Best Things to Do in Boise in Fall (Local Guide)

Fall is hands down one of the best times of year in Boise. As a local who has lived in the area for years, it’s my favorite season in the city. The summer crowds fade, the foothills turn golden, and the Treasure Valley fills with pumpkin patches, harvest festivals, haunted houses, and cozy fall activities.

September and October bring some of the most beautiful weather of the year in Boise, making it the perfect time to explore the outdoors, visit local farms, and enjoy seasonal events around the city.

In this guide, I’m sharing the best things to do in Boise in fall, from pumpkin patches and corn mazes to fall hikes, Oktoberfest events, and scenic drives around the Treasure Valley.

Welcome to my Fall in Boise guide! While we’re at it, let’s be friends on Instagram and TikTok!

Looking for a complete weekend? Here’s exactly how I’d spend 3 days in Boise. Looking for a hotel? Here’s where I recommend staying in Boise.

Quick Picks: Best Fall Activities in Boise

Best pumpkin patch: Lowe Family Farmstead (see my full pumpkin patch guide here)
Best fall hike: Table Rock
Best fall event: Witches Night Out
Best fall day trip: Idaho City
Best fall foliage spot: Boise Greenbelt

Pumpkin Patches in Boise and the Treasure Valley

We have some great pumpkin patches in the Treasure Valley and Boise area. Check out my full pumpkin patch guide, here!

Lowe Family Farmstead

• This is one of the larger pumpkin patches in the Treasure Valley, and it has a lot of other activities to enjoy. They have a really large corn maze, a U-pick pumpkin patch and flower field, hayrides, food trucks, potato sack slide, pig races, pony rides, and so much more!
• Dates: September 14th – October 30th, 2024
• Open Times: Monday – Thursday, 4 PM – 9 PM, Friday-Saturday 10 AM – 9 PM, Closed Sundays
• Location: 2500 South Eagle Road, Kuna, Idaho 83634 | Website

Pumpkin Palooza

One of the newer patches on the block, Pumpkin Palooze is an urban pumpkin patch with activities like a petting zoo, train rides, axe-throwing, bull riding, and more. The cost is $3 for general admission, and they have food trucks and drink vendors on the weekends.

Shindig Farms

Here, you’ll find a pumpkin patch and a straw maze with 8-foot walls of twists and turns, taking anywhere from 45-90 minutes to finish! The pumpkin patch has a wagon hayride that’s included with general admission. You can choose from over 20 varieties of pumpkins! They also have a zipline, giant slide, play area, and corn cannon. If you love spooky season, they also do a haunted straw maze on Saturday nights in October.

• Dates: September 13th – October 30th, 2024
• Open Times: Monday – Thursday 4 PM-8 PM, Friday 4 PM – 9 PM, Saturday 10 AM – 11 PM, Closed Sundays
• Location: ID-45 & Scism Rd, Idaho 83686 | Website

There are a few other notable pumpkin patches if you’re looking for a smaller farm experience

• Cherry Hill Farms – Caldwell, ID
• Flaming Acres – Caldwell, ID
• Jordan’s Pumpkin Patch – Boise, ID
• Cabalo’s Orchard and Gardens – Kuna, ID
• The Berry Ranch – Nampa, ID
• Wissell Farms – Nampa, ID

Fall Festivals and Events in Boise

Visit the Idaho Botanical Gardens

Every year, the Idaho Botanical Gardens throws a fun Fall Harvest Festival that goes from October 5-26th, 2024. During the festival, they have events like: 

• Fall Plant Sale and Artist Market
• Hispanic Heritage Day
• Square Dance
• Costume Parade
• Scarecrow Stroll

These events are fun for the whole family or as a date night!

Haunted Attractions and Halloween Activities

Get spooked at a Haunted House

If you love spooky stuff and haunted houses, you’ll want to try these experiences!

• Requiem Haunted House  – Caldwell, ID
• Haunted World! – Nampa, ID

Visit the Old Idaho Penitentiary

All October long, the Old Idaho Penitentiary hosts various shows and events, including Frightening Felons and Paranormal Investigations. Be sure to check their events page for upcoming events.

