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.
Voodoo Cellar Boise
200 N Capitol Blvd • 2089180881
Food & Beverage
$5 Craft Beer Flights Every First Thursday!
Flow Arts Spin Jam
1000 Myrtle St • (208) 639-6610
Art Kid-Friendly Activity
FREE Flow Arts Spin Jam - Raffle - Hula Hoop Contest - Prizes
Props Provided - All Ages
Instructor: Krissy Humphreys
Flow arts is a dynamic practice that blends elements of dance, skill-based object manipulation, and creative expression. It often incorporates props such as poi, hula hoops, staffs, fans, and juggling equipment, which are used in rhythmic, fluid movements to create visual artistry or tell a story.
Spin jams are social gatherings for flow artists and anyone curious about flow arts. They offer an inclusive, welcoming space where people of all skill levels can explore prop-based manipulation. These gatherings are the heart of the community—where we come together to share ideas, connect and become part of a community.
What are Spin Jams?
Spin jams are social gatherings for flow artists and anyone curious about flow arts. They offer an inclusive, welcoming space where people of all skill levels can explore prop-based manipulation. These gatherings are the heart of the community—where we come together to share ideas, connect and become part of a community.
Participants will learn:
Basic moves for poi, hoops, fans, flow wand, and other props
Introduction to timing, direction and planes (Fundamentals for learning flow arts)
How to share ideas, moves and connect with others through flow arts.
Overcoming the fear of "messing up"
How to move and dance with different props
The joy of inclusivity and connection
Spatial and body awareness
Neighborhood Prom!
1118 W Idaho St • (208) 343-0571
Art Music Activity
Join us at Neighborhood Prom!
Presented by Neighborhood Imagination Foundation (NIF) and Larry Flynn Benefit Events.
Mark your calendar: May 7th at 6:30-10:00pm at The Shrine Ballroom (upstairs).
The unforgettable night includes a presentation from NIF, live auction and paddle raise, the Royalty Raffle, drinks for purchase, Jilly.FM on the tunes, and dancing until bedtime!
Each ticket comes with a custom Party to the People Neighborhood Prom tote! Must be present to collect.
Follow us on Instagram or visit our website and sign up for email updates for more information!
Secure your ticket today!
Dawson Taylor Downtown Coffee House
219 N 8th St • (208) 336-5633
Art Food & Beverage Kid-Friendly
Come to Dawson Taylor Coffee on 8th St: open form 7am to 5pm.
-BOGO Free drinks from 3-5pm!
-New local artists featured in the gallery!
See you there!
Re-POP Gifts
210 N 10th St • 208-991-6112
Art Shop
Here at Re-POP! the first week of May is always momentous. We've got May the 4th (be with you). And let's not forget Return of the Fifth! This May First Thursday we will be ringing in this wonderful month with one of our favorite local artists Noble Hardesty, who will be featuring a new Star Wars print!
Wok N' Roll
345 South 8th Street •
Food & Beverage
Come through, support AAPI-owned, and enjoy bold Thai + Lao-inspired dishes, drinks, and good vibes in the heart of Downtown Boise. Bring your and celebrate with us by kicking it off this First Thursday with extended happy hour specials 🖤
📍 345 S. 8th St (South Bodo)
🥢 Extended Happy Hour for First Thursday, Food & Drink Specials.
Fred Astaire Dance Studios Boise
1511 W Main Street • 208-514-0440
Music Food & Beverage Activity
Boise's ONLY guided social dancing party!
The perfect opportunity to get comfortable on a social dance floor in a safe and fun environment!
Practice your moves and meet our dance community! Come for a few minutes just to check the place out, or stay and practice to music from a variety of dance styles.
No partner required — or bring your friends. We love to see couples who want to dance together, too. Everyone is welcome, no experience required!
Dance Demos & Free Newcomer Group Variety Class from 7:00pm—7:45pm
Social Dancing Party from 7:45—8:30pm
Boise Contemporary Theater
854 Fulton St • (208) 331-9224
Art Shop Food & Beverage
Our First Thursday event is ONLY from 5:30-6:30 pm, as our play, AJAX, starts at 7:00 pm. Why not stay for both? Mingle over discounted drinks and complimentary charcuterie while viewing local art in our lobby, and get 20% off tickets from our box office to stay for that night’s show, Thursday, May 7th, or buy your tickets at 20% off during Happy Hour and come back for the show Friday, May 8th, or the matinee on Saturday, May 9th. Only during Happy Hour, from 5:30-6:30 pm, meet local artist Claire Remsberg, whose work you may have seen on traffic boxes around town! Her paintings are available for sale. Learn more about her art on her website: https://www.claireremsberg.com/.
Idaho Art Gallery
702 W Idaho St • (208) 733-4134
Art Shop Activity
Opening Reception: Seasons and Soliloquies by Zack Thurmond
702 W Idaho St STE 105 – Idaho Art Gallery
Thursday, May 7, 2026 | 5–9PM
Join us for the opening reception of Seasons and Soliloquies, a solo exhibition by Zack Thurmond, on Thursday, May 7 from 5-9pm at Idaho Art Gallery in downtown Boise.
