This weekend in Boise, ID

The Boise Gravel Gala brings a full day of gravel riding across the Boise Foothills and nearby backcountry, pairing wide-open Idaho scenery with stout climbs and spirited descents in a community-driven setting. Riders can choose from a choice of three routes and find well supplied aid stations along scenic gravel roads. Expect an inviting atmosphere, on-course support, and quality rider swag. Timed Strava sections add a competitive spark with prizes up for grabs. The celebration continues after the finish with food, drinks, music, raffles, and time to share stories from a memorable day on the bike. Launched in 2019 by a small group of friends, it has grown into a hallmark gravel gathering in Idaho while holding onto the relaxed spirit that started it all.

The CAF-Idaho Adaptive Mountain Bike Club welcomes adults 18 and older of every ability level, including both adaptive and non-adaptive riders, for rides at various locations around the Boise area. Plans may shift with the weather, and details are shared shortly before each outing by email, covering the meeting spot, timing, and how to register for that specific ride.

Browse a small market in South Nampa featuring artwork, crafts, and food, plus a swap meet to explore. The organizers share their gratitude for the support and love shown to this little market.

Kids get hands-on with clay in a drop-off class designed for ages 5 to 12, open to beginners through advanced students. Participants learn to turn clay into both functional and decorative pieces while building perseverance, patience, problem solving, and creativity. Sessions run on an ongoing, one-at-a-time basis, and the focus rotates each week among handbuilding basics, time on the wheel, and glazing, so enrolling in multiple dates offers the most complete experience. Every student finishes with at least one or two creations they made themselves. Instruction is led by ceramic artists and experienced teachers Mindy Curran and Ben Alexander. Registration is 40 dollars and advance sign-up is required, since walk-ins are not guaranteed a spot. Each reservation includes reclaimed clay, guidance from instructors, use of studio tools and wheels, glazes, and kiln firing. Wear clothes that can get messy or bring an apron, and note that long nails are not recommended. Trimming and glazing cannot be completed on freshly made pieces, so a return visit is needed to finish those steps. At times this class coincides with an ongoing figure painting session, offering a brief look at life drawing. Everyone is asked to be considerate of other classes, and models wear kid-appropriate attire during these overlaps.

Tabletop adventurers can choose between two simultaneous Dungeons & Dragons sessions. One table continues a level 7 campaign, while the other launches a Humblewood adventure for level 1 characters. New players and longtime gamers are equally welcome. Light snacks will be available, and participants are encouraged to bring additional snacks and non-alcoholic drinks to share. Participation is free.

Explore 150 years of Boise history on a 90-minute guided walk that highlights the architecture and places that give downtown its character. The tour introduces the buildings and the people who shaped the city, making it a welcoming option for visitors as well as Idaho residents who want to learn more about how this vibrant downtown developed. The route begins and ends at the Basque Museum & Cultural Center in downtown Boise. Tickets are $10 for Preservation Idaho members, $15 for non-members, and $8 for children 13 and under, with applicable tax and credit card processing fees. The experience runs in all weather, so dress for conditions and consider bringing water, sun protection, or an umbrella.

Hosted by Upward Inertia, the third annual Thrive Community Wellness Festival is a free, one-day celebration of health and wellness at JUMP Boise. The festival features energizing yoga and dance classes, hands-on workshops covering the arts, financial literacy, mindfulness, functional medicine, and self care, and a lively vendor marketplace. Food trucks, face painting, a build your own slime bar, the JUMP slides, and a raffle add to the experience. Activities are designed for all ages and a range of physical abilities. Admission is free, and optional donations support Upward Inertia’s community outreach using yoga therapy to enhance the mental, physical, and social emotional health of Idaho’s most vulnerable. Instructor applications and vendor registration are open. Sponsors include Idaho Central Credit Union, Zen Riot Yoga and Wellness, Oak Ridge Recovery, K Jae: Law for Conscious Leadership, Arc Document Solutions, HP, Frolic and Flash Photography, and Wendy M Powell.

ABU Games hosts a weekly Star Wars Unlimited gathering each Saturday. Most weeks use the Standard constructed format, while the first Saturday of the month features a Booster Draft. Constructed events have a $10 entry and run three Swiss rounds with modified pack-per-win prizing. Every participant also receives a 3-card OP booster, promotional items may be available, and for every eight players there is a chance to win a Carbonite Booster. Draft days have a $14 entry and three Swiss rounds with modified pack-per-win prizing. Players who do not record a match win still receive a booster pack, and all participants receive a 3-card OP booster. Promotional items may also be on hand. A discounted Standard SU: Unlimited Upgrade Pack may be offered as a bonus purchase.

ABU Games hosts a community-driven Flesh and Blood Trading Card Game Armory event focused on friendly competition and prizes. Entry is $7. Players participate in three rounds using the Classic Constructed format, with a modified pack per win prize structure. GEM packs are distributed at random, and every participant receives at least one pack. While formats may change from time to time, Classic Constructed is the usual setup. Expect opportunities to test deck building, enjoy spirited matches, and connect with other Flesh and Blood fans. Players of any experience level are welcome.

