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.
Bar Please!
620 W Idaho Street •
Food & Beverage
$5 Hot Dogs served all night with purchase of any menu drink! Seattle Dogs, Frankie Style Dogs, K-Dogs, or a Classic! Our Tiki Tidings holiday menu is also ready for you 🎄
Acero Boards and Bottles
801 West Main Street • 208-801-6896
Food & Beverage
Board & Bottle is making its First Thursday debut! Join us at Acero from 5-9 PM for our Board & Bottle special: enjoy a bottle of wine from our curated selection and a delicious bruschetta board of your choice for just $35. Sip, snack, and celebrate the night with us!
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.
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!
The Nook Lounge
206 N 9th St • 208-577-0537
Food & Beverage
We’re featuring a SNEAK PEAK of our new menu! Come in for a fresh taste of what’s to come… 🍸🍹🥂🥃
Fred Astaire Dance Studios Boise
1511 W Main Street • 208-514-0440
Music Food & Beverage Activity
Tis' the season for some dancing!
Swing in 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
Dance Demos & Free Newcomer Group Variety Class
7:45pm—8:30pm
Open 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!
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!
Voodoo Cellar Boise
200 N Capitol Blvd • 2089180881
Food & Beverage
$5 Craft Beer Flights Every First Thursday!
The Warehouse Food Hall
370 S 8th St • 986-999-4081
Music
Make The Warehouse Food Hall your First Thursday spot... grab a bite, sip on something good, and settle in for live music. Each month, a local artist takes the stage, setting the vibe while you kick back with craft drinks and plenty of flavor to go around.
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!
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!
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.
Humpin' Hannah's
621 W Main St • (208) 345-7557
Music Food & Beverage Activity
On 1st Thur Dec 4, it's EMO Night at Humpin' Hannah's!!! DJ Slieb's gonna rock your favorite EMO tunes all night!!! Dance & sing to My Chemical Romance, Fall Out Boy, Panic! at the Disco, Death Cab for Cutie, Paramore, All American Rejects and SO MUCH MORE!! Costume Contest for Prizes, so break out your angst, don your best shredded threads and black eyeliner, and prepare to party!!!! NO Cover, $3.50 Wells, Shots & Beers ALL NIGHT!!! https://www.facebook.com/events/1115167970694992
Chi E Shenam Westin Art
1020 Main St • 208-440-2107
Art Music
A full year of paintings featuring plein air from Kathryn Albertson Park. This collection of paintings were created between April and October of 2025! We have small 8x10 paintings up to 24x30 inch paintings in oil. And Oil paintings of the Sawtooth Mountains.
Featured Guest Artist: Art Photography by Sri Galindo. Photography has always been her passion. She loves finding things extraordinary that are seemingly insignificant. She overlays her photographs to make complimentary and contrasting exposures. Her photography is all about how it makes you feel. She hopes that these new pieces make the viewer feel something very special.
Swing by and say hello and enjoy live music from John Ceccarelli!
Complimentary portraits downstairs with Allen Ansel.
8 Horses Lounge
199 N. 8th Street • 208-433-7800
Music Food & Beverage
Join us for December First Thursday featuring live music by The Mike Johnston Band! Blending raw rock energy with the heart of blue. 7:30-9:30pm...
https://www.mikejohnstonmusic.com
NO COVER. MUST BE 21+.
JUST IN TIME TO ENJOY OUR NEW WINTER MENU! #LOYALTOLOCAL
Leap Photography
106 N 6th St • 208-703-7360
Art Shop
The Leap Photography studio will be open to the public on Thursday, December 4th, 2025. We've just moved into a new space, and we'd love for you to check it out. The studio doors will be open to the public from 5-8pm
Stop in, tour the studio and browse through Leap Photography's portrait work or purchase one of our speciality items. Greeting cards, prints and magnets from our fine art projects will be available for purchase.
Take the steps to the 2nd floor, take a left, and find our studio around the corner.
We'd love it if you stopped in to say hello!
Date: December 4, 2025
Time: 5 pm- 8 pm
Address: 106 N 6th St #M5, Boise, ID 83702 (located in the historic Pioneer Tent Building)
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!
Chandlers Prime Steaks | Fine Seafood
981 W Grove St • (208) 383-4300
Food & Beverage
Gather. Sip. Socialize.
Join us at Chandlers for Social Hour.
Monday through Friday at the bar/lounge from 4-6pm.
Gather and relax with handcrafted cocktails like
our Cosmo or Champagne Cocktail and savor with a
selection of sociable dishes, all offered at $10.
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.
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
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!
