Southern Idaho is preparing for a festive holiday season!
The cheer really starts picking up in mid-November and continues through the Christmas holiday season. Look forward to colorful Christmas parades, Holiday and Christmas concerts, Thanksgiving fun runs and, ice skating in downtown Rupert, Twin Falls and Fairfield.
Twin Falls CSI Campus
A great slate of programs and 3D movies are planned at the Herrett Center for Arts & Science on the CSI campus, and The Nutcracker, an annual family tradition featuring the Eugene Ballet at the CSI Fine Arts Center will occur on Dec. 6 & 7. Get your tickets early because the performances will sell out!
Turkey Trots & Fun Runs
On Thanksgiving Day, you can earn your dinner by participating in a Turkey Trot 5K fun run/walk in Jerome, Twin Falls or Paul (Mini-Cassia 5K). Organizers of the CSI Turkey Trot hide three frozen turkeys along the race course. If racers find one, they can carry it to the finish line and keep the turkey. Be sure to bring your gloves!
Rupert Square – Christmas City
On Friday, Nov. 29, the Annual Rupert Christmas Festival and Caring and Sharing Christmas Tree Festival brings loads of holiday cheer to the community. The Rupert Square is adorned with thousands of Christmas lights, and Santa will light up the square on Friday night, along with a fireworks display. The new Christmas Market and ice rink is scheduled to open on Nov. 29 as well. On Saturday morning, Nov. 30, there’s a Teddy Bear Breakfast with Santa for kids, 9:30-11:30 a.m. Bring a teddy bear to donate for admission, and get a photo with Santa. There will be music and dancing throughout the 4-day event.
The Albion Mansions
The Albion Mansions will turn into a Christmas City on weekends beginning on Nov. 29 and running through Dec. 29. There will be wagon rides, caroling, big Christmas lights displays, a light tunnel, nativity scene with real animals, and food and drink. Come shop the Holiday Craft Fair, happening Thursdays through Saturdays. The Albion Christmas Festival is also available for corporate events during the week.
Light up the Night
Christmas Light displays are the best part of Christmas in Southern Idaho. Many homes start decorating in October, but only the most brilliant take home the trophy. The best places to see Christmas Lights are at the Orton Botanical Gardens, Curry Crossing or Twin View Lanes, Billingsely Creek State Park, South Hills Lights at the Rock Creek General Store and the Albion Mansions. There are a few homes that get in on the action – 925 Wirsching Ave West and 483 Bracken St North in Twin Falls. Most displays will light up Nov. 29th and remain through Christmas.
Christmas lights on the Thousand Springs Scenic Byway
During the holiday season, businesses and residences are encouraged to put up Christmas lights displays along the Thousand Springs Scenic Byway from Billingsley Creek to Miracle Hot Springs. See state parks, waterfalls and the cities come to life with lights! It is a beautiful sight to see and a festive way to tour the byway.
Christmas Parades
The weekend of Friday, Nov. 30 – Sunday, Dec. 2 will feature multiple Christmas parades in the region. The Festival of Lights Parade in downtown Twin Falls, co-sponsored by the Times-News, starts at 6 p.m. on December 6th. This parade attracts thousands of viewers eager to watch floats made of spectacular twinkling lights and watch Santa light the tree. The Twin Falls Municipal Band also plays holiday music downtown. Local merchants serve food and drink on the sidewalks. A new ice rink is planned to be operational on Nov. 29, and rental skates will be available.
Buhl is hosting a Night Lights Parade on Saturday, Dec. 7, the theme is Old-Fashioned Holidays. A Parade of Lights is also planned for Christmas in Jerome and Gooding’s 2019 Holiday Kick-Off Parade on Saturday, Dec. 7, and a Horse and Wagon Christmas caroling event is planned in Hagerman on Nov. 30.
Historic Wilson Theatre
Christmas at the historic Wilson Theatre, occurs on the weekend of 6th & 7th. This is a kid-friendly event with multiple opportunities to see a movie, ride the Santa Express Train, get photos with Santa and Mrs. Claus. Also, make sure to enjoy the hot cocoa and sugar cookies and visit the Christmas Market. On Tuesday, Dec. 17th listen to a beautiful Christmas Concert by Eclipse 6.
See the great lineup of holiday concerts at the CSI Fine Arts Center, starting with A Holiday Prelude on Nov. 15 and a series of Christmas Concerts Dec. 3-6
And there’s a great blend of programs planned at the Faulkner Planetarium from Thanksgiving week through December, including “Let It Snow,” and “Volcanoes, The Fires of Creation”. See the web site for show dates and times.