By Ruby Tanner

Family-oriented and “affordable” Idaho events get a free listing in our calendar. Here’s how to submit:

Deadline: The first of each month.
Lead time:  Two issues.
Next deadline:  September 1 for the November issue.
Send details to:  [email protected]

1    Music in the Park: Free Admission and Ice Cream Social at Tower Park, Cambridge

1    Pinehurst Days and Commancheros Car Show, Pinehurst
1    Story Trail Book of the Month: “Hey, Little Ant”; 12:00 noon; Foothills Learning Center, 3188 Sunset Peak Road, Boise
1,15    Reading at the Refuge: Preschoolers (and their parents) are invited to listen to wildlife-related stories and do a related craft activity; held on the first and third Mondays of each month at 10 AM and at 2 PM; Visitors Center, Deer Flat NWR, Lake Lowell, Nampa
1-6    Custer County Fair: Fairgrounds, Mackay
1-12    Art, Music and Arduinos: Two-week class; Free; programming, art, and music.
girls 13-18 only (208-651-6200); GIZMO-CDA, Coeur d’Alene
1-31    The Museum of Idaho exhibition, America’s Revolution: Rebels with a Cause: Travel back in time to the foundation of the United States of America, when a group of men and women fought for the right to self-govern; This exhibition is the product of two years of scouring the nation for collectors willing to share their treasures–it is the greatest collection of Revolutionary War artifacts west of the Mississippi; open all days but Sundays; call 208- 522-1400 for details and admission prices; Idaho Falls
2    Responsible Riders OHV Safety Class: 6:00pm to 9:00pm, Eagle Island State Park, Eagle
2    Kilroy Coffee Klatch: Held on the first Tuesday of every month for coffee and conversation at the Warhawk Air Museum, this event is FREE for ALL veterans and ALL veterans are welcome; 10:00 AM-12:00 noon; Nampa
2-5    “Hungry Planet—What the World Eats”: A new photo exhibition depicting families from around the world and exploring human kind’s oldest social activity: eating; Idaho Museum of Natural History, Idaho State University, Pocatello
2-30    Fly casting Clinics: Tuesdays through Saturdays; FREE; no registration or equipment necessary, just show up; these take place in the lawn next to the Sun Valley Adventure Camp building (near the front of the Sun Valley Opera House), from 5:30–6:30 pm.;  (208) 726-5282 for details, Sun Valley
2-30    Summertime Story Series: TUESDAYS; Enjoy reading and the outdoors with your children while a special guest speaker from the community will read books, followed by fun outdoor activities; 10:00AM-Noon, PCEI Nature Center, Moscow
2-30    Wood River Farmer’s Markets: TUESDAYS (Ketchum), THURSDAYS (Hailey), 2:00-6:00PM, Ketchum/Hailey
3,10    Farmer’s Market: 3:00PM, downtown Caldwell
3-6    Gem/Boise County Fair, Emmett
3-31    Family Friendly Tennis: WEDNESDAYS; Family members of all ages and generations are welcome; $25 for up to four players; 6pm-7:30pm; curriculum tailored to accommodate different ages and skill levels, Post Falls High School, Post Falls
3-31    Farmer’s Market: WEDNESDAYS, 1:00-5:00 PM, Soda Springs
3-31    Happier Hour Story Time: WEDNESDAYS, at The Well~Read Moose; starts at 4pm with stories starting at 4:30, Coeur d’Alene
3-31    Hikin’ Buddies: WEDNESDAYS, 9:30 AM-1:00 PM; accompany a shelter dog on a walk (208-788-4351), Ketchum
3-31    Revive @ 5 Summer Concerts: WEDNESDAYS, 5:00-8:00PM, enjoy live music, different food each week at the Old Town Pavilion, Pocatello
3-31    Pre-School Story Hour: WEDNESDAYS, 10:00AM; guest reader and a snack, Public Library, Salmon
4,11    Municipal Band Concerts: 8 pm – 9:30 pm,; free; every Thursday until the middle of August, Municipal Band Shell, City Park, Twin Falls
4    Well-Read Evening Book Club: from 6:00pm to 7:30pm at The Well Read Moose; Free;  New members are always welcome, Coeur d’Alene
4-7    “The Wizard of Oz”: Young performers’ edition; 7:30-9:30PM, Civic Center, Lewiston
4-14    Festival at Sandpoint: Sit under the stars and enjoy this 33rd annual internationally renowned outdoor concert series on the lawn at Memorial Field, Sandpoint
4,11,18    Yoga on the Canyon: 7 pm to 8 pm; A fun workout that can be modified for all fitness levels; free but donations are welcome–and all proceeds will go to the Magic Valley Trail Enhancement Committee; HUB International, Twin Falls
4-6    4-H Bingham County Fair: Local youths who have stayed busy this summer raising livestock and participating in various projects as part of the 4-H program will be showing off their animals and projects for the chance to earn some ribbons and cash, Blackfoot
