Our family loves Christmas! However, we can’t always afford attractions, light displays, and other forms of holiday entertainment that cost money. This is now our second Christmas in Idaho, and we have taken every chance possible to get out and explore our new state in all seasons. As is the case for many others, the year 2020 has not been kind to us financially. But that life challenge hasn’t stopped us from hunting down many free Boise Christmas family attractions/activities perfect for this season of our lives.
Free Christmas Activities in the Boise Area
1. A Tuba Christmas at the Idaho State Capitol
Idaho boasts a beautiful state capitol anytime of the year–but especially at Christmas.
Families can tour the Idaho State Capitol in Boise for free with prior reservations (something I fully recommend). We took the engaging and educational tour last fall, where we learned of a yearly event called Tuba Christmas held in the capitol lobby the first Saturday in December.
Plan to arrive early
Word has gotten out about the yearly, approximately 45-minute concert, with attendance increasing greatly in the last few years. If you attend, be sure and arrive early–about an hour before the concert should get you a good viewing spot. I’m not sure if it took place in 2020 due to Covid-19 (the pictures are from 2019), but if not, hopefully it will be back on the calendar for 2021.
2. Christmas at Scentsy
Just a few miles outside Boise, in the suburb of Meridian, lies the corporate headquarters of Scentsy, the candle company. We appreciate their free outdoor decorations, including a Christmas tree with changing light color, a forest of purple trees, and a rainbow-colored light tunnel. While it certainly gets COLD after the sun goes down in Idaho, strolling through the festive displays is an easy way to create some lasting holiday memories with your kids.
3. The Village at Meridian
At any time of the year, The Village at Meridian is the place to be for great shopping, dining, and atmosphere. But at Christmastime, the whole plaza really steps up its game.
One of the best (free) features of The Village’s Christmas display is the choreographed dancing fountain show. Bring some hot chocolate or eggnog along and catch the show!
4. Indian Creek Plaza in Caldwell
Just wow on this one! If you don’t mind the cold (be sure to wear two pairs of socks!!), the Indian Creek Plaza display in Caldwell, about 30 minutes west of Boise, will be sure to add some magic and sparkle to your Christmas season. This is an especially good display to make an entire evening out of. To do it with friends is even better!
My toes just may have frozen solid during our evening there, but I’m happy to report they eventually thawed. It was a small price to pay to see the look of amazement on my kids’ faces.
The display is massive, spanning a few blocks at least. Although it’s hard to pick a favorite figure or vignette among the lights, the fire-breathing dragon was definitely the one that garnered our attention the most:
About every 15 minutes or so (I can’t recall the exact timing), the dragon’s neck will light up in a countdown…and then….
THAT got our attention, especially as we weren’t expecting it the first time it happened. Super fun surprise!
5. Guide to Your Neighborhood Christmas Lights
We love choreographed light displays and have driven or walked through a few ones we’ve paid for over the years. But if you can get the same, or nearly the same, for free–why not?
I was so happy to stumble on the Boise Christmas Lights website this year. Super helpful site! I want to know exactly where to go to find the best neighborhood displays. The site is well organized and thorough and takes all the guesswork out. A great feature of the map is that it displays yellow musical note icons for choreographed displays and green Christmas tree icons for static light ones. It will even us told us which display was the previous year’s favorite. And when we saw it for ourselves, we could see why.
Merry (Boise) Christmas to You!
In short, Boise is a GREAT town to celebrate Christmas in style. And I don’t feel I’ve shortchanged my kids at all with no real budget to spend on entertainment. FREE is always the best price, and it’s relatively easy, with a little planning, to find the perfect free Boise Christmas activities for you and yours this season.
What activities do you love to do with your family each year? We’d love to hear! Comment below and please pin/share this post!
Wow! This sounds and looks like so much fun! Love the this season! Merry Christmas!
What a wonderful list of free things to do. I am hoping to find a free Christmas light display somewhere this year.
Boise is so beautiful and what an amazing list of things to do to get the entire family in te holiday spirit and for free.. amazing!!
Such a helpful post! Great pics!!
I love learning about other traditions. We celebrate Hanukkah but traditions like this are always fun for the kids.
Happy Hanukkah to you! I have loved learning more about Hanukkah in years past with my kids.
That Christmas Light Tunnel is so cool! Great ideas.
I would love to see the fountain show! So many great ideas!!
The poinsettias at the Idaho state capital are just beautiful.
These activities sound great! Here in NM, we place luminaries around on Xmas eve, and it’s lovely to walk among them.
That tunnel though! Such beauty and wonder. This is a magical time, regardless of how hard things are. Merry Christmas!
Fun activities for the whole family!
Looks like there is so much to do! I love the light tunnels, and that fire breathing dragon! So cool!
So many great ways to celebrate the holiday in Boise. I would especially like to see the Tuba concert… sounds incredible.
I didn’t realize Scentsy was in Boise! We have tuba Christmas here too and I love it!
Now I want to visit Boise! Those lights are incredible! So beautiful!
The light tunnel looks so fun! And the concert would be great for my kids! Boise seems to have a lot to offer for Christmas!
The lights are magical. Looks like so much fun.
Looks like lots of quality family activities to share!
Love looking at Christmas light displays! The concert and the poinsettia Christmas tree look awesome! And the skating… my family would be all over that!
Girl there isn’t nothing wrong with saving those dollar bills for things we absolutely need and Christmas is a perk. Being with family and loved ones are where it’s at and taking your kids out doing this meant the world to them. I love the pivot moment you did to save money and you’re right. There is always something to do that is free in your town and doing it with family is where it is at. Good job! Thank you for sharing and I loved all the Christmas trees 🎄 they were so pretty 💯
Thank you for the encouragement! I totally agree–family is where it’s at. Higher-priced attractions don’t mean better memories for your kids. Absolutely!
Wow beautiful! I’m new to the city I just moved to the end of October. I’ll have to Google to see what’s available here in Wausau, WI
How gorgeous! That light tunnel looks amazing.
How fun! I love finding free and low cost alternatives to activities and you’ve nailed it. Here in Joplin MO we enjoy looking at lights and walking Christmas Trails and attending free concerts and events. This year has been different, with less offered because of COVID but I’ve still found plenty to do!
We live in Utah, so a Boise Christmas is not out of the question. Thank you for your ideas. They all look lovely.