Boise, ID

Aptly named, the Great Garden Escape concerts at the Idaho Botanical Garden are truly a wonderful escape and one of my favorite Boise summertime activities. Every Thursday night from June through August, the Botanical Garden presents a different musical act and opens its grounds to all those who wish to come in and enjoy a relaxing, beautiful evening.

This year, the last concert is August 28th, so make sure you get out to one of the final concerts if you haven’t made it out already. The August concerts run a little earlier than those in June and July, so if you’re a repeat visitor, make sure you show up this month at 6:00 P.M. rather than 6:30 P.M. There is some great music to end the season, so check out the Idaho Botanical Garden’s website at http://www.idahobotanicalgarden.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=feature.display&feature_id=28 to check out the schedule. Concert admission for non-members is $10.00, members pay $8.00, and children (4–12) are $6.00. The Idaho Botanical Garden is located right next to the Old Idaho Penitentiary in Boise’s northeast foothills.

I went to the concert July 31st and saw Headwaters, a bluegrass and folk band. A friend of mine flew in from Portland that evening and we headed straight to the Garden from the airport to meet my boyfriend and another friend. We weren’t able to make it to the Garden until a little after the concert started, but we were still able to grab a picnic table towards the rear of the Garden. The music travels throughout the airy grounds, so there’s not a bad seat in the house. Some people sit right in front of the stage like you would at a regular concert, but others spread out away from the stage so they can chat, play cards, or read a book. Only a couple picnic tables are available and they aren’t always in the shade, so I recommend getting there a bit early, taking a blanket, and sprawling out on the grass in some shade. Our picnic table was a little sunny at the beginning of the evening, but soon we were in the shade and enjoying a very pleasant evening despite the 95° temperature. The whole venue is very informal. People get up and move around and it is definitely a family-friendly, kid-friendly event. Both kids and adults were dancing to the catchy bluegrass almost as soon as it started.

Although food and drink vendors are always at the event, you are also welcome to bring in your own goodies. We packed a picnic and some nice beer and enjoyed our own food. Unless you happen to have a resourceful friend with you like we did, don’t forget your bottle opener or wine key if you’re bringing bottled beverages!

As the hot afternoon sun turns into a more comfortable, mellow twilight, the Garden’s trees light up with little white lights. The Garden with the valley behind it is absolutely beautiful. And between the eating, drinking, and great music, don’t forget to take a walk around the Garden and see all the amazing plants and flowers. It was a perfect evening, a great place to take my out-of-town friend, and an event I will continue to look forward to year after year.