
Daily Calendar
July 10
United Street Rods of Idaho/National Street Rod Assn. Cruise Night: 5 to 9 p.m. Friday, July 10, Westside Drive In, 1113 E. ParkCenter Blvd., Boise. In celebration of National Collector Car Appreciation Day. All special interest cars welcome. Free. 208-571-6210, usri.org.
July 11
Idaho Baby and Tot Expo: 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, July 11, Galaxy Event Center at Wahooz, 1385 S. Blue Marlin Lane, Meridian. Vendors, exhibits, free seminars and demonstrations, more. Free. idahobaby.com.
Ryan Stevenson: 7 p.m. Saturday, July 11, Vertical Church, 2620 N. 36th St., Boise. $15-$30. ticketstripe.com/RS-BoiseTour2020.
July 16
Downtown Get Down: 6 to 9 p.m. Thursday, July 16, Indian Creek Plaza, 120 S. Kimball Ave., Caldwell. This month’s family-friendly evening is water-focused with splash pads, water slides, squirt guns. Free. indiancreekplaza.com.
July 18
Classic “Car-B-Q”: 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, July 18, Mountain Village Resort, 3 Eva Falls Ave., Stanley. Motor show event with beer, food and music. Free registration and admission. mountainvillage.com/classiccarbq.
Mid-Summer Vintage Market: 5 to 8 p.m. Saturday, July 18, Indian Creek Plaza, 120 S. Kimball Ave., Caldwell. Jewelry, gifts, antiques, home goods, as well as wine and food trucks. Free. indiancreekplaza.com.
Strangelove: 8 p.m. Saturday, July 18, Revolution Center, 4983 N. Glenwood St., Garden City. $10-$35. eventbrite.com.
July 24
Wild West Auction for Kids: Tune in at 6 p.m. Friday, July 24, for a live broadcast featuring auctioneer Larry Flynn and KTVB’s Mark Johnson. Bid on more than 300 auction items, give through sponsor-a-kid during the virtual paddle raise, have a chance to participate in giveaways for prizes, more. Fundraiser for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Ada County. Register early for the online auction (July 15-24) and have a chance to win a $100 WinCo gift card. Register at wildwest.afrogs.org/#/index.
Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons: 8 p.m. Friday, July 24, Morrison Center, 2201 Cesar Chavez Lane, Boise. $52.50-$158.50. Ticketmaster, 208-426-1110.
July 25
Experience Idaho Expo: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, July 25, Expo Idaho, 5610 N. Glenwood St., Garden City. Features ideas for summer recreation, entertainment, outdoor activities and home projects. Shop local goods including, Idaho apparel, arts and crafts, food and everything in between. $5. 208-376-0464, experienceidahoexpo.com.
Family Fun Pet Expo: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, July 25, Expo Idaho, 5610 N. Glenwood St., Garden City. Local and national pet industry resources, products, services, rescue and on-site adoption groups. Also, special appearances by nationally recognized animal expert, biologist, and television personality, Corbin Maxey (11 a.m. and 2 p.m.). $5. 208-376-0464, idahopetexpo.com.
Bruce Campbell: 7:30 p.m. Saturday, July 25, Revolution Center, 4983 N. Glenwood St., Garden City. “Evil Dead” showing and Q&A. $25-$65; $75 meet and greet w/photo. eventbrite.com.
July 30
Shane Smith & The Saints: 8 p.m. Thursday, July 30, Knitting Factory, 416 S. 9th St., Boise. $20 general ($22 door), $45-$60 reserved. TicketWeb, 866-468-7624.