Holiday Events to Treasure

Winter Garden aGlow PHOTO BY JAXPAXPHOTOGRAPHY.COM

BY PAMELA KLEIBRINK THOMPSON

It’s that jolly time of the year, and there are plenty of Treasure Valley holiday events to make you smile or scowl, depending on your tolerance for hot cocoa and cold temperatures.

Visit Winter Garden aGlow at the Idaho Botanical Gardens November 24-December 31, 6-9:30 pm.

PHOTO COURTESY OF IDAHO BOTANICAL GARDEN

Now in its 26th year, the annual Winter Garden aGlow, presented by Idaho Central Credit Union, is a holiday tradition that many residents treasure. A dazzling display of more than 600,000 twinkling lights illuminate the Idaho Botanical Garden, and even Santa makes appearances. Children can write a letter to Santa, and unlike your rich aunt when you ask her for money, Santa always writes back! Carolers serenade visitors with tales of three wise kings, angels, and Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer. If your nose is turning red, head to the Stocking Stuffer Station for free hot drinks and cookies. One night only, December 18th, there’s “Pride in the Garden” with gay and lesbian choruses, a drag Santa, and speciality drinks for grown-ups—sure to be rainbow of fun!

Winter Garden aGlow is a community-based event with partners and supporters coming together to make a truly magical experience. “Each year, I visit the garden with my aunts and cousins and their children, so it has become my tradition too,” said Erin Anderson, Executive Director. “I love seeing the sparkle and delight in the little ones’ eyes…and that same sparkle in the grandparents who have been coming for years. When you come to Winter Garden aGlow, you are investing in the garden, keeping our gates open, and the plants flourishing, but mostly you are investing in our community.”

Scentsy’s Tunnel of Lights starts sparkling with 40 miles of pathways at the Meridian offices on November 11.

PHOTO COURTESY OF KEARNEY THOMPSON

Scentsy’s holiday light display starts November 11th, with lights blanketing more than 450 trees. Pathways meander more than 40 miles through the Meridian campus. A 250 foot-long lighted tunnel delights all ages.

Whether you sing with Bing or Sinatra or Mariah Carey, be sure to bundle up against the cold to enjoy an uncountable number of lights along Indian Creek in Caldwell from November 19th to January 9th. Visit with Santa and glide into winter on the nation’s seventh ice skating ribbon and ice rink—an ice pathway that winds around the plaza and culminates in a rink.

A glittering universe of lights illuminates Indian Creek in Caldwell November 19-January 9.

PHOTO COURTESY OF BRENT ORTON, CITY OF CALDWELL

On December 3rd, be bedazzled by the 19th annual Treasure Valley Night Light Parade in Caldwell. This year’s theme is Christmas at the Movies. It’s a wonderful life in Caldwell at the Winter Wonderland. “Winter Wonderland and all of the events in downtown Caldwell are part of what makes our city unique,” said Mayor Jarom Wagoner. “People come from all over to see the light display along Indian Creek and we are proud to host such a great family event. It is truly one of my favorite things about living in Caldwell.”

A Toys for Tots donation center is located at Sportsman’s Warehouse, 3797 E Fairview Ave, Meridian: November 26 to December 6. Toys For Tots Boise - Marine Toys for Tots.

PHOTO COURTESY OF LANCE THOMPSON

Toys for Tots was founded by Major Bill Hendricks, United States Marine Corps Reserves, in 1947. The idea originated with his wife, Diane Hendricks, who handcrafted a doll and asked her husband to deliver it to an organization so it could be given to a needy child at Christmas. When the couple discovered no such organization existed, Diane suggested that her husband start one. That first year, 5,000 toys were collected and distributed in Los Angeles. The following year, Toys for Tots expanded into a nationwide community action project when the United States Marine Corps adopted the program. Walt Disney designed the Toys for Tots train logo and created the first national Toys for Tots poster. In 2021, Toys for Tots distributed over 22.4 million toys to nearly 8.8 million less fortunate children.

“Having the opportunity to help and serve families that are struggling during the holiday season is a blessing,” said community volunteer Nicole Zuber. “Personally, I come from a family that had very little, and I remember from a very young age, we had people in our lives who helped us. Receiving things from programs like Toys for Tots made a huge difference in my childhood. I truly believe it is our duty to pay it forward.”

Kuna’s Down Home Country Christmas happens December 10 with a theme of Candy Cane Christmas and a Santa Parade.