Born in St. Louis and shaped by years in the Mountain West, Thurmond’s work is rooted in a deep and enduring connection to place. Largely self-taught, with a BFA from Boise State University, his paintings draw from direct observation, often beginning as small plein air studies before expanding into larger studio compositions. Whether working from a single creek drainage or a stand of aspens, Thurmond returns again and again to the landscapes that surround him, exploring a distinctly “hyperlocal” sense of place.
In Seasons and Soliloquies, these landscapes become a vehicle for reflection. At its core, this exhibition considers the passage of time not as something to resist, but as something to experience more fully. Each painting holds space for quiet observation, echoing the artist’s own awareness of time’s steady movement and the beauty embedded within it. Through changing seasons, weather, and light, Thurmond invites viewers to slow down, to notice, and to reconnect with the rhythms of the natural world.
Thurmond’s work is held in public and private collections across North America and Europe. He currently lives in Idaho with his wife, two children, and three dogs, and serves as Chief Preparator at the Boise Art Museum.
Alongside Seasons and Soliloquies, explore our current open-theme group exhibition featuring local and national artists, as well as our curated gift shop offering original works, small-format pieces, and locally made goods.
Join us for an evening of art, conversation, and community in the heart of downtown Boise.
House of Wine
1008 W Main St • 208-297-9463
Art Shop Food & Beverage Activity
Come join us at House of Wine for our exciting “First Thursday” event in May!
For this night we’ll put aside our regular wine by the glass options and offer selections for a FREE “May Sunshine Wines” tasting from our friend Jackie Elo from Amphora Wines- a locally owned wine distributor.
The festivities begin at 5pm and last until 8pm. This is a free event and no registration is required. We look forward to welcoming you!
Amsterdam Lounge
607 W Main St • (208) 345-9515
Art Food & Beverage
On May 7th Amsterdam Lounge is collaborating with @r.a.d.collectives to bring you a collection of artists and live music. Leave with your next favorite piece and support local art! Sip on featured drinks and dance with us til late.
Thursday May 7th 7PM-9PM
FREE ENTRY
Trillium Restaurant
245 S Capitol Blvd • 208-333-8002
Food & Beverage
Join us every First Thursday in Downtown Boise to experience Live Jazz performed by The Ohadi Trio inside the lobby of The Grove Hotel from 6pm-8pm!
Hearts on Fire Books
218 N 9th ST •
Activity
Ask a Sex Educator with Emma Ballantyne LCSW and Balanced Rock Wellness
Do you ever wonder why reading that chapter turned you on? Do you wish you could explain to your partner(s) why something gave you the ick?
Come ask your questions to a sex educator/therapist and learn more about the brain science of sex.
Overview: Patrons and readers will have the opportunity to meet, talk with and ask questions about sex with a sex educator/therapist. The educator/therapist will be there to answer general questions about the brain science of sex, the diversity of human sexual interest, and the normalcy of exploration. The open question format allows readers and patrons to approach on their own comfort and ask indirect questions and receive comprehensive science based answers. The educator will have non-fiction and educational materials for readers to explore.
The Art Room Inc.
508 South 5th Street •
Art Food & Beverage
The Art Room features a new local artist every month. That means new art on the walls of the coffee shop, classes available to the public taught by the featured artist, and a free artist showcase every First Thursday. Join us each month in encouraging local artists and building the Art Room.
Our vision is to see a generation consumed by consumption experience revival in creation. Our mission is to serve Boise with art, coffee, and community and shine the light of Jesus.
The Warehouse Food Hall
370 S 8th St • 986-999-4081
Food & Beverage Kid-Friendly
Dig into $5 small plates from every corner of the food hall, crafted by the vendors you know and love... plus a few you’ll be glad to meet. This is your chance to sample the goods, try something new, or build the ultimate dinner lineup. Your taste buds are in for a night.
The Record Exchange
1105 W Idaho St • (208) 344-8010
Shop Music Kid-Friendly
Join The Record Exchange at 5:30pm on First Thursday, May 7 for a vinyl release party and live performance celebrating Mylo Bybee’s new album “Revisions.” As always, this Record Exchange in-store event is free and all ages.
The vinyl will be available to purchase, and you can get your copy signed following the band’s performance!
ABOUT MYLO BYBEE AND ‘REVISIONS’:
Mylo Bybee is a high-energy rock band from Boise, turning raw emotion into tightly-wound songs fueled by restless rhythms, sharp guitars and vocals balancing grit and vulnerability. Since forming in 2020, they’ve carved out a reputation for music that doesn’t ask permission, it grabs you, shakes you and leaves you charged.
Known for high-octane live shows, the band has grown from local stages to major festivals, building a name as one of the Pacific Northwest’s most dynamic acts. With releases like “Revisions” and singles “Time Machine” and “I Wish You Well,” Mylo Bybee continues to evolve, pushing their sound forward while staying true to the raw spirit that defines them.
