Boise’s Best Trick-or-Treat Spots

Photo courtesy of 107.9 Lite FM Halloween is just around the corner and it’s time to prepare for the tradition of trick-or-treating. Full of charming neighborhoods and bustling streets that go all out for this festive day, there is no lack of Halloween magic in Boise, Idaho. Grab your costumes and candy bags and try these trick-or-treating spots!   Harrison Boulevard: The pinnacle of trick-or-treating spots in Boise is Harrison Boulevard. Located in the North End, this street features stunning estates and historic homes whose Halloween decor is truly on the next level. On Halloween, Harrison Boulevard is closed to cars and gets an estimated 6,000 trick-or-treating kids and their parents visiting. This is a must-see Boise experience!    Warm Springs Avenue: Located in the East End, Warm Springs Avenue offers a similar but less busy experience as Harrison Boulevard. This street is lined with historic mansions and estates, and residents fill their yards with spooky decorations and even homemade haunted houses. Bring your candy-hungry children and check out the beautiful homes and decorations while trick-or-treating this year.   North End: The North End of Boise is sure to impress on Halloween. This prime neighborhood features charming craftsman and bungalow homes that date back to the early 1900s. Festive and spooky decorations are set up by the majority of residents, and there is an abundance of sweet treats for the young ones. While still busy, this neighborhood offers a much more spread-out trick-or-treating experience than the previous two options.    Harris Ranch: Nestled in southeast Boise is Harris Ranch, a newly established neighborhood sitting beneath the foothills and next to the Boise River. Full of families, this neighborhood is a wonderful place to trick-or-treat. Expect top-notch decorations, plenty of candy for the children, and a well-lit environment with minimal car traffic for a safe and exciting Halloween experience!   JUMP-or-Treat: Located in downtown Boise at JUMP (Jack's Urban Meeting Place), this is a family-friendly and fun event that transforms the campus into a world of wonder. Giant inflatables and local partners fill the plaza to hand out treats to costumed attendees. This event is on Saturday, October 26th from 5-8pm. View more details here.   More Halloween Fun! Another option includes Trunk-or-Treats, which are coordinated treat-or-treating events where multiple participants hand out candy in a specific public area. See a nice guide of opportunities here. Looking for more Halloween magic? Check out this map of epic Halloween displays throughout the Treasure Valley!   Some helpful tips and reminders for a safe and fun-filled evening: Trick-or-treating is observed on Thursday, October 31st this year. Some neighborhoods and trunk-or-treat events might host their events the following Friday or on other days. Trick-or-treating usually takes place from sunset to 8pm. Please be mindful of the time and try not to knock on doors in the late hours. Homes that have porch lights off are typically not participating in trick or treating Spot a teal pumpkin on someone’s porch? It may indicate that the house is participating in a ‘food-free’ treat. They may hand out non-food items like stickers or small toys. These are great options for those with food allergies. Check the candy haul for any odd items and tampered pieces. Boise is a beautiful and safe place for trick-or-treating, but it is always good practice to keep your family safe.  

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Haunted Houses and Pumpkin Patches in Boise

Photo: Jenn Jackson   Fall has begun in Boise and the crisp air carries the promise of fall activities starting back up. Boise has plenty of options for those searching for a wholesome pumpkin-picking experience or a spooky night at a haunted house. Here is our list of the best-haunted houses and pumpkin patches in the Boise area and the Treasure Valley!   Lowe Family Farmstead: Located in Kuna, the Lowe Family Farmstead is the area’s most popular fall attraction with a wide variety of activities for the whole family. The Farmstead has a large pumpkin patch where you can search for the perfect pumpkin for your jack-o-lantern. It also features other fun fall activities including a corn maze, a mini corn maze for young kids, hayrides, gemstone mining, a potato sack slide, farm animals, a ropes course, their iconic dragon maze, and countless other things to keep the whole family entertained!   Haunted World: Haunted World is the largest indoor and outdoor spooky attraction and haunted house in Idaho and prides itself in its ability to scare anyone who enters. It is open on Fridays and Saturdays in September and every day excluding Sundays in October. Tickets start at $30 and it takes about 1.5 to 2 hours to go through all the screams and horrors offered to get your heart racing.   Requiem: Requiem is a haunted house in downtown Caldwell. It is entirely indoors and offers 13,000 square feet of spooks and scares. It is open on Friday and Saturday nights to start and opens on increasing days as Halloween approaches. Tickets start at $15 and opening night is September 29th!   Shindig Farms: Shindig Farms opens Friday, September 21 in Nampa. Aside from a pumpkin patch, Shindig also offers a straw maze, a zip line, a giant slide, and a fun play area for kids. A haunted maze is also offered on Saturday nights in October. Weekday tickets are $12, weekend tickets are $14, and haunted maze tickets are $19.    Jordan’s: The Pumpkin Patch at Jordan’s Garden Center opens on September 15th and there is a huge variety available with prices typically cheaper than grocery stores. There is no cost to enter the pumpkin patch and Jordan’s also offers a hay maze, petting zoo, corn pit, toys, and photo ops at no charge!

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Best Places for Fall Foliage

Photo courtesy of Visit Idaho As summer gives way to crisp autumn air, Idaho landscapes slowly transform into breathtaking masterpieces of vibrant colors. From forests cut through by rivers to serene lakeshores, this list promises stunning vistas of fall foliage at both day trip and weekend trip distances from Boise!   Eagle Island State Park Located in Eagle, this state park has 545 acres of space around the Boise River. This park contains plenty of mature trees and native shrubs that boast stunning fall colors as temperatures change. Over 5 miles of hiking, biking, and horseback trails are available for park goers. There is also a disc golf course and a zipline course! Admission is $7 per car.  Photo courtesy of Visit Idaho   Three Island Crossing State Park (Glenns Ferry) An hour's drive from Boise sits this gorgeous and historic state park. Plenty of deciduous trees and shrubs are located here, making this trip worth the time for fall foliage. This site is where 19th-century Oregon trail pioneers crossed the Snake River, and you can learn more about these brave pioneers, early settlers, and Native Americans at the Oregon Trail History and Education Center within the park. Self-guided tours are offered and you can expect a parking fee.  Photo courtesy of Three Island Crossing State Park on Facebook   Ponderosa State Park (McCall) Located two hours outside of Boise in McCall, Ponderosa State Park features trees exploding in fall colors alongside Payette Lake. These views are unbeatable, and this park offers plenty of opportunities to soak it in with hiking, biking, and horseback trails. Overnight accommodations are offered within this park, including campsites and deluxe lakeside cabins. Head to this state park for the weekend or even just the day to experience this beautiful fall foliage! Photo courtesy of Unsplash   Payette River Scenic Byway This route begins in Eagle and follows the Payette River as it winds through the Boise and Payette National Forests. These forests are full of trees changing color alongside the river, giving your car a front-row seat to this stunning display of nature. This byway ends up in McCall, so combine it with Ponderosa State Park for an amazing fall road trip. Photo courtesy of Unsplash   Wildlife Canyon Scenic Byway This byway follows the South Fork of the Payette River from Banks to Lowman and eventually meets up with the Payette River Scenic Byway. The Payette River is favored by outdoor enthusiasts for its world-class rafting, so stop at a pull-out and watch the kayakers and rafters battle the white water. The fall foliage on this route is remarkable and a must-see! Photo courtesy of Visit Idaho

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