5 things to do over Thanksgiving break in Boise: Beers, bands, bright holiday lights

Need to keep friends and family entertained during Thanksgiving week?

Or just escape for a couple of hours?

Here are things to do on the Boise events calendar.

1. Black Friday beer

▪ Black Friday is a massive shopping day. It’s also a massive beer day — at least at Payette Brewing Co., 733 S. Pioneer St. The Boise brewery will host its 11th annual Black Friday festival from noon to 8 p.m.

Featuring more than 30 stouts and porters — including many barrel-aged behemoths — it’s a terrific way to treat your taste buds. Entry is free. A commemorative sampler glass is $4. Drink tokens for 5-ounce pours are $4. You’ll also be able to buy takeout four-packs of Payette’s annually released Twelve Gauge Barrel Aged Imperial Stout (which has sneaked up to a heftier 11.8% ABV this year), along with its churro variant.

Food trucks will sell hot grub. Bands will crank live music — specifically, Audio Moonshine from 1 to 4 p.m. and Tylor & The Train Robbers from 5 to 8 p.m. Leave your dog home, please. Same with kids; you must be 21 or older to attend. If possible, bring cash to help speed up transactions. (Don’t worry, credit cards will be accepted.) You also have the line-skipping option of buying in advance through Wednesday at payettebrewing.com/blackfriday.

2. Winter Garden aGlow

▪ An annual holiday tradition, Winter Garden aGlow runs Wednesday through Sunday starting Thanksgiving Day, lasting through New Year’s Eve. More than 600,000 lights are draped across the grounds of the Idaho Botanical Garden, 2355 N. Penitentiary Road, in Boise. Stroll garden paths and enjoy free cookies and hot cocoa, live holiday caroling, and nicely spaced burn barrels to toast your hands over. Additional food and drink is for sale, too.

It opens at 6 p.m., and you must buy tickets in advance. Repeat: No tickets are sold at the gate. The last admission is at 9 p.m. (for 8:30 p.m. time-slot tickets; the garden closes at 9:30 p.m.). Cost? $18 general, $14 garden members and children 4-12, free for ages 3 and younger. Call (208) 343-8649 or purchase online: idahobotanicalgarden.org.

▪ Bonus free light tour: Hundreds of thousands of lights decorate trees — including a 75-footer — and a 250-foot light tunnel at the Scentsy Commons Holiday Lights, 2901 E. Pine Ave. in Meridian. It’s illuminated daily from sunset to sunrise on the Scentsy campus through Jan. 16. You don’t need a ticket; just come as you please.

3. Broncos or Steelheads?

▪ Eggnog? Maybe a bloody mary or two? Yep, it’s breakfast tailgating time. The Boise State Broncos welcome the Utah State Aggies for a 10 a.m. football game Friday at Albertsons Stadium. Grab tickets for $45-$69 general admission, $30-$45 junior. (Group discounts are available.) Call (208) 426-4737, or visit broncosports.com.

▪ Few things capture the Christmas spirit like hockey players dropping their gloves and exchanging, um, “gifts.” The Idaho Steelheads will take the ice versus the Allen Americans on Wednesday, Friday and Saturday. Games start at 7:10 p.m. in downtown Boise at Idaho Central Arena, 233 S. Capitol Blvd. Tickets are getting low for all three games, and originally ranged from $19-$45. Online: idahocentralarena.com.

4. City tree lightings

▪ Mayor Lauren McLean will do the honors at a free downtown Boise Holiday Tree Lighting from 5 to 6 p.m. Friday. The candlelit celebration will revolve around a 35-foot tree decorated with more than 5,000 lights. Entertainment will be provided by Fred Astaire Dance Studios and the Boise Women’s Chorus & Boise Gay Men’s Chorus. It happens at The Grove Plaza at 8th and Main streets.

▪ Downtown Nampa’s official tree lighting ceremony — also free — will be Saturday on 12th Avenue at Front Street, in conjunction with Shop Small Saturday. Entertainment begins at 5:15 p.m. with the Encore Theatre Company, before the official lighting at 6 p.m. Santa and Mrs. Claus will be be available to take photos in front of the tree afterward.

5. Ice skating

▪ The Village at Meridian’s ice skating rink is open — with afternoon and evening hours available most days through Jan. 16. You need to make a reservation at The Village’s website. Time slots are booked in 30-minute increments. It costs $7 per adult, $5 per child 12 and younger. Prices include skate rental. You can even sign up for lessons from Fireworks Skating Academy. Online: thevillageatmeridian.com.

▪ Are you in Canyon County? There’s an ice skating rink and ribbon at Indian Creek Plaza in Caldwell. You can walk right up without a reservation. It costs $10 adult, $5 ages 5 and younger. Prices include skate rental. Online: indiancreekplaza.com/ice-skating.