Binge-watch some Halloween movies at a local theatre

Every year, different theatres and venues show Halloween-themed movies! Here are some places to check out to get in the Halloween spirit:

• The Egyptian Theatre – Each fall, this iconic downtown Boise theatre plays a slew of fall-centric flicks. Check out their schedule here.  
• VooDoo Cellar—Every Tuesday night, at 8 p.m., they have Terror Tuesdays, during which they show a classic horror film. Free popcorn is included!
• The Flicks is Boise’s indie theatre, serving food and drinks that you can bring into the theatre! They have Halloween and fall-themed movies all season. 

Attend the Witches Night Out event

Every year, the Women’s and Children’s Alliance hosts the annual Witches Night Out at the Village at Meridian. They plan fun activities, raffles, games, and prizes, all to raise money for a great cause. This is your perfect excuse to dress up like a witch!

Go on a Haunted Halloween Trolley Tour

Boise Trolley Tours offers a nightly trolley tour in the fall to learn sinister secrets and terrors around Boise. This is a 75-85 minute adventure guided by experts in the supernatural and takes you to the city’s most haunted locations. Be sure to book your tickets in advance!

Outdoor Fall Activities in Boise

Visit a U-Pick flower farm

Flower farms are typically great options at the beginning of the season and usually bloom until the first frost! This is a great way to get some fall blooms. Be sure to check their websites for openings and fall events. I recommend visiting: 

• Lovely Hollow Farm – Caldwell, Idaho
• Blue Sky Farm – Eagle, ID
• Lowe Family Farmstead – Kuna, ID
• Hidden Hollow Farms – Caldwell, ID
• Mason Creek Farm – Nampa, ID

Get lost in a corn maze

I love a good corn maze in the fall! We have plenty of options to keep you busy for hours here in the Treasure Valley! There are even some haunted options this year!

Lowe Family Farmstead

Their corn maze has been coined “Idaho’s Original Corn Maze,” and it’s enormous! Every year, they have a theme to their maze as well. If you’re unsure you want to tackle the entire thing, try their “Mini MAiZE,” which is in the same cornfield but much shorter and more accessible for kids. Location: Kuna, ID

Shindig Farms

They have a straw maze (not a corn maze) with 8-foot walls of twists and turns that will take you anywhere from 45 to 90 minutes to finish! Not only that, but they have a Haunted Straw Maze! On Saturday nights in October (7th, 14th, 21st, and 28th), you can expect to be spooked starting at 8 PM with the last tickets sold at 10:30 PM. Location: Nampa, ID

Cherry Hill Farms

This 8-acre corn maze has two different maze paths. If you’re here with little ones, they also have a smaller hay bale maze! Location: Caldwell, ID

Go apple picking

Find some yummy apples while going “U-pick” apple picking. A few that I suggest are: 

• Cabalo’s Orchard and Gardens – Kuna, ID
• Tyler’s Rocky Point Orchard – Emmett, ID
• Williams Fruit Ranch – Emmett, ID
• Anderson Apple Ranch – Emmett, ID
• Kelley Orchards – Weiser, ID

Watch a sunset

Head to J.R. Simplot Hill or the Boise Train Depot to watch a beautiful autumn sunset!

Enjoy a bike ride

Hop on the Boise Greenbelt and watch the trees’ colors change!

Take a fall hike

Hike to the top of Table Rock, Camel’s Back or check out one of these hikes.

Fall Food & Drink in Boise

Drink fall beverages or attend an Oktoberfest event

Try the new fall beers at the many breweries around town. This is one of my favorite Boise fall activities. A few great spots for fall beers are Barbarian Brewing, Berts Brewing and Payette Brewing.

Some Oktoberfest events are going on in September: 

• Das Alpenhaus Deli Oktoberfest
• Oktoberfest Bar Crawl
• Payette Brewing Oktoberfest
• Nampa Oktoberfest

Enjoy Fall Flavors at Boise Restaurants

Fall is a great time to explore Boise’s restaurant scene as many spots roll out seasonal menus and cozy patio dining. It’s the perfect excuse to grab dinner downtown after a fall hike or pumpkin patch visit. Check out some of my favorite restaurants in Boise here.

