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.
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
Lee's Candies
805 w Bannock •
Shop Kid-Friendly Activity
You do not want to miss out on this unforgettable first Thursday! For first Thursday we will be having the one and only Santa Clause coming to our candy store from 6-7:30! That's not all we will also be having a special deal, 25% off of gift boxes with the purchase of 2 or more! We will also have a prize wheel that you can spin with every purchase, win up to 15% off of your purchase or win up to 4 pieces of chocolate for FREE! Along with free samples for anyone! Hope to see you there!
Liquid Lounge
405 S 8th St • (208) 287-5379
Art Shop Music Food & Beverage Kid-Friendly Activity
FREE WINE TASING & ART SHOW BY THE AMAZING NORMAN NELSON! Amazing paintings! Great wine!
Solid also has 1/2 off well drinks, draft beers, $2 off all wines by the glass and $1 off appetizers from 4pm-6pm & 10pm-midnight
Toy POP!
780 W Main St • 2088590095
Shop Kid-Friendly
Toy POP will be open until 8:00 for First Thursday.
We have the best stocking stuffers for all ages!
Take 10% off* when you spend $50 or more (*excludes LEGO).
Holiday cards and gift wrap are 20% off.
ART HAUS BAR by KIN
999 W Main St •
Art Shop Music Food & Beverage Kid-Friendly Activity
The Holiday season is here! Come on in to ART HAUS BAR for HOT NOODZ, games, Burger, music, fried chicken, fun, cocktails, NA cocktails, and EGG NOG FLIGHTS!
Grab a gift certificate for Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Boxing Day, anything you want to celebrate!
Mixed Greens
213 N 9th St • (208) 344-1605
Shop Music Food & Beverage Kid-Friendly
Mixed Greens invites you to join us for December's First Thursday from 5 pm to 8 pm
The store and the staff are filled with holiday spirit! We will have live music by Eric Henderson, beer sips from Payette Brewing and the Idaho Botanical Garden will be here promoting Winter Garden Aglow! We are also supporting the Idaho Foodbank with a December food drive, drop off 2 cans of food, or make at least a $5.00 donation and we will enter you in our drawing for a $100.00 store gift card!
The Alaska Center
1020 W Main St •
Art Kid-Friendly Activity
Consider this a personal invitation to join me and two other artists at the last First Thursday event we are hosting this year. Don’t worry, we are all planning to be back in 2026.
I will be providing complementary digital portraits for those that stop by. The portrayals will be just in time for those last-minute holiday cards and emails. Yes, there will be no charge.
Two other artists will be sharing the evening with me. First is Chi She Nam Weston. Chi is an exceptional plainer painter and will be exhibiting his latest work. The second is Sri Galindo. Sri is the former co-owner of Alia’s Coffeehouse. Her forte is fine art photography. Her work may make your head spin.
I am also looking for people to be subjects for an ongoing photography project. Let me know if you or any of your friends may be interest. Yes, the project is family friendly.
JD's Bodega
161 N Capitol Blvd • (208)519-5516
Shop Food & Beverage Kid-Friendly Activity
Stop by for your Holiday First Thursday and grab a free popcorn and free game of pinball. While you are out, feel the holiday magic with all the amazing window decorations and check out our selection of local vendors.
Solid Grill & Bar
405 S 8th St • (208) 345-6620
Art Shop Music Food & Beverage Kid-Friendly Activity
FREE WINE TASING & ART SHOW BY THE AMAZING NORMAN NELSON! Fantastic paintings! Great wine!
Solid also has 1/2 off well drinks, draft beers, $2 off all wines by the glass and $1 off appetizers from 4pm-6pm & 10pm-midnight
Art Source Gallery
1516 Grove St • 208-331-3374
Art Shop Music Food & Beverage Kid-Friendly Activity
Holiday Market at Art Source Gallery. Skip the crowds and shop with heart this holiday season! Meet some of the artists, sip delicious wines, enjoy tasty treats, and soak in live music and holiday atmosphere, December 4th from 5-9 pm.
Ditch the big box stores and discover meaningful, locally made gifts at the Holiday Market hosted by Art Source Gallery. This festive marketplace showcases not only the stunning works of our resident gallery artists but also features unique creations from talented makers across the community. From handcrafted pottery and apothecary goods to gourmet dog treats and whimsical holiday ornaments and wall pieces. You will find one-of-a-kind treasures that add a personal touch to your gift-giving.
Holiday market highlights
Art Source Gallery is located at 1516 W. Grove Street, downtown Boise. Open Monday through Saturday from 10am to 6pm with extended Sunday hours in December 12-4 pm.
Idaho State Museum
610 N Julia Davis Dr • (208) 334-2120
Shop Music Food & Beverage Kid-Friendly Activity
Ring in the Holidays at the Idaho State Museum!
Join us for our 4th Annual Holiday Fest during Downtown Boise’s First Thursday on December 4, 2025, from 5–8 PM.
Celebrate the season with a vendor fair featuring local Idaho artists, makers, and organizations. Enjoy festive music, crafts, wine and tea tastings, and free hot cocoa as you explore unique, handmade gifts and enjoy hands-on fun for all ages.
While you’re here, experience the wonder of Idaho’s history with access to our galleries, including our newest exhibits, Sage Brush and Brushstrokes and Hidden in Plain Sight.
Don’t forget to stop by the M Store, our destination retail gift shop—open seven days a week—for even more Idaho-inspired treasures.
Admission is free! Last admission is at 7:15PM.
Boise Art Museum
670 Julia Davis Drive • (208) 345-8330
Art Shop Kid-Friendly Activity
Find inspiration and get creative at BAM during First Thursday! Admission is “pay what you can,” and the Museum is open late, until 7 p.m., to encourage Access for All.
🎨 Drop in from 4:30 – 6:30 p.m. and get creative in our FREE Studio Art Exploration program in BAM’s Education Studios. Make an abstract landscape painting, inspired by the current exhibition “Myths, Fables, and Fortunes: Our Place Within the Landscape.”
Generous support provided by Art Bridges Foundation’s Access for All program.
🎁Stop by the BAM STORE to find holiday cards and creative gifts for everyone on your list—from puzzles and books, to home décor, jewelry, toys, and more! The BAM Members’ Appreciation 💥SALE💥 starts TODAY. BAM Members receive 20% off regularly priced items, December 4-7, 2025. Join Today!
Pennecard Real Estate
121 N 5th St • 208-861-8295
Food & Beverage Kid-Friendly Activity
Don't be a Grinch and join us for our First Thursday Holiday Party!
Cookies from Chip, Hot Coffee by Bumble Coffee & Chocolate Bar, Photos with the Grinch and More! 4pm to 7pm Fun Christmas menu for kids and adults and pictures with the Grinch!
The Record Exchange
1105 W Idaho St • (208) 344-8010
Shop Kid-Friendly
For one day only on First Thursday, December 4, you can save money on Record Exchange gift cards!
Snag $50 gift cards for $40* and $25 gift cards for $20* – no limit! This offer is available in person and via phone by calling (208) 344-8010. In-store pickup or shipping available with phone orders.
*Gift cards are not redeemable for merchandise on the day of purchase.
OTHER FIRST THURSDAY DEALS:
– $9.99 Give the Gift of Music CDs and select $9.99 new vinyl
– Select sale-priced top sellers and staff picks on vinyl and CD
– Up to 50% off select new vinyl titles
FIRST THURSDAY HOURS:
Gift shop/espresso opens at 8:30am, music side opens at 10am. We close both sides of the store at 7pm.