PHOTO COURTESY OF KUNA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

Sponsored by the Kuna Chamber of Commerce, the Down Home Country Christmas attracts about 2,000 to 3,000 people, including Santa. “Down Home Country Christmas is a great community event for Kuna,” said Jodie Harrington, Vice President of the Kuna Chamber of Commerce. The evening culminates with lighting Caldwell’s Christmas tree with the mayor.

Sara Goodpasture, Executive Director of the Kuna Chamber of Commerce, agreed. “We love the community togetherness it brings in the spirit of Christmas,” she said. “We have been hosting the parade for several years…people from all over the Treasure Valley come to our small wonderful town of Kuna to celebrate the holidays and festivities.”

A village of shopkeepers and animals including sheep, a donkey, a horse, Samson the camel, and shepherds bring the story of the birth of Jesus to life in Eagle at the Seventh-Day Adventist church. “Taxes” of non-perishable food are collected for the Treasure Valley Mobile Food Pantry.

Hanukkah or Chanukah, also known as the “festival of lights,” celebrates a military victory and the rededication of the Holy Temple and means “dedication.” A small band of faithful Jews, led by Judah the Maccabee, defeated one of the mightiest armies on earth which had forbidden the practice of the Jewish religion, reclaimed the Holy Temple in Jerusalem and rededicated it to the service of God. After the battle, only one vial of pure olive oil remained in the Temple in Jerusalem to kindle the menorah, but the menorah miraculously burned

Beth Harbison is the Director of Lifelong Learning and the Jewish Community School of the Congregation Ahavath Beth Israel. “Chanukah is a celebration of freedom and the right to practice our religion. We cook a million different things with oil such as latkes (potato pancakes) and sufganiot (little round donuts) and our houses reek of oil long after the holiday is over,” she said. “Chanukah is primarily celebrated at home where we put a Chanukiah in our window. Chanukiah is the more accurate/preferable title for the nine-branched candelabra. Many Jews and non-Jews alike call it a menorah, but a menorah is actually a seven-branched candelabra and a symbol of the State of Israel.”

Celebrate Kwanzaa, December 29 at NNU in Nampa with a banquet and festive program.

PHOTO COURTESY OF SHARI BABER

Kwanzaa is an African American and pan-African holiday which celebrates community, culture, and family. Created in 1966 by Professor of Africana Studies Dr. Maulana Karenga, the seven-day cultural festival begins December 26th and ends January 1st. Celebrations include feasts, music, dance, poetry, narratives, and a day dedicated to reflection and recommitment to the seven principles–unity, self determination, collective work and responsibility, cooperative economics, purpose, creativity, and faith. Celebrate on December 29th at NNU in Nampa with a banquet and program.

Take the plunge at the Polar Bear Challenge and Make-a-Wish fundraiser January 1, 2023.

PHOTO COURTESY OF MAKE-A-WISH FOUNDATION

Start 2023 with a shiver at the 20th Annual Gebert-Arbaugh Polar Bear Challenge. Hundreds of hardy Idahoans will plunge into freezing Lucky Peak Reservoir to raise money to benefit local children with critical illnesses through Make-A-Wish Idaho. The fundraiser starts at 11 a.m. on January 1st and will include a costume and mustache contest. Registration begins at 10 a.m. The annual challenge was named after the late Gary Arbaugh and Larry Gebert who brought the Polar Bear Challenge to the Treasure Valley 20 years ago.

“This is a crazy, fun event and a great way to start the new year,” said Make-A-Wish Idaho Director of Development Helene Peterson. “Make-A-Wish Idaho deeply appreciates all the Polar Bears who will come and plunge with us this year.”

Catch an exciting lineup of events coming to the Morrison Center, including Kid Lightning, the Hip-Hop Nutcracker, Jesus Christ Superstar and the amazing Peking Acrobats. for eight nights. That’s now how long Hanukkah lasts—December 18th to 26th in 2022.

PHOTO COURTESY OF PEKING ACROBATS

In mid-January, festivities continue with the Peking Acrobats performing daring maneuvers and lyrical feats at the Morrison Center. “We are thrilled to share these incredible artists and programs with the Treasure Valley,” said Laura Kendall, Executive Director of the Morrison Center. “We are a vibrant, growing city, and we aim to bring programming that reflects a wide range of excellent touring companies that you would see in major metropolitan cities.”

From the IdaHome family to yours–Happy Holidays! We hope these diverse holiday events warm your heart and bring a smile to your face. We’ll see you in 2023!