By Les Tanner

Double-checking with event coordinators about the following locations, dates, and times is recommended.

Northern Idaho

2         The Well~Read Evening Book Club: 
6:00 –  7:30 PM, The Well Read Moose,
Coeur d’Alene

2,9,16    Pre-school Storytime: 10:30 – 11 AM, Community Library Network, Hayden Lake

3         Community Christmas Light Parade, Kamiah

3         Coffee & Books: Join us for a lively book discussion over coffee.  10 – 11 AM,
City Library, Lewiston

3         Old Fashioned Christmas Tree Lighting & Parade: 10 AM – 1 PM, City Park, Orofino

3-11   Wallace Home Town Christmas Festival, Wallace

4         Community Riverfront Park Christmas Lighting, Kamiah

4         Holiday Open House: 10 AM – Noon, Appaloosa Museum & Heritage Center, Moscow

8         The Well~Read Morning Book Club:
10:00 – 11:30 AM, The Well-Read Moose, Coeur d’Alene

10-22 Traditions Of Christmas: The Salvation Army Kroc Center, Coeur d’Alene

11      Fall/Winter Market: 6 PM, 8037 Montana St., Rathdrum

11      Sounds of Christmas: Cardinal Chorale Chamber Singers Max Mendez, conductor NIC Wind Symphony Bryan Hannaford, conductor This event is free and open to the public. Schuler Performing Arts Center.  Sat, 7:30 PM – Sun, 3:30 PM, NIC Boswell Hall / Schuler Performing Arts Center, Coeur d’Alene

11-12 Christmas Extravaganza: Nez Perce County Fair Grounds, Lewiston

18-19 Christmas Lights Drive-Thru: Free. Edgemere Grange, Priest River

18-19 Sport Connection Gun Shows: Kootenai County Fairgrounds, Coeur d’Alene

24      Syringa Club’s “Santa Comes to Elk River”:
8 AM- 5 PM,  Elk River

Southwestern Idaho

1-17   Letters To/From Santa: The Village at Meridian is assisting Santa with letters from children in the Treasure Valley!  There is a special mailbox near the Santa House in Fountain Square.  Visit the concierge desk, obtaon some s[ecial stationery.  Have your child write their letter to Santa and drop your letter in the mailbox. If you would like a reply from Santa, be sure to include your address.  Meridian.

1-31   “Exquisite Creatures” Exhibition: An artistic experience that unravels humanity’s intimate relationship with the natural world, featuring artist, naturalist and New York Times bestselling author Christopher Marley.  10:30 AM – 4:30 PM, The Discovery Center of Idaho, Boise

1-31   Winter Garden aGlow: Wed-Sun. 6 – 9:30 PM, Idaho Botanical Garden, Boise

2         First Thursday: Treat yourself to a fun night with your favorite downtown retailers, services, watering holes and restaurants.  Make a plan to enjoy the places that make Downtown Boise the special place that it is. 5 – 9 PM, Boise

2         Family Night Out-”Samosas & Chutney”: Explore Indian flavors with vegetable-based samosas and two savory and delicious chutneys. All ages + Adult (youth under 16 must be accompanied by an enrolled adult). $16 per person.  Register at (208) 608-7680. 5-7 PM, Boise Urban Garden School, 2995 N. Five Mile Rd., Boise

3         Winter Lights Parade: 6:30-8:00 PM, Meridian

3-5     South IdahoWinter Market: This is an indoor market which takes place at the Ford Idaho Sports Center, Nampa

3-5     Holiday Art Fair: The Riverside Hotel,
Garden City

3-5     2021 Christmas Show, Expo Idaho,
Garden City

4         Christmas Bazaar & Tree Sale: 10 AM – 5 PM, Owyhee County Museum, Murphy

4         Museum Work Day: Volunteers welcome (8:00 AM).  Lunchtime seminar (bring your own lunch): Gipson Honors Students, “Presentations of of Class Projects in the Museum”. Noon to 1 PM, O. J. Smith Museum of Natural History, College of Idaho.  [NOTE: Masks required in campus buildings.] Caldwell

4         Nampa High Boosters’ Holiday Fest:
Over 100 Artisans and Crafters! Come enjoy breakfast and stay to enjoy one of our famous Poly Plate lunches.  9 AM – 4 PM, Nampa High school, Nampa

4         Eagle Country Christmas: 1 – 6 PM, Heritage Park, Eagle

4         34th St Market and Capital City Public Holiday: 4 PM, 303 E 34th St., Garden City

