2026 Treasure Valley Holiday Guide: Christmas Lights, Markets & Events

The holiday calendar fills up fast around here. One minute you’re making Thanksgiving plans, and the next you’re trying to fit in Christmas lights, a holiday market, a parade, and that one event you meant to buy tickets for three weeks ago.

I pulled together this Treasure Valley holiday guide so you can keep the dates in one place and actually make plans. These are the events from my holiday Instagram roundup, with more details to help you decide where to go, what needs a ticket, and which outings you can do for free. From Boise and Meridian to Nampa and Caldwell, there’s plenty to put on the calendar before December gets away from us!

Your holiday calendar at a glance

CBH HomeFest

If you love seeing how other people decorate for Christmas, put CBH HomeFest on your list. There are 15 fully furnished model homes to tour across four Treasure Valley communities, each decorated with its own holiday theme. It’s a chance to collect decorating ideas, take holiday photos, and work a few festive stops into your weekend.

The free activities vary by location and date, so check the schedule before picking a community. Holiday photo sessions require a reservation, and CBH offers both a printed photo and a digital copy.

• When: Scheduled festivities November 6–December 12, 2026.
• Where: Participating CBH communities in Meridian, Nampa, and Caldwell.
• Cost: Free admission; reserve holiday photos ahead of time.
• Plan your visit: CBH HomeFest homes, calendar, and photo reservations.

Wintry Market

This is a good place to start when you want gifts that feel a little more personal. Wintry Market brings regional artists and makers to downtown Boise for handmade art, jewelry, gifts, and original goods. Give yourself time to browse instead of trying to squeeze it into a quick stop.

Friday’s ticket includes both days, which is helpful if you want to look around one evening and come back for the thing you’re still thinking about. Enter through Boise Centre’s front doors facing the fountain on The Grove Plaza. Food and drinks are available inside.

• When: Friday, November 20, 4pm-9pm; Saturday, November 21, 9am-5pm.
• Where: Boise Centre West, 850 W. Front Street, Boise.
• Cost: $10 Friday, valid both days; $5 Saturday. Ages 12 and under are free.
• Tickets and details: Wintry Market.

Indian Creek Winter Wonderland Festival

Caldwell deserves a spot on your holiday calendar. The opening weekend of Winter Wonderland brings the lights, Santa visits, holiday vendors, and festive activities together downtown. Walk along Indian Creek, browse the market, and leave time for a meal or a treat while you’re there.

The festival weekend and the seasonal lights are different things: November 20–22 is the opening celebration, so those are the dates to choose for the extra activities. Viewing the lights is free, while ice skating requires a separate purchase.

• When: November 20–22. Festival activities run 6pm-9pm; the market opens at 6pm Friday and 3pm Saturday and Sunday.
• Where: Indian Creek Plaza and downtown Caldwell.
• Cost: Free festival admission; skating, shopping, and food cost extra.
• Schedule and skating information: Indian Creek Winter Wonderland Festival.

Saint Alphonsus Festival of Trees

Festival of Trees is a classic Thanksgiving-week outing, especially when you want something indoors. Boise Centre fills with decorated trees and holiday displays, with Santa visits and an interactive LEGO display on the event schedule. It’s also a fundraiser supporting Saint Alphonsus.

One detail to catch before making plans: November 24 is the separately ticketed gala. Public admission begins November 25, and Thanksgiving Day has shorter hours. The festival is cashless this year, so bring a card or contactless payment.

• When: Public admission November 25–29; check the daily schedule for hours and Santa visits.
• Where: Boise Centre, 850 W. Front Street, Boise.
• Cost: $16 adults; $11 children ages 3–12, seniors 65+, and military. Ages 2 and under are free. Senior admission is $5 on November 25.
• Tickets and daily schedule: Festival of Trees.

Boise Turkey Day 5K, plus the Caldwell race

For the families who start Thanksgiving with a walk or run, Turkey Day 5K has options in both Boise and Caldwell. You can get outside together before the cooking, hosting, and full afternoon of eating begins. Both races start at 9am, so choose the location that works best for your crew.

Register for the correct city and check its packet pickup instructions. Boise’s organizer recommends collecting your packet before race morning because same-day pickup is limited.