Take a fall cooking class

If you love cozy fall flavors, taking a seasonal cooking class is a fun thing to do in Boise during the fall. Season + Taste Cooking School offers hands-on classes where you can learn to make everything from fresh pasta to seasonal dishes inspired by the harvest. The classes are relaxed and beginner-friendly, making them a great option for date night, a girls’ night out, or anyone who enjoys cooking and trying new recipes.

Enjoy a Boise Bike Bar

Have some fun downtown on a paddling bike bar! Book your ride on with the Boise Bike Bar.

Family-Friendly Fall Activities

Go to a Boise State game at Albertsons Stadium

Nothing screams fall more than football, and while I’m a University of Idaho Vandal at heart, the games at Boise State are still fun! You can also see the famous blue turf. Check out the schedule here.

Rake leaves for a good cause

Volunteer to help the elderly with Rake Up Boise.

Go on a fun run

Attend the YMCA Halloween Monster Mile & Freaky 5K 

Go to the Boise Zoo

Every year, the Boise Zoo puts on Boo at the Zoo, a great family event with trick-or-treat stations, costume contests, and the ability to see zoo animals to enjoy Halloween-themed activities! This year’s event is held Saturday & Sunday, October 26 – 27, 2024.

Check out Boise’s escape room

Get your friends and go to the Boise Puzzle Effect if the weather is dreary outside!

Fall Day Trips from Boise

*Check this list for a full list of day trips and road trips from Boise!

Visit wineries during the harvest season

Take a trip to the famous Sunny Slope Wine Trail. My favorite tour company is Snake River Wine Tours if you want a wonderful experience! Many of the wineries also have fall harvest events and promotions, so keep an eye out!

Here are some of my personal favorite wineries on the Sunnyslope Wine Trail: 

• Kerry Hill Winery – Wilder, ID
• Bitner Vineyards  – Caldwell, ID
• Parma Ridge Winery – Parma, ID
• Williamson Orchard & Vineyards – Caldwell, ID
• Koenig Vineyards – Caldwell, ID

Drive to the Idaho City “Ghost Town”

I love this little weird town of Idaho City! It’s technically not a ghost town anymore because people live here, but it’s a fun, and spooky place to visit in the fall! Check out all of these ghost towns in Idaho you can visit!

Go fall foliage scouting

One of my favorite fall festivities is taking a scenic drive around Idaho! You can use this resource to find fall leaves!

Boise Fall Events Calendar

If you’re looking for specific Boise October events, here are some fun ones! Just be sure to check the specific open times and dates, as they change regularly. 

• Emmet Harvest Festival and Street Fair (this fall event is at the end of September)
• The Haunted World 
• The Berry Ranch Pick your own pumpkins
• The Farmstead Corn Maze and Pumpkin Festival
• Boo at the Zoo
• Squawky and Spririts at the Old Idaho Penitentiary
• Harvest Days at the Idaho Botanical Gardens –  including the Scarecrow Stroll, Oktoberfest and Fall Harvest Festival
• Witches Night Out at Village at Meridian
• Haunted Halloween Trolley Tours
• YMCA Halloween Run
• Idaho Gourd Festival

Do one of these traditional fall activities

• Bake a pie from scratch.
• Make a hearty stew or chili, or have a chili cookoff like I did last year!
• Carve and decorate pumpkins
• Watch a spooky or classic Halloween movie

FAQ: Fall in Boise

When do fall colors peak in Boise?

Typically mid-October.

Is Boise worth visiting in fall?

Yes — fall is one of the best times to visit Boise because of the mild weather and seasonal events.

What is there to do in Boise in October?

Pumpkin patches, haunted houses, fall hikes, harvest festivals, and Oktoberfest events.

Read More: 15 Best Restaurants in Boise

Let me know what your favorite fall activities in Boise are! What would you add to this Best Things to Do in Boise in Fall list? Let me know in the comments!

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