Our local merchants plan exciting, engaging in-store events including food and beverage tastings, local art exhibits, retail trunk shows, live music, family activities, and entertainment in a special and unique way you'll only find in Downtown Boise. Stop into your favorite establishment or check out someplace new!
Events typically run from 5–9pm, but each merchant creatively plans their own event so check each listing below for individual hours and details.
Lenses & Brushes
404 S 8TH ST, L100 • 2085902612
Art Shop Kid-Friendly Activity
The Found Camera Project – First Thursday Gallery Showing
Date: August 7, 2025
Time: 5:00 PM- 8:00 PM
Location: Lenses & Brushes
Discover the results of a community-wide photography experiment!
Over fourteen days, black-and-white disposable cameras were hidden throughout downtown Boise—each one waiting to be found, used, and returned. Participants captured moments, scenes, and surprises from their unique perspectives, creating a spontaneous visual diary of our city.
Join us for First Thursday to view the developed photos, and see how a simple camera can connect strangers and spark creativity.
Come celebrate curiosity, connection, and the unexpected beauty in everyday life.
Art Source Gallery
1516 W Grove St • 208-331-3374
Art Shop Music Food & Beverage Kid-Friendly Activity
First Thursday opening reception of "Think Outside the Jewelry Box - Wearable Art", August 7, 2025 from 5:00 - 9:00 PM at Art Source Gallery, 1516 W Grove St. in Boise, in downtown Linen District. . Meet the artists and enjoy live music, snacks and great art. The exhibit will be open throughout the month of August.
“Think Outside the Jewelry Box - Wearable Art”, features six of the gallery’s jewelry artists. There will be a wide diversity of work showcasing individual styles. For this show each artist has created a completely unique and individual Jewelry Box that will be displayed along with displays of their jewelry.
Idaho Building
280 N 8th St •
Art Kid-Friendly Activity
Who: Third Shelf: A Placemakers’ Cooperative Library
What: Book Swap! Book swaps are opportunities for Third Shelf members to exchange books with each other, to browse some of our collecive placemaking library, and welcome new people to the community. All are welcome!
Where: Idaho Smart Growth 280 N 8th St. Suite #210
When: Every 1st Thursday starting March 6th 6-8pm
Why: Third Shelf was created as a resource sharing, agency building, and community networking infrastructure project for placemakers. Members use a booksharing app to connect and exchange their collective books becoming a physical library distributed on member bookshelves throughout the community.
Website: thirdshelf.org
Instagram: @third.shelf
JUMP (Jack's Urban Meeting Place)
1000 Myrtle St • (208) 639-6610
Art Music Food & Beverage Kid-Friendly Activity
THURSDAY AUGUST 7TH | 5-8PM | JUMP BUILDING | ALL AGES | FREE
This month, we've got a sneak peek into our Local Artist Showcase happening on August 16th, as well as tons of fun, educational, interactive, and family-friendly activities! Plus, the official LAUNCH party for Boise Design Week will be happening from 5:00 - 10:30 PM in the sixth floor PIONEER Room!
JUMP Room:
Local Artist Showcase Preview: Artist Talks & Activities | 5:00 - 8:00 PM
• ANA ROBINS | Activity: Custom Tarot Card | Participants will paint on small card-sized canvases following writing and painting prompts geared towards a few selected tarot cards to create their very own tarot card.
• DAMON & MICHAEL BRADSHAW | Explore the world of mythical water creatures through three creative stations
- Station 1: Color-a-Creature (Ages 3+)
Activity: Pre-drawn sea monster coloring pages
- Station 2: Fold-a-Serpent (Ages 7+)
Activity: Origami sea serpent folding
- Station 3: Blank Page Challenge (All Ages)
Activity: Design your very own river monster from scratch
• DAVID COWAN | Through Space & Science
Participants will receive paper, coloring materials and craft supplies to design their own space habitat or closed system while learning about the four basic elements of an Environmental Control and Life Support System, the critical systems of a spacecraft that allow the astronauts to live to on board.
