8 Best Thanksgiving Activities and Events in Idaho

Home for the holidays? Get ready for more than just a Thanksgiving celebration. To make the most of your holiday in Idaho, we’ve compiled the perfect 2023 turkey day itinerary. Check out all the pie shops, turkey trots, and volunteer opportunities to make the 8 Best Thanksgiving Activities and Events.  

Pie Hut, Sandpoint, ID

Not to be mistaken with Pizza Hut, Pie Hut in Sandpoint, Idaho is Spoon University’s top location to buy pie in the state—and we tend to agree. Try the huckleberry pie, pumpkin pie, or apple pie. They’re all great picks. 

Boise Co-Op, Boise, ID

Sure, you could buy your turkey at a nameless big-box grocery store, but why do that when you could support a local business and ethical animal raising practices? The Boise Co-Op offers non-GMO turkeys for $2.79 a pound, as well as certified organic turkeys for $3.99 a pound.

Holiday Light Show, Coeur d’Alene, ID

Come see one of the best Holiday Light Shows in America, according to USA Today’s Readers’ Choice list, and ring in the rest of the holidays in Coeur d’Alene. The show starts the day after Thanksgiving and features over 1.5 million lit bulbs in dazzling displays.

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Boise Towne Square Mall, Boise, ID

The Boise Towne Square Mall is USA Today’s “Best retail location to shop” in Idaho for this year, and we agree. With over 145 stores to peruse, many with door buster and Black Friday sales, it is the Black Friday destination in the state.  

Shoshone Bannock Tribal Museum, Fort Hall, ID

Lest we forget, Thanksgiving is the celebration of the Native Americans helping America’s first settlers reap a successful harvest. In your free time surrounding the holiday, it may not be a bad idea to visit Idaho’s Shoshone Bannock Tribal Museum to see “exhibits showcasing tribal history, old photographs, artifacts from the Old Fort Hall,” and much more. 

Boise Turkey Day Run, Boise, ID

The Boise Turkey Day Run grants you the perfect opportunity to earn that extra slice of pie during Thanksgiving dinner by running off as many calories as you can earlier in the day! Participants will receive a limited edition long-sleeve shirt, race photos, post-race food and beverages, and more.

Boise Rescue Mission, Boise, ID

The Boise Rescue Mission Ministries attracts volunteers from all over Idaho to help provide meals, donated items, mentoring, repair work, and other needs to the less fortunate. Check out their website for a full list of needed volunteers and event calendar.

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Empty Bowls, Boise, ID

On the Friday after Thanksgiving each year, the Idaho Food Back puts on the Empty Bowl event. Participants choose a bowl out of thousands to choose from to enjoy a hot bowl of soup from the best local restaurants. Bowls start at $10 and proceeds go to help the food bank. 

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