This week is where the Holiday Season gets real. My suggestion: Start with the parade on Friday night in Meridian, and keep it going from there with a Holiday Bazaar marathon all Saturday long.

Gift idea: Appetite for Idaho books are selling like mad this season, and I just happen to know where you can get them. Send $18 per book to:

Amy Larson
119 S. Valley Drive, Suite A #218
Nampa, ID. 83686
Have a great week!
~Amy

Boise Winter Window Gallery Stroll
Dec. 4-31
Downtown Boise Downtown Corridor, Boise
Downtown Boise’s filled with Holiday cheer as local artists and businesses conjure up the Winter Window Gallery Stroll, amazing window art from First Thursday the 4th and beyond. Get into the Christmas mood and take a walk in the magical state capital. For locations and to vote for your favorite, visit downtownboise.org or the DBA's Facebook page. FREE

MK Nature Center Bird Seed Sale
Fri., Dec. 5, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. and Sat., Dec. 6, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.
MK Nature Center 600 S. Walnut St., Boise
Local, preferred seed in small or large bags available, live bird presentations Saturday, and holiday crafts from 11-3 for the kids. There’s even a gift shop full of holiday items, all with the theme of what else? NATURE. Email: sue.dudley@idfg.idaho.gov IP: 164.165.235.3 FREE admission
208-334-2225

Star Christmas Extravaganza
Fri., Dec. 5, 10 a.m.-8 p.m. and Sat., Dec. 6, 12-6 p.m.
LifeSpring Christian Community Center 174 N. Star Road, Star
Two days of Christmas bazaar bliss! A City tree lighting, charity events town-wide, brass and string bands, choirs, and major Christmas merriment. Get more info at staridahochamber.com/events. FREE
208-841-3116

Boise Made: Wintry Market
Fri., Dec. 5, 12-6 p.m. and Sat., Dec. 6, 12-6 p.m.
Arts and History Sesqui-Shop 1008 Main St., Boise
The Wintry Market’s BACK, part of the Boise Made Holiday Pop-Up series. Wintry Market’s popular vendors make an encore appearance, turning the Sesqui-Shop into a holiday market wonderland. Meet the artists, get unique gifts, and enjoy something hot to sip from Jodi and the ST(r)EAM Coffee Bike. FREE.
208-384-8509

Hello Dinner One-Year Anniversary Party
Fri., Dec. 5, 3-6 p.m.
Hello Dinner 12646 W. Fairview Ave., Boise
Hellloooo, Dinner! Goodbye s-tress. Celebrate a year of dinner-having with some free food, beverages from Indian Creek, kombucha from Boise Kombucha, some raffle action, and more! FREE

Live Nativity
Fri., Dec. 5, 6-9 p.m. and Sat., Dec. 6, 5-9 p.m.
Eagle Seventh-day Adventist Church 538 W. State St., Eagle
The inn, the shepherds, the animals, and baby Jesus, within the setting of a Bethlehem marketplace. Friday will feature a nativity movie, and Saturday will feature the Gem State Academy Choir & Bell Ensemble and a piano concert on Saturday. Take nonperishable food for the The Idaho Foodbank. FREE

Meridian Winter Lights Parade and Tree Lighting
Fri., Dec. 5, 6:30-8 p.m.
Meridian City Hall 33 E. Broadway Ave., Meridian
Mayor Tammy de Weerd lights the tree, emcee’d by Kevin and Brenda Mee! Parade begins at Storey Park, heading to the Generations Plaza for the tree lighting. For a map of the parade route, visit meridiancity.org/parks_rec.aspx?id=15268. FREE
208-888-4433

Idaho Country Christmas
Dec. 5-7, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
Five Mile Plaza Five Mile and Overland, Boise
Face painting, food booths, art, jewelry and more from over 30 local artisans. Performances Saturday by local choirs and small groups of carolers. Santa and his reindeer, too, and…giveaways! FREE

St. Mary's Christmas Market
Sat., Dec. 6, 10 a.m.-6:30 p.m. and Sun., Dec. 7, 9 a.m.-1 p.m.
St. Mary's School 2612 W. State St., Boise
Enjoy holiday greetings in the form of baked goods, tamales, holiday wreaths and crafts. And…”You Know Who” is going to be there, too. FREE
208-342-7476

