Happy spooky season! As we start thinking about all the fall and Halloween fun ahead of us this month, I wanted to highlight some of the biggest family-friendly October events you’ll wanna add to your calendar As always, more details are always on our FREE community events calendar – boisewithkids.com/events
Idaho Cider Fest
When: October 3rd from 12–6pm
Where: Bannock Street between 8th and 9th in downtown Boise
About: This is a block party with cideries from the Northwest, plus local beer, food, vendors, and yard games. You can pre-purchase a bundle of 8 tokens here. It’s free and open to all ages!
Meridian Oktoberfest
When: October 3rd from 10am–9pm
Where: Downtown Meridian
About: The festival takes over the streets with German-inspired food, beer, live music, vendors, contests, and activities for kids. Admission is free!
See Spot Walk
When: October 3rd from 10am–12:30pm
Where: Julia Davis Park
About: It’s the Idaho Humane Society’s 34th annual dog walk: a one-mile stroll along the Greenbelt with hundreds of pups and their people, followed by a big pet party with dog contests, food trucks, vendors and the adorable Alumni Pet Parade. Every step helps fund care and shelter for more than 10,000 animals a year. Registration is $25-$75.
Dogtoberfest at Dogtopia
When: October 3rd from 3–7pm
Where: The Dogtopia parking lot (3203 W Chinden Blvd) in Garden City
About: It’s a fall afternoon for the whole family with food, beer and cider, local vendors, and a bounce house with a slide for the kids. It’s free!
Witches on the Water
When: October 3rd starting at noon
Where: Barber Park
About: It’s a spooky season river float where witches trade broomsticks for paddleboards. It’s free to join or watch from the Greenbelt!
Hay Day
When: October 3rd from 1–5pm
Where: Indian Creek Plaza in Caldwell
About: Hay Day is a new fall festival celebrating Caldwell’s farming roots, with pumpkins, grapes, hops, antique tractors, hands-on activities, vendors, live music and country dancing. It’s free to attend.
Boise State vs. Utah State
When: October 3rd with kickoff at 5:30pm
Where: Albertsons Stadium in Boise
About: Boise State vs. Utah State! It’s the Broncos’ first Pac-12 home game, so get there early to tailgate. Ticket cost and availability vary by seat.
YMCA Harrison Classic Kid’s Race
When: October 4 at 3pm
Where: Harrison Boulevard in Boise
About: The YMCA Harrison Classic Kid’s Race is an all-inclusive one-mile run/walk for kids, and every participant gets a shirt, a medal and a healthy snack. Registration is $30.
Witches’ Night Out
When: October 8 from 6–9pm
Where: The Village at Meridian
About: Witches’ Night Out is an annual event that raises money for Faces of Hope and has live music, vendors, raffles, and costume prizes for the best witches and warlocks. It’s free!
Dogtoberfest
When: October 9 from 5–9pm
Where: Indian Creek Plaza in Caldwell
About: It’s a dog-friendly Oktoberfest with seasonal beer, live music, a stein-holding competition, and the crowd-favorite Running of the Wieners dachshund race. It’s free!
Spooky Movie Night
When: October 9 at dusk
Where: Bernie Fisher Park in Kuna
About: Spooky Movie Night is a screening of The Nightmare Before Christmas, and a fun, family-friendly way to kick off Halloween season. It’s free! There’s food trucks there and you can bring snacks, blankets, and low back chairs.
Bluey’s Big Play
When: October 14 – 15, shows start at 6pm both nights
Where: The Morrison Center
About: It’s the Heeler family live on stage with puppets and original music. Tickets and availability vary by seat.
Music Theatre of Idaho presents The Addams Family
When: October 15 – 17: Shows are at 7:30pm Thursday and Friday, and 1:30pm and 7:30pm Saturday
Where: the Nampa Civic Center
About: Music Theatre of Idaho is performing The Addams Family. It’s the musical comedy about Wednesday Addams falling for someone way more “normal” than her famously macabre family. Tickets and availability vary by seat.
Viva Nampa Festival
When: October 16 from 6–10pm
Where: Downtown Nampa
About: Viva Nampa Festival is a festival celebrating the vibrant culture of our Latino and Hispanic communities. It’s put on with 208 Night Market and Downtown Nampa Association. There will be street food, artisan crafts, unique vendors, folklorico performances, drinks, and plenty of great food, and vibes. It’s free and open to all ages.
Fall Festival at The WaterShed
When: October 17 from 10am–2pm
Where: 11818 W Joplin Road
About: The WaterShed’s Fall Festival is a family morning of pumpkin decorating, fall art, exploring the exhibit hall and meeting live reptiles from Idaho Reptile Zoo. It’s free!
Behind the Scenes Tours at the Old Pen
When: October 17, 6–10pm, last admission at 9pm
Where: The Old Idaho Penitentiary in Boise
About: Recommended for 13+. Behind the Scenes Tours are happening, and it’s your chance to explore buildings and cells that are normally off-limits, with guides stationed throughout to share stories. Tickets are $15, and Idaho State Historical Society members get in free.