4-25    Screen on the Green: THURSDAYS, 8:45-11:00PM; Free family-friendly films on a big outdoor screen; Theophilus Tower lawn, U of Idaho, Moscow
4-25    TNT for Teens; THURSDAYS, 4-5 PM; kids 10 and up meet to play video games, Public Library, Hailey
5    Silver Screen on the Green–“Inside Out”: Free outdoor movie at Optimist Park, Nampa
5-6    PRCA Rodeo:  Evening action at the Bonner County Fairgrounds, Sandpoint
5-6    Solar Viewing/Star Party: Explore the wonders of the universe in some of America’s darkest, clearest skies; solar viewing (safe views of the sun with specially filtered telescopes) from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m, and a star party (telescope viewing) from 9:00 p.m. to midnight; free, but a $5.00 day-use park entrance fee applies; Castle Rocks State Park (208-824-5901), Almo
5-7    27thAnnual Yellow Pine Music and Harmonica Festival, Yellow Pine
5-7    1860 Days, Pierce
5-7    Art on the Green: Old Fort Sherman Grounds, North Idaho College, Coeur d’Alene
5-7    Street Fair, Downtown Coeur d’Alene
5-26    Farmer’s Market: FRIDAYS, 4:00-8:00PM, Rexburg
5-26    Public Market: FRIDAYS, 5:00-8:00PM; vendor stalls and live music, Lewiston
6    Fairfield Street Dance: Get ready for an unforgettable night of free entertainment for the whole family; The music starts at 9:00pm so bring the family, bring your friends and bring your lawn chairs–There will be food and beverage vendors to keep you going all night long, Fairfield
6    Kiwanis Car Show: Car entrants of antique, sport, modified, collectors and one of a kind; This is a free family event, fun for all ages; 9:00AM-4:30PM, at Roberta McKercher Park, Hailey
6    Museum Work Day: Volunteers welcome; Lunchtime Seminar (bring your own lunch): Dr. Pat Fields, Olivet College and O.J.Smith Museum of Natural History: “A Costa Rica Adventure” ; The O.J.Smith Museum of Natural History, Boone Hall, The College of Idaho, Caldwell
6    “Return to Riverside” Country Music Festival, Potlatch
6    American Falls Day, American Falls
6    “Take Me Fishing” Trailer: 9:00AM-1:00PM, Upper Kelly Park Pond, Soda Springs
6    Kootenai County Farmer’s Market: 9:00AM-1:30PM, Hayden
6    Meridian Youth Farmer’s Market: Locally grown produce, homemade goodies and handmade arts and crafts are available for purchase from 9am – 12pm; the Youth Farmer’s Market gives kids an opportunity to profit from their hobbies, projects and passions, Meridian
6    Miracle League Baseball: Summer baseball league for special-abled children ages 5 to 17; No charge to play and uniforms are provided as well, (contact 208-740-0111), Harmon Killebrew Miracle Field, Payette
6    Long Bridge Swim: Hundreds compete in a 1.76-mile swim across Lake Pend Oreille during this annual event, Sandpoint
6    Geyser Days and Salmon Feed, Soda Springs
6    22nd Annual Fundraiser: Sawtelle Park, Island Park
6    Friendship Day, Deary
6-27    Saturday Market Cartoons: SATURDAYS, 9:00AM-Noon; Free; Kenworthy Performing Arts Centre, Moscow
6-27    Long Camp Farmers’ Market: SATURDAYS, Kamiah/Kooskia
6-27    Grangeville Farmer’s Market: SATURDAYS; Vendors representing local farmers and crafters, 9:00AM-1:00PM, Pioneer Park, Grangeville
6-27    Canyon County Co-op Summer Community Market: SATURDAYS, 9AM-3PM, 1415 First Street South, Nampa
7    Raspberry Festival, Cottonwood
8-13    Blaine County Fair, Carey
8-14    Bannock County Fair, Downey
9-13    Jerome County Fair, Jerome
9-13    Payette County Fair: Free parking and admission; there’s something here for everyone! Payette County Fairgrounds, New Plymouth
10-13    Owyhee County Fair, Homedale
11    Shakespeare in the Park: Montana Shakespeare in the Parks presents The Comedy of Errors; 6:00 PM at the Sacajawea Interpretive Center; FREE; sponsored by the Salmon Arts Council; grab a blanket, pack a picnic, and come out and enjoy this summer tradition, Salmon
11-13    Bear Lake County Fair, Montpelier
11-14    Sho-Ban Festival, Fort Hall
12-13    Elk City Days, Elk City
12-13    Three Island Crossing Celebration, Glenns Ferry
12-14    Annual Accordion Festival: Players from around the country come to Wallace for another dancing-in-the-streets event; Nothing says “fun” like an accordion, Wallace
12-14    Class of 1966 Reunion: Twin Falls High School, Twin Falls
12-14    48th Annual Arts and Crafts Festival: An outdoor juried fine arts and crafts show that honors the work made by the individual artists; no commercial agents are allowed; also includes artists’ demonstrations, live music, food vendors, and a children’s activity area, Ketchum
