Welcome to the first Valley Drop.

Every Wednesday, we’ll cut through the noise and bring you the local events, food, new openings, family picks, and other things actually worth knowing around Boise and the Treasure Valley.

No endless scrolling. Here’s your first Drop.

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Potato Days is back at Kleiner Park with baked potatoes, mashed potatoes, loaded fries, tots, live music, a beer garden and a vendor area. The Meridian festival runs all weekend, starting Friday evening and continuing through Sunday.

📍 Kleiner Park • Meridian | Friday, Sept. 25–Sunday, Sept. 27

The bestselling author of Yellowface, Babel, and Katabasis takes the Egyptian Theatre stage to talk about her upcoming book, Taipei Story. Each ticket includes a copy of the book.

📍 Egyptian Theatre • Boise | Thursday, Sept. 24 • 7 PM

Local filmmakers turn true Old Idaho Penitentiary stories into original short films, then screen them inside the historic prison. Friday includes the filmmaker awards presentation; Saturday is the encore screening.

📍 Old Idaho Penitentiary • Boise | Friday, Sept. 25 & Saturday, Sept. 26 • 8–10 PM

Tickets: $12. Doors open at 7 PM.

A free community wellness festival at JUMP with yoga, breathwork, dance, mindfulness, nutrition, vendors, food trucks, a kids corner, face painting, and more. It’s designed for all ages and abilities.

📍 JUMP Park • Boise | Saturday, Sept. 26 • 10 AM–4 PM

Admission: Free

A two-night showcase bringing performers from around the country together with Idaho talent at the Egyptian Theatre, with an opening-night showcase Friday and competition showcase Saturday.

📍 Egyptian Theatre • Boise | Friday, Sept. 25 & Saturday, Sept. 26 • 7 PM

Doors: 6 PM • Weekend passes listed at $49 on the current Visit Boise listing.

Oktoberfest returns to the Nampa Civic Center for its 19th year with German-inspired food, drinks, music, and a festive community atmosphere. The event runs Saturday afternoon into the evening.

📍 Nampa Civic Center • Nampa | Saturday, Sept. 26 • 3–9 PM

Tickets: $10 under 21 • $12 ages 21+

The world’s largest touring inflatable event is coming to Expo Idaho with giant bounce houses, obstacle courses, slides, and dedicated sessions for kids and adults.

📍 Expo Idaho • Boise | Saturday, Sept. 26 & Sunday, Sept. 27

Tickets: $35 for kids/guardians • $40 for adult sessions

A Broadway-style circus under the big top with acrobatics, comedy, theatrical storytelling, and no animals. The Meridian run starts Sept. 24 and continues through Oct. 4.

📍 The Village at Meridian | Sept. 24–Oct. 4

Tickets start at $19.95

Free guided hikes and family activities Saturday, 10 AM–2 PM at Jim Hall Foothills Learning Center.

📍 Jim Hall Foothills Learning Center • Boise | Saturday, Sept. 26 • 10 AM–2 PM

Admission: Free

Pumpkin Days + Marketplace

Pumpkins, flowers and local vendors Saturday, 9 AM–3 PM at Lovely Hollow Farm.

📍 Lovely Hollow Farm • Caldwell | Saturday, Sept. 26 • 9 AM–3 PM

Watch raptors fly overhead Saturday at 11 AM at the World Center for Birds of Prey. Tickets $20.

📍 World Center for Birds of Prey • Boise | Saturday, Sept. 26 • 11 AM–12 PM

Tickets: $20

A new coffee lounge on Overland Road is blending Thai and Persian influences with a full coffee bar, all-day food, and globally inspired drinks. The menu includes Thai coffee and tea, Turkish coffee, banana coconut and Dubai chocolate lattes, plus dishes like Thai tea French toast, Persian-style egg bites, kebab sandwiches, and more. Boran celebrated its grand opening on Sept. 16.

📍 2845 E. Overland Rd., Suite 100 • Meridian

A popular Kuna Thai food truck is making the jump to a permanent restaurant near St. Luke’s Meridian. Lanna Grills and Bowls will serve fresh bowls, grilled meats, rice, pita, soups, sauces and other dishes inspired by Northern Thai flavors with some Mediterranean influence. The owners say they’re aiming for quick service, especially for nearby hospital and office workers. The restaurant hopes to open this month.

📍 3223 E. Louise Dr. • Meridian

The first wave of The Village at Meridian’s expansion is scheduled to open Oct. 9, with Alo, Tecovas, Kendra Scott, Gorjana, Paris Baguette and Tempur-Pedic among the first new businesses planned for opening weekend. The celebration is expected to run Oct. 9–11 with food, entertainment and performances. Construction schedules could still shift individual openings.

📍 The Village at Meridian • Opening weekend Oct. 9–11

Robert & Wallace expands in Southeast Boise

Local home furnishings shop Robert & Wallace has moved into a new space more than three times the size of its previous storefront in Barber Station. The Boise-grown business is known for a modern cottage and California-coastal mix of furniture, décor and home accessories. The new store held its grand opening Sept. 19–20.

📍 Barber Station • Southeast Boise

A new Japanese-inspired arcade called Kon-Ni-Chi-Claw is headed to Boise Towne Square. The 2,567-square-foot space will be filled with claw machines, plush prizes, neon lighting and sakura-inspired décor. The concept already has locations around the country and will take over a second-floor space near JCPenney.

📍 Boise Towne Square • Boise