Multicultural Holiday Bazaar
Sat., Dec. 6, 8 a.m.-8 p.m.
Boise International Market 5823 W. Franklin Road, Boise
Want to rock the gift-giving? How ‘bout going internationally-themed with the gifts this year? We know just the place to do that. Clothing, shoes, jewelry, accessories…even the food and beverages are different than the same old, same old. AND, you get entertained while you’re shopping with the music, dancing, and more. FREE
208-342-7476

Christmas Craft Fair
Sat., Dec. 6, 9 a.m.-2 p.m.
Nampa Church of the Brethren 11030 W. Orchard Ave., Nampa
If homemade chicken noodle soup and cinnamon rolls sound good to you, you need to stop by. Then check out the crochet/knit items, jams, honey, woodworking, quilts, jewelry, goodies, Scentsy, Thirty-One and Fat Daddy's BBQ sauce. FREE
208-466-3321

Hip Holiday Craft Market
Sat., Dec. 6, 9 a.m.-4 p.m.
Flying M Coffeegarage 1314 Second St. S., Nampa
Over 30 of the hippest crafters in the Valley, at one of the very hippest locations in the Valley. Nosh off the food truck yum yums, and enjoy hanging out at Flying M. FREE
208-467-5533

Sons of Norway Christmas Bazaar
Sat., Dec. 6, 9 a.m.-3 p.m.
King of Glory Lutheran Church 3430 N. Maple Grove Road, Boise
Have you ever had Norwegian baked goods? If not, you need to get ‘er done and indulge. There will also be rosemaling pieces, Christmas wreaths, jewelry and cozy knitted products. FREE.
208-377-0220

Children's Winterland Festival
Sat., Dec. 6, 10 a.m.-3 p.m.
Meridian City Hall 33 E. Broadway Ave., Meridian
City Hall’s the spot for photos with Santa, building toys, COOKIE decorating, and tons more. Entry fee is just a donation to the Meridian Food Bank. By donation.
208-888-4433

Fourth Annual Raw Goods Holiday Sale

Sat., Dec. 6, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. and Sun., Dec. 7, 10 a.m.-6 p.m.
Paintings, Mak Made jewelry, ceramics, drawings, canned deliciousness, seeds from the ever-entertaining Casey O’ Leary and Earthly Delights Farm, recipes from the Artist Kitchen, and the refreshments are complimentary. Held in the studio behind the private residence at 114 N. Louisa, off Warm Springs Avenue near Old Penitentiary Road. Call 208-342-2268 for more info. FREE

La Playa Manor Holiday Bazaar

Sat., Dec. 6, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
La Playa Manor Club House 350 E. Carmel Drive, Meridian
Jams, cookies, and candies, quilt raffle, crafts, and all proceeds benefit the Meridian Food Bank. FREE
208-884-2688

Santa Claus in Bown Crossing
Sat., Dec. 6
Sandra Floyd State Farm Agency 3123 S. Bown Way, Boise East Boise (map), 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
Naughty or nice? Find out if you made the good list when you visit and take a photo with Saint Nick himself at the Sandra Floyd State Farm Agency .
208-426-9000

Christmas in Meridian
Through Dec. 6
Meridian City Hall 33 E. Broadway Ave., Meridian
Activities all week long to get you in the spirit. Santa’s Mailbox, the Holiday Classic Volleyball Tournament, and more! For a complete schedule of events, visit meridiancity.org/christmas/#FS. FREE
208-888-4433

3-D Printing: Holiday Ornaments
Mon., Dec. 8, 6:30 p.m.
Boise Public Library 715 S. Capitol Blvd., Boise
Crazy-cool 3-D printing for every age when you check out the library’s 3-D printer action. Go home with a holiday ornament that you made yourself. Registration required at boisepubliclibrary.org/calendar by Friday, Dec. 5. FREE
208-384-4076

Capital Quadrant Orchestra Concert

Tue., Dec. 9, 7 p.m.
Capital High School Auditorium 8055 Goddard Road, Boise
On Stage: Capital, Fairmont, and Riverglen orchestras, with soloists Molly McCallum and Debbie Hynes. FREE

Family Holiday Sing-Along
Thu., Dec. 11, 7 p.m.
Library at Collister 4724 W. State St., Boise
Sing along in the Sycamore Room! Fun for the whole family with holiday tunes, led by musician and library staffer Sam Counsil on acoustic guitar. Hot chocolate and cookies, too! FREE
208-562-4995

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