BANANA ink
214 N 9th St • (208) 345-1288
Art Shop Activity
🎄 First Thursday Holiday Scavenger Hunt at BANANA ink! 🎁
What’s Happening:
🎅 Holiday-Themed Scavenger Hunt — find hidden clues, and win Christmas prizes!
🎨 Live Painting by Toponaut Designs — He will be creating something magical right here in the shop and have all his amazing art as well!
🎁 FREE Gift Wrapping All Day! — you support local, we wrap your thoughtful gifts.
🎄 Mystery White Elephant Presents — surprise your friends with these pre-wrapped goodies!
🎉 Giveaways & More! — festive treats, local love, and holiday vibes all around.
Come celebrate local art, shop small, and kick off the holidays with us! ❤️🎁
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 Art Gallery
702 W Idaho St • (208) 733-4134
Art Shop
Artist Reception | First Impressions: Cody White Solo Exhibition
Celebrate the beauty of the West at the opening reception for Cody White’s solo exhibition 'First Impressions' at IAG Boise! Experience the majesty of the Rocky Mountains brought to life in Cody’s richly textured, large-scale oil paintings.
This exhibition runs alongside our ongoing Open Theme Exhibition, showcasing over 25 local and nationally acclaimed artists. Meet Cody, enjoy lively art conversation, and discover stunning works—all available for purchase. Bring a friend and join us for an evening of inspiration, creativity, and community!
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!
Meriwether Cider House
224 N 9th St • (208)972-6725
Food & Beverage Activity
Pop over and make your own beeswax candle for free! We will provide all the supplies you need to make your own holiday candle! So grab a friend or five and stop in to sip hot mulled cider and make your masterpiece!
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
Matador Boise
215 N 8th St • 208-342-9988
Food & Beverage
HOURS OF OPERATION
Sun-Thurs 11:00am-11:00pm
Fri & Sat 11:00am-Midnight
HAPPY HOUR 4pm-6pm & 10pm-CLOSE (daily)
For brave, fresh Mexican flavors, and beautiful scratch-made cocktails. Come in and be enveloped by our passion for the most daring of spirits. Cheers to the people and the culture of Mexico, where we forge friendships with tequila makers, listen to their stories, and bring them home to share with you, as we guide you through your tequila experience.
Our newest Seasonal Menu was just released and features the following items:
* QUESO FLAMEADO - Chihuahua & Monterey Jack cheeses, house-made chorizo, caramelized onions, roasted poblanos, white wine, green onions, served flambé with with warm flour tortillas
* POZOLE CHICKEN VERDE (GF) - Mild green broth, hominy, chicken thigh, avocado, radish, pickled cabbage curtido, cilantro, lime
* TACOS MOLCAJETE de RIBEYE (GF) - Seared thinly sliced ribeye, guacamole, griddled Monterey Jack cheese, roasted salsa molcajete, pickled onion & habanero, pico de gallo. Served on corn tortillas with Mexican black beans & rice
* CHICKEN & CHILE TAMALES - Smoky salsa roja & tangy salsa verde, guajillo masa, Jack cheese, garlic crema, pickled cabbage curtido, pico de gallo
* A WINTER'S MARG - Milagro Silver, Pama Pomegranate liqueur citrus, cranberry, ginger, allspice, nutmeg, cinnamon
* HOT BUTTERED RUM - Goslings Black Seal rum, butter, cream, vanilla, cinnamon, clove, nutmeg, allspice, ginger, whipped cream
* CRANBERRY SPICE AGUA FRESCA - Ginger, cranberry, lemon, orange, allspice, cinnamon, Sprite
The Matador uses all-natural ingredients only, and that includes our carne, pollo, carnitas and seafood. We source the freshest, in-season vegetables and fruits available. Then we take those ingredients and cook them up into creative dishes that taste a bit like Mexico, a bit like the local area, and a bit like nothing you’ve ever tasted before.
Situated on historic 8th St in energetic downtown Boise, the Matador has been a part of the city’s restaurant and happy hour scene since 2010. Within easy walking or biking distance from all downtown shops and sights, as well as the Greenbelt and the scenic Treasure Valley foothills, the Matador offers adventures in Mexican-inspired food and tequila when you need a retreat from your adventures outdoors or in town.
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
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.
Barbarian Downtown Beer Bar
1022 W Main St • 208-387-2739
Music Food & Beverage Activity
Celebrate December First Thor's Day at Barbarian Downtown! We have a new CZECH PALE LAGER on draft and a fresh batch of BELGIAN TRIPEL in cans.
ROCK'N BINGO starts at 7pm. Free to play for paying customers.
Prizes for the winners. Must be 21+ to enter Barbarian Downtown.