• When: Thursday, November 26, at 9am.
• Where: Cecil D. Andrus Park in Boise, or Memorial Park in Caldwell.
• Cost: Paid registration; current rates are available through the registration links.
• Register: Boise Turkey Day 5K or Caldwell Turkey Day 5K.

Downtown Boise Holiday Tree Lighting

The Grove Plaza’s tree lighting is an easy way to make an evening downtown feel festive without buying an event ticket. There’s live music, a candle-lighting ceremony, and the countdown to lighting the holiday tree. Make dinner plans nearby and give yourself time to get into the plaza before it starts.

The tree also doubles as the Giving Tree benefiting the Women’s and Children’s Alliance. You can take a gift tag and donate a new, unwrapped item from a local family’s wish list. The evening also launches the Holidays on the Grove vendor sheds.

• When: Friday, November 27, 5pm-6pm.
• Where: The Grove Plaza, downtown Boise.
• Cost: Free and open to all ages.
• Event details: Downtown Boise Holiday Tree Lighting.

Winter Garden aGlow

For a holiday evening spent walking through the lights, Winter Garden aGlow belongs on the list. The Idaho Botanical Garden turns its grounds into a glowing outdoor display, with festive treats and special offerings on select nights. Bundle up properly for this one, especially your feet.

Choose your date before buying tickets. Hours vary, some dates are closed, and Santa visits and other extras are scheduled on specific nights. Select Wednesday and Sunday discount nights can also make a difference if you’re bringing the family.

• When: Select nights November 27–December 30, 2026. Check the calendar for your date’s hours.
• Where: Idaho Botanical Garden, Boise.
• Cost: Standard tickets are $20 adults and $16 youth; select discount nights are $16 adults and $11 youth. Member rates are available. Children under 3 are free.
• Calendar and tickets: Winter Garden aGlow.

Boise Holiday Parade

The Boise Holiday Parade gives Thanksgiving weekend a proper Christmas send-off, with floats, music, local organizations, and Santa making their way through downtown. This year’s theme is “Christmas is for Giving.” Bring chairs or blankets and get there early enough to settle into a viewing spot.

It also falls on Small Business Saturday, so you can keep the morning going with lunch and a little downtown shopping afterward. Check the route before choosing parking so you don’t end up on the wrong side of a closure.

• When: Saturday, November 28, at 10am. The parade lasts approximately 90 minutes.
• Where: Downtown Boise; the route begins at Jefferson and 10th Street.
• Cost: Free to watch.
• Route and details: Boise Holiday Parade.

Small Business Saturday

November 28 is also a good excuse to spend a little time in the local shops you keep meaning to visit. Pick a downtown area, grab coffee, and work through a few gifts while supporting Treasure Valley businesses. Boise, Meridian, Eagle, Nampa, and Caldwell all give you places to build a shopping afternoon around.

There isn’t one shared schedule or promotion for the entire valley. Check your favorite shops directly for their hours, pop-ups, and any specials before you go. And if you’re already coming downtown for the Boise Holiday Parade, leave room in the day to browse.

• When: Saturday, November 28, 2026; individual business hours vary.
• Where: Local shops throughout the Treasure Valley.
• Planning link: Downtown Boise’s business directory.

Meridian Winter Lights Parade & Tree Lighting

Downtown Meridian gets its turn to light up on December 4. Illuminated floats, Santa, hot cocoa stands, and the Christmas tree lighting make this an easy family outing or a festive evening with friends. Arrive for the pre-parade activities so you have time to find a spot before the floats come through.

The main stage is at Idaho and Main, across from the city Christmas tree in Generations Plaza. Check the city’s parking and road closure information before driving downtown.

• When: Friday, December 4. Pre-parade activities begin at 5:30pm; the parade starts at 7pm.
• Where: Downtown Meridian.
• Cost: Free to watch, with free pre-parade activities and hot cocoa stands.
• Route, parking, and details: Meridian Winter Lights Parade.

Vintage Market Days

Vintage Market Days is the one to give yourself a few hours for. More than 120 vendors are bringing vintage finds, Christmas decor, handmade gifts, boutique clothing, jewelry, food, and more to the Ford Idaho Sports Center/Horse Park. There’s live music, too, so you can make an afternoon of browsing rather than treating it like a shopping errand.

