2021 Holiday Season in Boise

Downtown Boise Association Kicks Off Holidays in the City 2021 with a Month of Family Friendly Promotions

Downtown Boise Association’s Holidays in the City campaign is a whole month of family-friendly promotions. The promotions are planned to benefit the community and downtown businesses beginning on Friday, November 26th evening. The campaign includes Small Business Saturday, Winter Window Walk, and City Santa. DBA also hosts the City of Boise’s Holiday Tree, supporting the Women’s and Children’s Alliance (WCA) on The Grove Plaza.

City of Boise’s Holiday Tree in Support of WCA

The giving tree partnership between WCA and DBA is a long-standing tradition in Downtown Boise. The tree will be surrounded with gift tags with a wish list item from Women’s and Children’s Alliance (WCA). Starting on November 26th, the public is encouraged to take a label and purchase a gift to benefit families at the shelter. Items can be dropped off at WCA during times specified on the tags. 

The City of Boise’s Holiday Tree, sponsored by Idaho Central Credit Union and the City of Boise, will be lit on The Grove Plaza in Downtown Boise on Thanksgiving weekend. The Williams family of Boise donated this year’s tree. Over 5,000 lights will adorn the approximately 45-foot Colorado Blue Spruce. 

In the traditional tree lighting ceremony, the public is encouraged to make Downtown Boise a destination. Starting the evening of Friday, November 26th, celebrate the start of the holiday season with all that Downtown Boise has to offer. Swag lights (including three new locations this season), wreaths, and holiday lights will adorn Downtown Boise giving a festive glow to the season. For more details, see below: 

Winter Window Walk

Friday, November 26th through December 2021

Downtown business windows will be decked out for the season as part of the Winter Window Walk. Beginning the evening of Friday, November 26th, participating storefront windows will be decorated for the season. The public is encouraged to stroll through downtown, taking note of standout displays. In addition, the community will be able to vote for their favorites via QR code in participating windows. 

Small Business Saturday

Saturday, November 27th, 2021

This promotion is designed to encourage the public to shop small and local. Participating businesses will host specials and are ready to welcome the public. They will also be stamping Shopping Passports – available at participating businesses or available to download at downtownboise.org. When shoppers complete the passport by visiting a minimum of six shops, they return the Passport to Rediscovered Books downtown by closing time on November 27th, 2021. They will then be entered to win one of three $100 Downtown Boise Gift Cards. Social posts should include #shopsmallboise.

City Santa, Saturdays in December

The cherished tradition of visiting Santa at D.L. Evans Bank will continue in 2021. Details will be available on the City Santa event page at downtownboise.org in the coming week. 

Downtown Boise Gift Cards

Downtown Boise gift cards are for sale at six convenient locations. They are good at more than 250 participating retail shops and service providers in Downtown Boise. The gift card program, managed and supported by DBA and T-Mobile, adds more than $275,000 annually to the downtown economy. Downtown Boise Gift Cards can be purchased online at downtownboise.org or the DBA office during regular business hours. Other outlets include JD’s Bodega, Bodega Boise, Hotel 43, Grove Hotel, or the Old Boise Management Office (by appointment only). Online orders for Christmas day must be placed by noon on Wednesday, December 22nd. (DBA office recently moved and is now located at 812 Bannock Street, Suite 310 in Downtown Boise.)

Special thanks

Holidays in the City is made possible with the help from our partners and sponsors, including Idaho Central Credit Union, D.L. Evans Bank, City of Boise Mayor’s Office, Boise City Forestry, Women’s and Children’s Alliance, Quality Electric, Rediscovered Bookshop, Idaho Small Business Development Center, Buy Idaho, Small Business Administration, Boise Farmers Market, American Express, and the members and merchants of the Downtown Boise Association. More information can be found at downtownboise.org. Follow Downtown Boise on Facebook and Instagram for the latest updates.

For a calendar of all the family-friendly Holidays in the City events in Downtown Boise this season, go to downtownboise.org.