At Our Daily Walk, enjoy an afternoon of art, coffee, and live music as abstract expressionist Lisa Marten presents new works, with paintings available for purchase. Watch a live painting session that brings the creative process into view while singer songwriter Isabeau Waiau Walker performs. The atmosphere invites conversation and inspiration as you explore new creative portals.

Play Cardfight! Vanguard in Standard or D-Series format. The entry fee is $6. Each participant receives a Monthly Promo Pack each week along with one booster pack, and first place gets an additional booster pack.

Spend focused time moving your work in progress forward alongside fellow writers in a positive, peer-supported setting. This free, open writing session welcomes participants ages 13 and older working in any genre. Begin with a bit of conversation to connect with other writers, then settle in to put words on the page. Advance registration is required, and there is no fee to register. Information about the session, the instructor, any prerequisites, and materials is provided during registration.

Friday Night Magic features a Commander focus with two rounds of play. Entry is four rare Magic cards of any value, as long as they carry the gold set icon. Prizes are based on results, and everyone takes home between two and four rares. Standard is also available with a $10 entry and three rounds, awarding a pack for each round win. The winner receives a foil FNM Promo Pack from the current set, and a randomly selected participant gets a non-foil FNM Promo Pack. Modern follows the same three-round, pack-per-win structure with a $1 entry, plus the same foil promo for first place and a non-foil promo awarded at random.

A special bonus September edition of The Boise Flea brings a second pop-up to Boise State’s East Stadium Lot. Browse a large mix of vendors and enjoy a lively market atmosphere. Admission is free, and parking in the Stadium Lot is $5 per car.

Build core drawing skills in a welcoming still life class created for beginners and anyone eager to improve. Open to all ages, each session focuses on essentials like confident line work, solid forms, accurate values, and clean shapes using vine charcoal on newsprint and drawing paper. Topics rotate and may include foundational line studies, value building, arrangements with multiple objects, drapery, soft and hard edges, and both organic and manufactured forms. A dedicated still life is arranged to match the focus of the day, and the group spends a short time sharing work and discussing challenges so everyone can learn together. These guided studies help develop the muscle memory that makes drawing from imagination more natural and creative flow easier. Please bring drawing paper sized 14 by 17 inches or larger, newsprint of the same size for warmups, charcoal pencils in 2B and 4B, a kneaded eraser, and compressed charcoal sticks in 2B, 4B, and 6B. Extra supplies are available if needed, and additional materials are provided. Instruction is led by Jessica, a classically trained fine artist and illustrator with more than twenty years of experience. Registration is 22 dollars and advance sign up is required.

At West Bench, this weekly therapy group for teens focuses on building social skills alongside Dialectical Behavior Therapy techniques for everyday life. The group offers open enrollment and provides a supportive setting where participants can meet peers, practice communication, and strengthen DBT-informed coping skills.

Open Streets Boise transforms the Collister Neighborhood into a car-free corridor for biking, walking, and rolling. Hosted by the Boise Bicycle Project and supported by the City of Boise and the Collister Neighborhood Association, this free, family-friendly celebration spotlights local businesses, music, food, art, and interactive activities. Neighborhood roads become places for people, offering a relaxed pace for all ages to explore and experience the community in a new way.

Compete in Yu-Gi-Oh! duels with an $8 entry fee. Every participant receives an OTS pack at sign-up. Prizes are awarded as one OTS pack per match win, with at least one pack guaranteed for everyone.

There is no cost to participate. Bring your deck for relaxed matches with fellow Pokemon Trainers. Everyone is welcome, from first timers to seasoned players of any age. Collectors who prefer trading over battling are invited as well, with plenty of chances to browse binders and negotiate swaps. You may even find someone willing to trade for that hard to find Pokemon you have been searching for.

Explore impressionist techniques in an ongoing, biweekly acrylics class for ages 14 and up. Each session spotlights a master of the movement and guides participants in recreating a notable work while practicing brushwork, color choices, and stylistic approaches. Artists explored may include Monet, Degas, Renoir, Manet, Cézanne, Pissarro, Morisot, and Cassatt. Instruction is suitable for beginner to intermediate painters. Registration is required and is $40. Each class presents a new lesson so returning participants can continue building skills over time.

Designed exclusively for LGBTQIA+ youth ages 14 to 20, Youth Alliance for Diversity creates a welcoming space for learning, friendship, and community. Attendees connect with peers who identify as gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, questioning, and supportive straight allies, and they can interact with caring adult role models. The environment centers on safety, respect, and inclusion, with opportunities for education and meaningful social interaction.

Shrine Ballroom hosts a concert featuring Wednesday 13, Dead On A Sunday, and Above Snakes. All three acts share the stage in one show. The event welcomes attendees of all ages.