Holidays in the City: Winter Windows, Shop Small Saturday, City Santa, & First Thursday Usher in the Holiday Season as Boise’s Holiday Tree Brightens Our Downtown
Boise, November 11, 2022 – Celebrate the holidays in Downtown Boise with free, family friendly events! The season kicks off with a spectacular Holiday Tree Lighting the evening of Friday, November 25 in The Grove Plaza. Adorned with more than 5,000 lights and a custom-made tree topper, City of Boise Mayor Lauren McLean will light the tree during a candlelit celebration presented by Boise Cascade.
Special guests including representatives from our veteran and immigrant communities and Women’s and Children’s Alliance will join the Mayor onstage throughout the Lighting. The holiday tree is designated as the City’s ‘Giving Tree’ surrounded with over 4,000 gift tags supporting the families of Women’s and Children’s Alliance and is sponsored by Boise Cascade, Fred Astaire Dance Studios, City of Boise, and the members and merchants of Downtown Boise Association.
Downtown Boise will be glittering with holiday warmth and decorated with brightly lit wreaths, almost 350 streetlights wrapped with lights, and 12 intersections glittering with snowflake swags made possible by Downtown Boise Association (DBA).
About the Tree: This year’s tree was donated by Stuart Robinson of Boise. The tree was originally planted in the front yard of the Robinson family’s Boise home over 20 years ago. Mr. Robinson needed to remove the tree and opted to graciously donate it to serve as the Holiday Tree for the City of Boise. The tree will be cut and transported to The Grove Plaza the morning of Monday, November 14th.
He shared that “My dad was in the Air Force, so I had lived in many places growing up. In 1954, we officially made Boise our home and about 24 years ago I planted this tree in our front yard. I have watched, read, and participated in the annual Downtown Boise tradition every year, so I am happy and excited to donate this tree for the holiday season.”
Approximately 5,000 lights will make the 35-foot Colorado Blue Spruce sparkle for the holidays in the heart of the city, Downtown Boise on The Grove Plaza.
Families are invited to gather for a free candlelit tree lighting event:
When: Friday, November 25
Time: 5:00pm – 6:00pm
Where: The Grove Plaza, Downtown Boise
Entertainment provided by Fred Astaire Dance Studio and Boise Women’s Chorus & Boise Gay Men’s Chorus.
‘Giving Tree’ in Support of Women’s and Children’s Alliance (WCA)
The Grove Plaza, Downtown Boise
Gift tags in support of the Women’s and Children’s Alliance adorn the garland that surrounds the tree and will be available for the public to choose from beginning Monday, November 28th through Friday, December 16th. Items can be dropped off at WCA at 720 W Washington St, Monday through Friday, 12pm to 4pm. The Giving Tree partnership between WCA and DBA is a long-standing tradition in Downtown Boise, over 4,000 tags were distributed in 2021 supporting families in our community with wish list items identified by WCA.
Winter Windows
Friday, November 25th through December 2022
Throughout Downtown Boise
This year’s Winter Windows are a fun, free way to get in the holiday spirit and view the creativity of our local businesses and local artists. The community can stroll through town, taking in the holiday displays of participating businesses, and vote on favorites using the QR codes found on posters in windows. Voting ends Sunday, December 18th, winning displays receive bragging rights and social media glory!
Small Business Saturday
Saturday, November 27th, 2022
Throughout Downtown Boise
Shop small and local this holiday season! Rediscovered Books owner Laura DeLaney says, “Shopping local lifts up everyone, keeps our town unique, and above all it makes our community stronger.” Participating businesses in Downtown Boise, which holds the largest concentration of independent businesses in the State of Idaho, will host specials, promotions, and pop-ups. Businesses will also be stamping Shopping Passports – available at participating businesses or available to download at downtownboise.org. When shoppers complete the passport by visiting a minimum of eight Downtown Boise participating shops and return it to Rediscovered Books downtown location by closing time on November 27th, 2022, they will be entered to win one of three $100 Downtown Boise Gift Cards. Social posts are encouraged to highlight your favorite small businesses and should include #shopsmallboise.
City Santa
First Thursday, December 1, 2022, 5-8pm
Saturday, December 3 from 10am-2pm
Saturday, December 10 from 10am-2pm
Saturday, December 17 from 10am-2pm
D.L. Evans Downtown Boise Branch, 890 Main Street
City Santa arrives in Downtown Boise and ho-ho-ho’s his way into D.L. Evans Bank starting the evening of December’s First Thursday. Santa is free to visit, bring your wish list and camera or phone to grab a magical photo with the jolliest of elves. This event supports the Women’s and Children’s Alliance. Donations are welcome and appreciated.
December First Thursday
Thursday, December 1, 2022, 5-9pm
Throughout Downtown Boise
Businesses in Downtown Boise are ready to welcome the public for shopping and holiday spirit as they gear up for visitors looking for a unique gift or experience. Visit individual business listings at the First Thursday page on downtownboise.org to see what warm and bright offerings are inviting you into the heart of our city. Discover something new, visit an old favorite, or stroll through town and catch carolers in the act as Downtown Boise celebrates our community. Boise Women’s Chorus & Boise Gay Men’s Chorus will be out making the evening extra cheerful, and City Santa arrives in Downtown Boise this evening.
Downtown Boise’s Holidays in the City is made possible with the help from our partners and sponsors, including Boise Cascade, D.L. Evans Bank, City of Boise Mayor’s Office, Boise City Forestry, Fred Astaire Dance Studios, Women’s and Children’s Alliance, Quality Electric, Rediscovered Bookshop, Idaho Small Business Development Center, Buy Idaho, Small Business Administration, American Express, the members and merchants of the Downtown Boise Association, and Downtown Boise Foundation. More information can be found at downtownboise.org. Follow Downtown Boise on Facebook and Instagram for the latest updates.
For a calendar of all the free, family-friendly Holidays in the City events in Downtown Boise this season, go to downtownboise.org.