-------------------------------------
~ CZECH PALE LAGER ~
Made with Czech barley and hops. Modeled after the beer Czechvar. More malty and slightly more hoppy than a Czech Pilsner.
5% abv
Draft & 16oz Crowlers available
~ BELGIAN STYLE TRIPEL ~
Our Belgian style Tripel is brewed in the traditional manner of the Trappist monks. This golden ale is spicy with a sweet finish and hints of fruit notes.
9.6% abv
Draft & 16oz Cans available
Ink Spa
404 S 8th St • (208)315-6664
Art Shop Activity
Boise First Thursday: A Magical Night at Ink Spa Tattoo
Wintry Flash Tattoo Event
December 4th, 2025
4–9 PM
❄ Walk-ins Only
❄ $50–$100 Flash Tattoos
❄ 3 Artists Participating
❄ 50+ Festive Designs
Can’t make it Thursday? No stress ~ you can book these flash designs all month long, through December 31st! Hurry, sessions are very limited!
Rediscovered Books - Boise
1576 W Grove • (208) 376-4229
Shop
Join us for some holiday shopping and to support our Idaho Neighbors! Bring food donation to support the food bank for the families of Giraffe Laugh Day Care and Pre-School. Come and find out more about The Community Center, another Idaho non-profit that makes Boise a better place from 5 - 6:30 p.m..
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.
Boise Contemporary Theater
854 Fulton St • (208) 331-9224
Art Shop Music Food & Beverage
Join us for discounted drinks and tickets only available during our First Thursday Happy Hour: 5:30 pm to 6:30 pm. Tickets to ALL IS CALM are $20 for preview nights and/or 20% off other performances (excluding opening and closing nights) when you buy directly from our box office during this event. Enjoy complimentary charcuterie while you browse selected works by local artist Garth Claassen, who will be on hand, including a new piece made especially for this show! Take advantage of our discounted drinks and then head to our pub at 6 pm to enjoy Carolers provided by Opera Idaho! Festivities end at 6:30 pm, just as the theater house opens, so you can get a ticket to that night’s show for only $20 and relax in the theater with your discounted drink, you clever thing!
Events:
5:30-6:30 pm Happy Hour in the BCT Lobby
6:00-6:30 pm Carolers provided by Opera Idaho in BCT's Ghost Light Pub
6:30 pm Seating begins for that night's performance of ALL IS CALM
7:00 pm Performance of ALL IS CALM begins
Lenses & Brushes
404 S 8TH ST, L100 • 2085902612
Art Shop
Lenses & Brushes Holiday Makers Market
Join us to shop small and local with ten local artists and makers to find unique gifts for this holiday season.
Graeber & Company Salon and Spa
420 W Main St • (208) 343-4915
Food & Beverage
Meet us on Thursday, December 4, 5–7 pm at Roast & Vine for a relaxed, gratitude-filled gathering with the Graeber team. Pop in for a few minutes or stay the whole time while you enjoy quick tutorials with our pros, exclusive product and service offers, and gift card bonuses made just for this evening. We will have concierge help to finish your gift list, plus easy pickup for your holiday pre-orders. To say thank you for an incredible year, every VIP guest receives a special gift from Graeber. It is our way of celebrating you and all the ways you support our salon and community.
Bring a friend, savor something warm, and let us spoil you a little before the holiday rush begins.
Re-POP Gifts
210 N 10th St • 208-991-6112
Shop Activity
We can't contain our excitement, because we have a special seasonal guest. Mark your calendars for our upcoming Krampus photo-ops during First Thursday!
A word of caution, Krampus can be a bit scary for some of the smaller littles, so parental discretion is advised.
We'll have our annual tradition of mystery white elephant gifts, and free gift wrapping for most purchases.
Is your Birthday in December or January? Well, December 4th, First Thursday is your lucky day! We're celebrating December and January Birthdays in one evening, since we'll be closed the beginning of January. If your birthday is December or January enjoy 15% off your entire purchase* for you AND a friend! What a great time to take care of your holiday shopping!
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.
Title Nine
170 N 8th St • (208) 342-1493
Shop
Shop Local/Shop Women owned/ Shop our event 1st Thursday 20 % off your purchase. In store Gift with purchase
(while supplies last). Raffle for Torque Body Shop
We will have some of our LOCAL Fearless Unstoppable women with us;
Wild Hearts Idaho
Emerge Author Angie Lion
Flexologists from StretchLab.
Stop in and grab gifts for all of the Unstoppable Women in your life !
Justin W John, Artist + Designer
928 W Main St • (208)794-1194
Art Activity
Wisdom College for Creativity & Design offers industry-focused programs in Fashion Design, Interior Design, Textile Design, and more—empowering students with creativity, skills, and hands-on experience to lead in the design world.