Meridian Trunk or Treat
When: October 22 from 6–9pm
Where: Meridian City Hall Plaza
About: It’s a giant Halloween party with more than 90 local businesses handing out candy, plus music, a dance floor and live performances. It’s free! A $1 donation per child to the Meridian Food Bank Backpack Program is encouraged.
YMCA Halloween Carnival
When: October 23 from 5–7pm
Where: Downtown Boise YMCA
About: YMCA’s Halloween Carnival is a costume-friendly night of carnival games, treats, and Halloween activities. It’s free!
Idaho Steelheads Home Opener
When: October 23 – 24, puck drops at 7:10pm both nights.
Where: Idaho Central Arena in downtown Boise
About: The Idaho Steelheads are back and it’s the home opener! Tickets and availability vary by seat.
YMCA Halloween Run
When: October 24 at 10 am
Where: Ann Morrison Park in Boise
About: Run the Freaky 5K or the Monster Mile. It’s a costume fun run (neon and glow sticks encouraged!) with costume prizes, and a Micron Trunk or Treat follows the race. Tickets are about $39 for the 5K and $34 for the Monster Mile.
Night of a Thousand Pumpkins
When: October 24, 2026 – 6 pm to 9 pm
Where: Eagle City Hall Campus
About: Come dressed as your favorite ghoul and go through the always popular Trunk-or-Treat, witness the spooky decorations throughout the grounds of the Haunted City Hall, take part in the Return of the Chili Cook Off, and see the spectacle of 1,000 carved jack-o-lanterns placed throughout the entire area. And as the night goes on, there will be plenty of other activities and food trucks to help keep you busy with spooky fun. We will also be collecting food donations for those in need. The Eagle Food Bank will provide donation bins for canned and other non-perishable food items, located inside Eagle City Hall and the Community Hall during the event. The event is free to attend, donations are not required, but gladly accepted.
Boo at the Zoo
When: October 24 – 25, from 10am–5pm both days, with last admission at 4pm
Where: Zoo Boise
About: Boo at the Zoo is a big family Halloween weekend with trick-or-treat stations, costume contests for all ages, face painting, vendors, photo ops, and Halloween treats for the animals. Regular zoo admission applies, and Zoo Boise members get in free.
JUMP-or-Treat
When: October 24 from 5–8pm
Where: JUMP in downtown Boise
About: It’s an “inflatable forest” of JUMP’s giant inflatables, with local nonprofits handing out treats and treasures along the way. It’s free!
Downtown Nampa Trick-or-Treat
When: October 29 from 4–7pm
Where: Downtown Nampa
About: The 39th Annual Trick-or-Treat is a longtime tradition where thousands of costumed kids trick-or-treat at downtown businesses. It’s free!
Fright Nights at the Old Pen
When: October 30 – 31 from 7–11pm
Where: The Old Idaho Penitentiary
About: Friday is recommended for 13+ (under 18 with an adult), and Saturday is 18+ only. Fright Nights is a one-of-a-kind Halloween party with music, photo ops, food trucks, drinks for purchase, spooky history performances, and the haunted Terror on Cell Block 4. You can also add a tour of the historic prison cemetery. Tickets are $30.
Star Trunk or Treat
When: October 31 from 3–5pm
Where: Riverhouse Pasture (960 S Main Street in Star)
About: It’s a hometown Halloween afternoon with decorated trunks, a costume contest, bounce houses, kids activities and food trucks, wrapping up in time for neighborhood trick-or-treating. It’s free!
Boise State vs. Texas State
When: October 31, kickoff at 8pm
Where: Albertsons Stadium in Boise
About: Boise State vs. Texas State. It’s the first time the Broncos have ever played Texas State. Tickets and availability vary by seat.
The Shrining
When: October 31 starting at 5pm
Where: Shrine Social Club in downtown Boise
About: It’s Duck Club’s annual Halloween party, headlined by BIG SIS (a Liverpool sibling duo making cheeky, dance-y pop) and Stop Light Observations. Local favorites Moon Owl’s Mages, Deep Heaven, Lobo Lara, Brand New Companion and Degler round out the night. There’s food, flash tats, and more. Tickets are $26.20. It’s open to all ages!
Harrison Blvd Trick-or-Treating
When: October 31st, around 4pm when the street closes
Where: Harrison Boulevard in Boise’s North End
About: Harrison Boulevard in Boise’s North End is the city’s premier trick-or-treating destination, famous for its elaborate Halloween decorations, festive atmosphere, and thousands of visitors on Halloween night. The street is closed to vehicle traffic on October 31st, creating a safe environment for families and a decades-long community tradition. Residents go all out with decorations and candy, making it a memorable Boise experience for trick-or-treaters.
This month is sure to be one full of Halloween magic! Did we forget an event? Let us know so we can add it, and submit it to our events calendar here! Have a spectacular spooky season!
For our full Fall Family Fun Guide, click here! It’s got even more fun fall activities. Plus our list of Treasure Valley Pumpkin Patches right here.