THE LOFT & 5th Level Lobby:
Sticker Making Contest | 5:00 - 8:00 PM
Local Dance Performance
• Watch performers from Starbelly Dancing
THE DECK
HAPPY[ness] Hour | 5:00 - 8:00 PM
• Live DJ: TENN∀NT (5:00 - 7:00 PM)
• BOGO Drinks (per person)
• $5 Bites by Chef Anna
• Trivia Challenge (start: 6:00 PM)
• Music Bingo (start: 7:00 PM)
• Slide Rides (5:30 - 7:30 PM)
MOVE STUDIO
Open Mic by Nick Badasci (Studio Community Project)
• A family-friendly open mic stand-up comedy event where aspiring comedians can perform 2-7 minute sets at a microphone as an accessible means of training/trying out comedy/storytelling in front of a live audience.
LOBBY (ALL MONTH):
Jaialdi Decor & Activities | 5:00 - 8:00 PM
• Basque Craft at the craft table
• Sheep Wagon from the Basque Museum
PIONEER Room:
Boise Design Week: LAUNCH | 5:00 - 10:30 PM
Join newly established Boise Design Week for the LAUNCH party of the future week-long inspirational, networking, and community-building event. With the goal to become a five-day event in 2026, Boise Design Week: LAUNCH brings together designers covering all industries and aspects of design, with the goal of bringing together the community in creativity, innovation, and design.
The LAUNCH party will feature local speakers, community exhibitors, refreshments, and more. Stick around after the lectures for and after party where we open the stage for creative leaders, play backyard games, sing karaoke, and more!
• 5:00 PM : DOORS OPEN
• 5:30 - 6:00 PM: OPENING REMARKS | Alex Caves | Boise Design Week Founder
• 6:00 - 9:00 PM: GUEST SPEAKERS | Hear from local experts in their industries
- Product Design & Development: Nate Pavitt | Product Developer / Entrepreneur | 6:00 - 6:30 PM
- Filmmaking: Greg Wilson | Director / Cinematographer / Photographer | 6:35 - 7:05 PM
- Environmental Graphic Design: John Yarnell | Creative Director / Public Artist / Placemaking Advocate | 7:10 - 7:40 PM
- Brand Design & Marketing | Jennie Meyers | Professor / Creative Strategist / Designer | 7:45 - 8:45 PM
• 9:00 - 10:30 PM: AFTER PARTY | After the Main Event the room will transition into a fun, game filled experience, designed to create the perfect networking atmosphere.
- Musical Performance by Tree City Soul | 9:00 - 9:30 PM
- Karaoke with DJ Pho-Tato (Viet Tran) | 9:30 - 10:30 PM
- Games
Meriwether Cider House
224 N 9th St • (208)972-6725
Art Food & Beverage Activity
Let’s get crafty! Join us for First Thursday at Meriwether Ciderhouse and unleash your inner artist at our Pet Rock Creation Station — a delightfully low-maintenance way to adopt a new best friend. We’ll provide the rocks, paints, googly eyes, glue, glitter, pipe cleaners, and plenty of inspiration. Whether you craft a rockstar, a punk pebble, or a moss-covered mystery, your pet rock is yours to take home and cherish.
Fred Astaire Dance Studios Boise
1511 W Main Street • 208-514-0440
Music Food & Beverage Activity
"Swing" in for First Thursday and find out how much fun date night or a night out on the town can be!
7:00pm—7:45pm
Free Dance Demos & Newcomer Group Class
7:45pm—8:30pm
Free Guided Social Dancing
No partner required — or bring your friends. We love to see couples who want to dance together, too.
Everyone is welcome, no experience required!
Meriwether Cider House
224 N 9th St • (208)972-6725
Art Food & Beverage Activity
Let’s get crafty! Join us for First Thursday at Meriwether Cider House and unleash your inner artist at our Pet Rock Creation Station!
We’ll provide the rocks, paints, googly eyes, glue, glitter, pipe cleaners, and plenty of inspiration. You bring the creativity (and maybe a punny name or two). Whether you craft a rockstar, a punk pebble, or a moss-covered mystery, your pet rock is yours to take home and cherish.
Stretch Zone Boise
112 S 6th St • 208-993-7979
Activity
Stop by Stretch Zone this 1st Thursday for a free stretch and feel the difference assisted stretching can make!
Cactus Bar
517 W Main St • (208) 342-9732
Food & Beverage Activity
Bingo Nights every First Thursday and every 3rd Thursday of every month. Free to play. Multiple games played in a night. Starts at 7 and ends roughly around 9 pm. Prizes to be won.