Guide to Shopping Local This Holiday Season in Boise

Photo courtesy of Pexels Want to keep your gifts local and support native businesses in the Treasure Valley? We've gathered our favorite shops and events to pick up unique, hand-made, and Idaho gifts for everyone on your list! Events Wintry Market: The perfect place to find gifts, the Wintry Market is a maker’s market in Boise featuring local vendors of art, crafts, and design. This market takes place Friday, Nov 22nd, from 4-9 p.m. and Saturday, Nov 23rd, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on the main floor of the Boise Convention Centre downtown Boise on the Grove Plaza. Food, coffee, and drinks are available to purchase, and admission is $5 on Saturday and $10 on Friday (good for both days).  Merry Makers Market: This market is a month-long pop-up shop with a curated selection of locally handmade gifts. Opening day is November 30th for this artist-created and run market! This pop-up will be located at 1459 North Milwaukee Street and is open through December 23rd. Various Gifts Mixed Greens: Sitting in the heart of Downtown, this local boutique features unique items with something for everyone. For a locally made soap bar, handmade jewelry, unique hand towels, and more, Mixed Greens is the place to go. They also sell lots of Idaho-themed products, the perfect gift for Gem State lovers. RePop Gifts: Filled with an electric mix of pop culture and fandom favorites, this store is sure to have a gift for every fanatic. Products come from over 30 local vendors, as well as regional and national artists. Jewelry Fluff Hardware: Fluff Hardware is a small, women-run, local business that provides unique jewelry pieces inspired by Idaho’s outdoors! Stores also feature other local businesses' hats, purses, and textiles as a one-stop shop for women’s accessories.  Sweets and Other Goodies Goody's/G Willikers A gift for the sweet tooth! Located in Hyde Park, Goody’s has been a neighborhood staple for locals and visitors alike! Their gift selection includes candies, homemade chocolates, caramel corn, cheese corn, stuffed animals, and greeting cards! City Peanut Shop City Peanut Shop has become an iconic part of Downtown Boise, featured in international blogs and magazines. They are famous for their honey-roasted peanut butter, nut-filled brittles, flavored popcorn, and their healthy, uniquely flavored peanuts and tree nuts. a'Tavola Gourmet Marketplace: A gift for the foodie! a’Tavola Marketplace features a wonderful assortment of imported specialty foods, unique gifts, and all manner of things “of the table.” Wine Hyde Park Fine Wines Boise’s favorite wine boutique! Purchase a monthly subscription for the wine lover on your list, including three new wines each month from around the world! Plants A Succulent Day: This local business offers unique succulent arrangements with in-store shopping, pick-up, and delivery options.  Books Rediscovered Books: Located in downtown Boise, Rediscovered Books is “where books and people meet." With a cozy atmosphere and a mix of used and new books, the perfect gift for a book lover is sure to be found. Candles Lit and Co: With an array of creative scents and made in small batches, these high-quality soy candles are the perfect gift.  Outdoor Gear Idaho Mountain Touring: IMT has something for every outdoor enthusiast, with hiking, biking, camping, skiing, and running gear galore.  McU Sports: A Boise favorite since 1972, McU Sports offers an array of ski and snowboard, outdoor, and sports gear. Clothing Ruby Lou: This local boutique has plenty of cute pajamas, sweaters, and other pieces that make the perfect gift for any fashionista.  SHIFT Boutique: This boutique stocks high-quality and unique pieces, with clothing for both women and girls. Banana Ink: The dream for any Idaho lover, this store features sweatshirts, shirts, and hats adorned with tributes to the Gem State.      

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5 Events in Boise & Beyond - November 29th - December 1st

Photo credit to Pexels   5 Events in Boise & Beyond 1. Holiday Tree Lighting Where: The Grove Plaza - 827 W Main St When: Friday, Nov 29th Time: 5:00 - 6:00 PM EVENT DETAILS HERE   2. Glide on Grove Where: The Grove Plaza - 827 W Main St When: Friday, Nov 29th - Thursday, Jan 2nd Skate Rink Hours & Schedule:Opening Night November 29th 6:00 PM - 10:00 PM Wednesday to Friday 4:00 PM  - 8:00 PM Saturdays Noon to 8:00 PM Sundays Noon to 6:00 PM Holiday Hours:Closed Christmas Day December 25th andNew Year's Day January 1st. EVENT DETAILS HERE   3. Winter Garden aGlow Where: Idaho Botanical Garden - 2355 N Old Penitentiary Rd, Boise When: Friday, Nov 29th - Tuesday, Dec 31st Time: 6:00 - 9:00 PM EVENT DETAILS HERE   4. Festival of Trees Where: Boise Centre - 850 W Front St, Boise When / Time: Wed, Nov 27th, 10:00 AM - Sun, Dec 1st, 9:00 PM EVENT DETAILS HERE   5. Small Business Saturday Where: Downtown Boise When: Saturday, Nov 30th EVENT DETAILS HERE

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A Holiday Tradition: Ballet Idaho’s The Nutcracker

Downtown Boise is truly magical during the holiday season. Bundle up and stroll the streets of our vibrant city! Admire images of winter wonderlands, hand-painted onto storefront windows, marvel at the town’s 45-foot tall Colorado Blue Spruce tree strung with more than 5000 twinkling lights, shop for locally sourced gifts at one of many charming boutiques, or revisit childhood fun at The Grove Plaza’s very own outdoor ice skating rink.  The city is truly aglow with hundreds of lampposts wrapped in glistening lights, brightly lit wreaths hung throughout, and glittering snowflake swag strung across bustling intersections.  With the holiday season approaching, be sure to plan a special evening to take it all in. There is no better way to get into the spirit or experience the magic of the season. Visit The Saint Alphonsus Festival of Trees to view magnificent holiday decorations, celebrate with neighbors at the Plaza’s tree lighting ceremony, enjoy fine-dining at one of the city’s hot spots, and partake in one of the season’s favorite traditions – The Nutcracker – performed by Ballet Idaho.  We are thrilled to feature this year’s production of The Nutcracker, a graceful retelling of the beloved, age-old tale, and Ballet Idaho sent us the following information about this special performance.  “Once again, Ballet Idaho will bring its resplendent confectionary holiday tradition that is The Nutcracker to Treasure Valley audiences, a longtime staple for many Boiseans in December. With enchanting choreography by Peter Anastos, magical and opulent sets by Christopher McCollum, and shimmering, breathtaking costumes by Margaret Mitchell, this production has been a local favorite for years.  Ballet Idaho will continue the cherished collaboration with the Boise Philharmonic to bring the lush sounds of Tchaikovsky’s score to life at the Morrison Center for the Performing Arts. One of Ballet Idaho’s biggest shows, the production casts upward of 90 children from Ballet Idaho Academy and utilizes every Ballet Idaho company member and Ballet Idaho Trainee. From the moment the curtain opens at the vivid home of the Stahlbaums, through the snowy, winter woods under a full moon, to the saturated and glittery Land of Sweets, Ballet Idaho’s version of this timeless classic is not to be missed.”  Ballet Idaho’s The Nutcracker will run from December 6 through December 15. Tickets can be purchased at balletidaho.org

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