“The propulsive indie pop sound of the Pacific Northwest is alive and well and in the amplifiers of Mylo Bybee.” - Ron Hart SPIN Magazine
Toy POP!
780 W Main St • 2088590095
Art Kid-Friendly Activity
Meet local author/illustrator Jen Zelinsky for a reading of her book Running Back To Me, a children's book that supports emotional wellness & self discovery. For every book sold, Toy Pop will donate a copy to a local Boise organization.
We will also have coloring pages for the kids, free fidget toys with minimum purchase, and free tote bags when you purchase $50 or more!
The Warehouse Food Hall
370 S 8th St • 986-999-4081
Music Food & Beverage
The Warehouse Food Hall is bringing live music to the heart of downtown Boise every First Thursday. Guests can enjoy performances from local artists while exploring 10+ food and drink vendors under one roof. With cold drinks, bold flavor, and no cover, it’s the perfect spot to kick off your evening and stay awhile.
Mixed Greens
213 N 9th St • (208) 344-1605
Art Shop Music Food & Beverage Kid-Friendly
Pop into Mixed Greens for the perfect Mother's Day gifts. Cinder Winery will be pouring wine, Poppyseed Bakery will have goodies for sample and sale, Bead-a-Bull Jewelry will have a selection of jewelry to pick from, and Eric Henderson will be singing all night in the shop. Come join us from 5PM-8PM.
Capitol Contemporary Gallery
451 S Capitol Blvd • 208-384-9159
Art Food & Beverage
Capitol Contemporary Gallery is proud to announce its May exhibition, featuring paintings by Rachel Teannalach and Geoffrey Krueger, two of Idaho’s highly distinguished and most collected landscape artists showing together for the first time.
The public is invited to attend the opening reception on Thursday, May 7, from 5:00–9:00 PM — a free evening event featuring the opportunity to meet the artists and enjoy complimentary wine provided by Vizcaya.
Mark your calendars for an Artist Talk on May 21st at 6 pm. The exhibition will remain on view through May 30th.
Art Source Gallery
1516 Grove St • 208-331-3374
Art Shop Music Food & Beverage Kid-Friendly Activity
Join us for the First Thursday opening reception of “Upon Closer Reflection”, a feature artist exhibition by Boise artist Beth Trott, May 7, 5–9 pm. The artist will be there, along with snacks, wine and live music.
Beth explores the natural world through a blend of observation and abstraction. Featuring both new and recent work from this series, the show runs May 5–30 at Art Source Gallery, in the Linen Arts District.
Lenses & Brushes
404 S 8TH ST, L100 • 2085902612
Art Shop Kid-Friendly Activity
First Thursday: The Found Camera Project
What happens when you hand a camera to a stranger and ask them to tell a story?
Join us at Lenses & Brushes for a First Thursday exhibition of The Found Camera Project—a community film photography experience where cameras were hidden throughout downtown Boise and discovered by curious explorers. Each person who found a camera captured their own moments before returning it to be developed and printed in our darkroom.
This showcase features a collection of those images—raw, honest, and beautifully unexpected—creating a shared visual story of Boise through many different perspectives.
Let’s make art together.
Wassmuth Center's Hansberger Art Awards
1000 Myrtle St • (208) 639-6610
Art Music Food & Beverage Kid-Friendly Activity
Experience the beauty and strength of American diversity through art on Thursday, May 7, 2026 at JUMP! The Wassmuth Center’s Hansberger Arts Awards Showcase highlights student performance, writing, and visual arts in response to Article 2 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Freedom from Discrimination. Don’t miss this community-wide celebration of kindergarten through 12th grade Idaho artists!
Located on the 6th floor in the Pioneer Room
Event Schedule
5:00 p.m. Student Arts Showcase, Idaho Gives Nonprofit Table Fair, Drinks & small bites available for purchase
6:30 p.m. Student Arts Awards
7:30 p.m. Boise Rock School Performance
For a full schedule of city-sponsored America 250 events, visit cityofboise.org/America250.
Parking
To access JUMP, we encourage you to use public transportation or carpool. Paid parking options are limited at JUMP and ParkBOI facilities. Plan ahead!
Accommodation
The City of Boise is committed to ensuring equal access to all public meetings, programs, and services. Reasonable accommodations and effective communication—such as ASL interpretation, materials in alternative formats and language access—are available at no cost to facilitate participation. To request an accommodation, please contact us at CommunityEngagement@cityofboise.org or call (208) 972-8500, TTY: 711.
Hemlock
500 S Capitol Blvd •
Food & Beverage Activity
Join us at the bar from 3–6 PM.
Indulge in:
Boise’s Best Burger.
Steak skewers. Oyster shooters. Gaucho meatballs.
Duck-fat potatoes. Fries. Marinated olives.
$7 drafts.
$9 select wines.
$10 classic cocktails.
Two Hemlock Happy Hour rituals to get the most of First Thursdays:
Hemlock Happy Meal
Haute Girl Dinner