4         Treasure Valley Night Light Parade “Christmas A-Glow”: 6 PM – 11:59 PM, Caldwell

4-5     Amoureux Homedale Gun Show: Owyhee County Fair Board, Homedale

5-12   Sensory Friendly Event: Boise Towne Square, Boise

6-20   Santa’s Helpers Story Time: The Village at Meridian, Meridian

7         Art Endeavor: All ages are invited to get inspired and make their own art creation. 4 – 5:30 PM, Public Library, Nampa

8         Hyatt Hidden Lakes Birding: Join Golden Eagle Audubon and the Wednesday Morning Birders for some slow birding. Expect to see a wide variety of ducks in breeding plumage as well as wintering songbirds and possibly a few late migrants. 9 AM – Noon.  Meet at the main parking lot, Hyatt Hidden Lakes, Boise

8,15   Messy Munchkins Holiday Art: Create 3 gifts to give away or save as keepsakes for the holiday season, proudly made by your toddler. Parent/guardian participation is required. Youth aprons will be provided; however, dress for a mess. Ages 2-4, 10:30-11:30 am, Community Center, McCall

13-17 City of Emmett’s Santa & Friends Drive through the Neighborhoods: 6 PM, Emmett

18      THRIVE Kids’ Day Out: 1 – 4:30 PM, Tomlinson South Meridian YMCA, Meridian

18      Procrastinators’ Christmas Marketplace: 11 AM – 4 PM, The Gathering Place, Emmett

18-19 YMCA Christmas Run: 1 PM Saturday and
6 AM Sunday, 1010 W Washington St., Boise

18-19 Handel’s “Messiah”: Boise Philharmonic presentation; 8 PM, Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist, Boise

21      Potato Bowl: 1:30 – 6:30 PM, Albertsons Stadium, Boise

22      Traveling Table Mobile Food Pantry:
7:15 – 9 PM, 211 19th Ave N., Nampa

27      LEGO© Club: All ages are invited to get creative and build anything they choose with Legos. We will also have an area for the younger builders to explore with Duplos.
4 – 5 PM, Public Library, Nampa

28      Elmore County Mobile Pantry: 5 – 7 PM, 132 E 5th Ave., Glenns Ferry

31      Idaho Potato Drop: 3 PM, Idaho State Capitol, Boise

Southern Idaho

8-11   “The Best Christmas Pageant Ever, The Musical”: College of Southern Idaho, Twin Falls

12      Jazz Ensemble: Admission is free, but donations to the CSI Music Department Scholarship Fund are always appreciated at the door. 4 – 6 PM, College of Southern Idaho, Twin Falls

Central Idaho

1-31   MadDog Gallery Artisan’s Market: Come shop this great selection of art. All different mediums will be showcased at the Gallery.  Support our local artists.  Challis 

3-4     Christmas Bazaar: Friday 10 AM – 6 PM, Saturday 10 AM – 5 PM Community Event Center, Challis

10      Story Time with Santa:  Join Santa and the Peterson family for light refreshments and celebrate the Christmas season. This event is free and open to public. 2 – 5 PM, Penwell House, 810 E North Avenue, Challis

12      Wood River Orchestra Holiday Concert:
4 – 4:15 PM, Presbyterian Church of the
Big Wood, Ketchum

13      Christmas Tree Lighting: 10 AM – 7 PM, Sun Valley Lodge, Sun Valley

21      Starry Solstice Social: Gather in Ketchum Town Square to celebrate the winter solstice & our dark skies with telescopes provided. Live Music by Audio Moonshine (6-8), Food by KB’s, and Cookies and Hot Cocoa by Hailey Coffee, 2:30 – 7:30 PM, Town Square, Ketchum

Eastern Idaho

3  ISU Chamber Choir Holiday Concert: 7:30 – 9:30 PM, Stephens Performing Arts Center, ISU, Pocatello

4  Santa’s Workshop: Shilo Inn Event Center, Idaho Falls

4  ISU Symphonic Band Concert:
7:30 – 9:30 PM, Stephens Performing Arts Center, ISU, Pocatello

4-5     Pocatello Gun Show: Mountain View Event Center, Pocatello

8  Customer Appreciation Day: All day, Lava Hot Springs

11-12 Lewis & Clark Gun Show: 9 AM, Mountain View Event Center, Pocatello

17      Christmas Class Parties: 9:15 AM – 2:30 PM, Sunnyside Elementary School, Idaho Falls

19        Natividad Vivo/ Live Nativity: 5 – 7 PM,
170 Park Ave, Idaho Falls