Nothing says fall like a Harvest Festival, and thanks to the Idaho Statesman‘s Do it today column on October 5th, I discovered something in Boise that would be fun to do after a morning of grazing my way through the downtown Farmers Market. (Click here to read about my market adventures!)
The Idaho Botanical Gardens on N. Penitentiary Road opened its gates for young and old excited to pose for pictures in a pumpkin patch, take a wagon ride, listen to music, or admire the fall colors while dining on gourmet fare from lined-up food trucks. It doesn’t get much better!
Nestled in an area known as the Idaho Penitentiary District, the Idaho Botanical Gardens offered families a place for pictures near the entrance where an archway of pumpkins and bales of hay served as a staging area. Here’s a dad making sure his son is ready for the picture as I, too, snap a photo with the old penitentiary in the background. (Click here for touring info on the Old Idaho Penitentiary and Felon Fright on Halloween night!)
After that, I hit the vendor tents like the shopper I love to be. First stop, Kelley’s Canyon Orchard where this basket of luscious red apples cried Pick me! Pick me!
I moved on to meet the guys from City Peanut Shop who offered me one of their best sellers: Brewer’s Nuts. (Yes, husband Bert was the recipient of one of these bags of Virginia redskins flavored with beer from Payette Brewing Company! Is he lucky, or what?)
One booth sold tropical pitcher plants (Have never seen any so big!) and, judging from the crowd around them, neither had most of the guests.
Dangling from one tent were little ceramic works of art known as Ben’s Bells. Amazingly, they weren’t for sale. The story told to me was that Ben’s Bells encourage kindness, and the whole idea evolved after a child named Ben died just before his third birthday. His family — and now a community of volunteers, too — make the beads, assemble the bells, and hang them in unexpected places. Finders of Ben’s Bells receive a note encouraging them to take the bells home as a reminder to be kind. (Click here for more info on the Ben’s Bells Project.)
One of the happiest folks I met was this lady. She obviously enjoys spinning enough to give up a day to demonstrate her craft for others. And there she was, pedaling barefoot and fashioning soft wool into yarn for folks to take home.
For lunch, there were several choices — like wood-fired pizza baked right on the spot! (I’ve been to lots of festivals, but never have I known folks to bring their own oven! Whew!)
Local craft beers were available for washing down whatever you bought!
I stood in line at Bel Cibo waiting for a sizable grilled cheese sandwich (Yum!!!) . . .
while talking to a pumpkin-head lady who was a good sport and let me photograph her in the cutest costume on a grown-up!
Then I joined other folks seated on the first and only grass labyrinth I’ve ever seen to enjoy the food, sunshine, and local band performing under the tent.
After lunch, I grabbed my ballot for the Scarecrow Stroll. With 26 fantastic full-size scarecrows scattered throughout the gardens, I had my work cut out for me: Vote for your favorite, and then go online to check out the winners. (Click here to see who won!) Here are my faves:
I took a leisurely stroll on a serene pathway . . .
and then watched this couple contemplating which nicely packaged bag of bulbs to take home.
Couldn’t resist ending my day photographing a family making memories at one of Boise’s premier fall celebrations. With good food, great weather, interesting vendors, and an absolutely lovely garden outfitted for the season, it was a great day for a most enjoyable Fall Harvest Festival!
For more information:
Idaho Botanical Garden
2355 N. Penitentiary Road
Boise, ID 83712
208-343-8649
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Idaho-Botanical-Garden/111608468878615
Old Idaho Penitentiary
2445 N. Penitentiary Road
Boise, ID 83712
208-334-2844
For more on our adventures in Idaho, Washington, and Montana, check out the page on Inland Northwest at the top of this post.
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FreeRangeCow
This is one of my favourite places on the planet…and I have never been there during an autumnal festival. Thanks for the tour through your lens, Rusha!
Rusha Sams
Thanks! The folks who sponsor/promote this place must be a class act! Everything was wonderful from food to decorations to activities!
Bronwyn Joy @ Journeys Of The Fabulist
Just saw this! Couldn’t resist the masked pumpkin 🙂
Rusha Sams
Thanks for taking a look! You loved the same pumpkin I did!
ididitforjohnny
Looks like a lot of fun. The Ben’s Bells look like quite an amazing project!
Rusha Sams
It sounds amazing. And I can only imagine what it would be like to find one of the bells. Thanks for reading & commenting!
Pride in Photos Photography
What a fall magical day you had…wish I could of been there. Gorgeous! Love the pumpkin lady!!!
Rusha Sams
The pumpkin lady was quite nice to let me photograph her. And, yes, the whole day was delightful! Thanks for reading/commenting!
Sherry Galey
What a great place and great day! So many things appeal, love Ben’s Bells and the pizza and the wool spinner and oh so much here.
Rusha Sams
Thanks so much for reading and commenting. It was a lovely day at the Botanical Gardens, and I hope to return.
Linda Arthur Tejera
Wait — this is October in Boise? Where’s the snow? The heavy coats and boots? Are you sure you were in Boise? LOL Great photos and a fun time!
Rusha Sams
OMG! You’re scaring me! I have to go back to Boise in December, January and February!!! Better shop for boots, right?
freebutfun
I would’ve love to go there too! Thanks for sharing this!
Rusha Sams
You are so welcome! It was a fun afternoon!