12-14    Molly B’Damn Days, Murray
12-20    Cassia County Fair, Burley
13    Chubbuck Days: Parade, Car & Motorcycle Show, Youth Dance and Celebration, Chubbuck
13    Kids Splash Day: Water gun duck races, fishing, casting, bounce houses, boating safety; 10:00AM-2:00PM, Cabela’s, Post Falls
13    Wings Over Sandpoint Fly-In: Regional pilots fly into Sandpoint Airport or into Dover Bay, for seaplanes, and hold a breakfast and aircraft display; Sandpoint
13    Eastern Idaho Scottish Athletics Games: Watch athletes compete in the 9 heavy events of the Scottish Highlands, Cotant Park, Chubbuck
13-14    Annual Arts & Crafts Fair, downtown Sandpoint
13-14    Thirtieth Annual Festival of the Arts: Free; Lakeview Park, Nampa
13-14    Festival of Quilts Quilt Show: Community Hall, Sand Point
14    National Creamsicle Day: Bring the family for a fun day playing at the park, visiting vendors, and just having a good time; Settlers Park, Meridian
15-19    Rocket Girls: A free one-week camp; GRIT (Girls Revolution in Technology) programming for girls only, age 12 and up; Girl power, rockets, design; (208-651-6200); Gizmo-CDA, Coeur d’Alene
16    Idaho Job & Career Fair: Free; 9:00AM – 4:00PM, Civic Center, Nampa
17-20    Madison County Family Fair, Rexburg
17-21    Idaho County Fair, Cottonwood
19    Power Boat Regatta: Harrison Docks, Harrison
19    Community Library LitStroll: Stroll through Ketchum enjoying “tastes” of literature, art and great food at each of the Community Library locations: Sun Valley Museum of History, Gold Mine, Gold Mine Consign, and Children’s Library; 5:00-8:00PM; free family-friendly event to celebrate literature and reading, Ketchum
19-20    Agai’dika Heritage Days, Salmon
19-20    Council Mountain Music Festival: 8:00am Friday to 9:00pm Saturday; Veteran’s Memorial Peace Park, 2046 Highway 95, Council
19-21    Chief Looking Glass Pow Wow, Kamiah
19-21    Ride the Bayhorse: Land of the Yankee Fork State Park, (208-879-5244); Challis
20    Caribou County Mud Bogs: 11:00AM-4:00PM, Soda Springs
20    Portneuf Greenway Riverfest: 11 am to 9 pm; Free admission, Raymond Park, Pocatello
20    VFW Community Breakfast: 8:00-11:00AM; $5 donation, kids under 12 years old are free; Rexburg
20    WaterShed Weekend: “Whose Home Is It?”– Free; Get to know the Boise River and who calls it home, and take part in fun crafts and activities that highlight life along the river; from 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM, Boise WaterShed, 11818 West Joplin Road, Boise
20    Ice Cream Zoofari, Pocatello Zoo, Pocatello
20    Family Fun Day: “Model Boats and Muppet Treasure Island”; As a family work together to make your own creation and launch or race your completed projects against other families; $20/family, Noon to 4:00PM, Salvation Army Kroc Center, Coeur ‘d’Alene
20-21    Wild Weippe Rodeo, Weippe
20-21    Payette Lakes Fine Arts and Crafts Faire: The fair hosts over 75 artists: log and willow furniture, hand woven hammocks, oil painting, stained glass, jewelry, ceramic, wood, fiber, metals, two-dimensional art and more; live music and food booths on both day, Saturday 10:00 am to 6:00 pm, Sunday 10:00 am to 4:00 pm; Gold Glove Park, McCall
25    National Parks Day: The National Park Service turns 100 on August 25; everyone can take part in the celebration; Join the park staff and help us celebrate; City of Rocks State Park, Malta
26-27    Sawtooth Salmon Festival, Stanley
26-28    Bannock County Bluegrass Festival: Bannock County Events Center, Downey
27    Pocatello Raceway Races, Pocatello
27    Classic Boat Festival, Coeur d’Alene
27    Pooch Party Stroll & Splash: Enjoy Nampa’s largest dog festival; Bring your dog(s) and family members to participate in a scenic one mile walk around Lakeview Park, after which the Water Park will open and the dogs will have the opportunity to splash around in the swimming pool—enjoy contests, raffles, and pet friendly vendor booths as you support a great cause because all proceeds from this event go toward the continued development of the Nampa Dog Park, Lakeview Park, Nampa
27    Jim Curry Presents the Music of John Denver: National Oregon/California Trail Center (866)847.3803, Montpelier
27-31    Idaho Glass Artist at the MadDog Gallery, Challis
28-30    Preston Night Rodeo and Parade: Franklin County Fairgrounds, Preston
30    Oneida Academy Heritage Day: Dinner, music, a pie-making contest, horse and buggy rides and other pioneer games; Benson Park, Preston