Ticket options include early shopping, and tickets allow re-entry during the weekend. Check the ticket page for the hours attached to your ticket. The organizer’s website and ticket listing currently differ on Sunday’s closing time, and the child admission wording also differs from the Instagram graphic, so confirm those details before booking.

• When: December 4–6, 2026.
• Where: Ford Idaho Sports Center/Horse Park, 16200 N. Idaho Center Boulevard, Nampa.
• Cost: Paid admission. Confirm the current child admission cutoff and ticket price when purchasing.
• Tickets: Vintage Market Days Christmas Market.

TRICA’s Snow Globe

If you want to do something festive indoors, TRICA’s Snow Globe brings interactive art, music, movement, and a giant confetti room to its historic North End building. It’s an outing where you can join in and play, which makes it a fun change from standing and looking at displays.

Tickets use timed entry every 30 minutes from 4pm-6pm, with the event closing at 7pm. TRICA lists the experience as suitable for all ages and ADA accessible, with an accessible elevator entrance in the alley.

• When: December 4–6 and December 11–13, 2026.
• Where: TRICA, 1406 W. Eastman Street, Boise.
• Cost: $20 adults; $15 students; ages 2 and under free. Booking fees and tax may apply.
• Timed tickets and accessibility details: TRICA’s Snow Globe.

The Great Gingerbread Build

Local builders put their creativity to work in gingerbread for this community competition benefiting Corpus Commons and its work supporting people experiencing housing insecurity and poverty. Come see the finished creations at the Idaho State Museum and learn a little more about the organization behind the event.

The free community showcase is December 12–13. December 11 is an invite-only VIP night, so plan for the weekend if you’re coming to see the displays. If you want to build, volunteer, or sponsor, use the organizer’s participation information; competition spaces are limited.

• When: Saturday and Sunday, December 12–13, 2026. Check the organizer for public showcase hours.
• Where: Idaho State Museum, 610 N. Julia Davis Drive, Boise. Free parking is listed for the event.
• Cost: Free community showcase.
• Showcase and participation details: The Great Gingerbread Build.

Christmas in Color

Christmas lights from a warm car? Yes, please. Christmas in Color is the drive-through option at Roaring Springs, with lights synchronized to holiday music and a show that takes about 30 minutes. One ticket covers your vehicle, so it’s an easy option when you want to bring the family and stay out of the cold.

Select the Meridian location when booking and use the live calendar for available nights, arrival times, and pricing. Some information still visible on the host venue’s page appears to describe last season, so I’m leaving those exact dates out until the current booking schedule confirms them.

• When: November–December; confirm current operating dates through the ticket calendar.
• Where: Roaring Springs parking lot, 400 W. Overland Road, Meridian.
• Cost: Per vehicle. The Instagram roundup lists a $35 starting price; verify the current rate and fees when booking.
• Tickets: Christmas in Color.

A few more holiday events to check out

• Eagle Holiday Bazaar: November 7–8, 2026, for an early start on holiday shopping.
• Ballet Idaho’s The Nutcracker: Select performances December 18–23, with live accompaniment by the Boise Phil. Choose your performance and seats through Ballet Idaho.
• Christmas at The Village at Meridian: The event calendar lists a November 19 tree lighting, Winter Skate beginning November 14, and Letters to Santa beginning November 20. Check individual listings for hours and reservations.
• Scentsy Commons Christmas Lights: A free light outing in Meridian, with a November 13 opening ceremony listed for 6pm-8pm. Check current event updates before going.
• Winter Wonder Market update: This event appeared in the Instagram roundup, but the organizer has since confirmed it is paused for the 2026 season.

Before you fill the calendar

For free outings, start with Caldwell’s Winter Wonderland Festival, the Boise and Meridian parades, the downtown Boise tree lighting, CBH HomeFest, and the Gingerbread Build’s community showcase. If you’re trying to avoid the cold, look at Wintry Market, Festival of Trees, Vintage Market Days, TRICA’s Snow Globe, or Christmas in Color.

Book anything with a specific entry time once you know your plans, and check the event link again before leaving home. Save this guide for the next time someone asks, “What should we do this weekend?” and send it to whoever is making holiday plans with you.

XOXO,
The Boise Socialite