By Ruby Tanner

Family-oriented and “affordable” Idaho events get a free line in our calendar, and each month we choose several to highlight. Here’s how to submit:

Deadline:  The first of each month.
Lead time:  Two issues.
Next deadline: November 1 for the  January issue.
Send details to:  [email protected]

9/29-10/2     Lewis County Fair, “Biggest Little Show On Earth”, Nezperce

9/30-10/1     Pro-West Finals: Cowboys are the world’s finest rodeo athletes, and this event matches these athletes against some of the best and toughest rodeo livestock in the world; Kootenai County Fairgrounds, Coeur d’Alene

1     See Spot Walk: Idaho Humane Society Dog Walk and Festival, Julia Davis Park, Boise

1     Farmers’ Market and Harvest Festival: This marks the end of the season for the Bonners Ferry Farmers’ Market; Enjoy the freshest and best produce, music and other seasonal activities; 8:00AM-1:00PM, Bonners Ferry

1     Free Admission Day, Museum Of Eastern Idaho: 10:00AM-5:00PM, Idaho Falls

1     Story Trail Book-of-the-Month, “Owl Moon”: Stories are geared towards preschoolers and early elementary ages; The story is posted on ten child-height reading platforms along a ¼ mile self-guided trail; No registration required; 12:00 Noon; Foothills Learning Center; 188 Sunset Peak Road, Boise

1     JAM Human Foosball Tourney: 11:00 AM, Storey Park Baseball Field, Meridian

1     Watershed Watch: From 10:00AM– 12:00 Noon, you can be a water quality scientist for a day and diagnose the health of the Boise River; no experience needed; participants are assigned locations from Lucky Peak to Caldwell, and a trained expert will lead the group in monitoring activities; All ages are welcome; Registration will open August 31st; Visit the Boise WaterShed web site for more information, Boise

1     White Spring Ranch Harvest Festival: Free, though donations are welcome ($5 suggested donation/$4 with can of food for Genesee Food bank); Excellent Classic Country Vocalist/Guitar, Shiloh Sharrard, Blues/Classic Vocalist/Piano Jeanne McHale, Vocalist/dulcimer John Elwood and wife Sally Burkhart; Re-enactors; Hog Heaven Muzzle Loaders; WSU Raptor Club; Tours of the National Historic Farmhouse and Log cabins; Portrait Drawings, Children’s activities—plus Chili dogs, Baked Potato Bar and Apple Cider; 1:00-4:00PM, White Springs Ranch Museum, Genessee

1     Museum Work Day: Volunteers welcome; Lunchtime Seminar (bring your own lunch): Professor Eric Yensen, The College of Idaho, on some topic involving ground squirrels; The O.J.Smith Museum of Natural History, Boone Hall, The College of Idaho, Caldwell

1     Farmers’ Market, 9:00-1:00, Jerome

1     Eagle Saturday Market, 9:00-2:00, Heritage Park, Eagle

1,8     Long Camp Farmers Market, Kamiah/Kooskia

1-2     Autumn Photo Safari: Better than a photography class, the Autumn Photo Safari will be your ticket to the best secret locales for scenery and fall foliage photography; Beginners welcome; Learn from semi-professional photographers with decades of experience;. Follow park rangers to the hotspots for color; This event is free (Yes, free), but pre-registration is required (208-824-5901) and limited to 15 people; Castle Rocks State Park, Almo

1-2     Salmon River Art Show: Sponsored by the Salmon River Art Guild; Community Center, Riggins

1-2     Idaho City Days: A Weekend of Fun, Celebrating Community Past, Present and Future; Idaho City

1-22     West Boise Saturday Market: SATURDAYS, 10:00AM – 2:00PM; Come see many vendors and artisans and enjoy the day viewing many new hand made items, food, art, gifts, 3113 North Cole Road, Boise

1-22     Boise Farmer’s Market; SATURDAYS, 9:00-1:00, Boise Farmers’ Market, Boise

1-22     Kootenai County Farmer’s Market: SATURDAYS, 9:00-1:30, Hayden

1-29     Idaho Falls Farmers Market: SATURDAYS, 9:00-1:00, Keybank Parking Lot, Idaho Falls

1-29     Farmers’ Market: SATURDAYS; 10:00-2:00, Parma

1-29     Nampa Farmer’s Market: SATURDAYS, 9:00; Historic Downtown Nampa

1-29     Capital City Public Market: SATURDAYS, 9:30-1:30, Boise

1-29     Farmers Market: SATURDAYS; 8:00-1:00; located downtown on Main Street and in Friendship Square next to the Moscow Hotel, Moscow

1-29     Twin Falls Farmer’s Market: SATURDAYS: 9:00-1:00, North College Road, Twin Falls

1-29     Walk About Boise: SATURDAYS; 1.5-hour guided walking tour through 150 years of history and architecture; $10; 11:00AM, Basque Block, Boise

1-29     Portneuf Valley Farmer’s Market: SATURDAYS, 9:00-1:00, Pocatello

1-30     Fall Flights: The Peregrine Fund will be hosting their popular Fall Flights every weekend in October (Oct 1 – Oct 30), weather permitting; A host of raptors will be showcased including the Eurasian Eagle Owl and a Peregrine Falcon; flights begin at 3:00 sharp; World Center for Birds of Prey, 5668 W Flying Hawk Ln, Boise

1-31     Swore Farms Corn Maze and Pumpkin Patch, Pocatello

1-11/7     Wild Adventure Corn Maze, Blackfoot

4     Kilroy Coffee Klatch: Held on the first Tuesday of every month for coffee and conversation at the Warhawk Air Museum, this event is FREE for ALL veterans and ALL veterans are welcome; 10:00 AM-12:00 noon; Nampa

5     Story Time: Books and crafts designated for children ages of 2- 4 will be available during this time; all ages are welcome; 10:30AM-12:30PM, Hailey Public Library , Hailey

6     Idaho Falls Gallery Walk: Enjoy works by artists from around the region and around the globe at ten community galleries and museums; free; no registration required; 5:00-8:00PM, downtown Idaho Falls

6     Julia Davis Park Docent Tours: Free, but registration is required (208-338-9108); 4:00 PM, Julia Davis Park, Boise

6,13     Twelfth Ave. Farmer’s Market, 2:00-7:00PM, Buhl

6-27     Blaine County Chess Club: THURSDAYS after school; 5:30 PM at the Community Campus, Hailey

6-27     TNT for Teens: every Thursday from 4-5 PM at the Public Library; Here kids 10 and up meet to play video games, Hailey

7     Lewiston Public Market/Lewiston Art Walk: 5:00-8:00PM, downtown Lewiston

7     Brake for Breakfast: This event promotes breast cancer awareness; people drive through and receive free breakfast, a gift and educational information from a Susan G Komen representative without leaving their cars; 7:00-9:00AM, Minidoka Memorial Hospital Parking Lot (this hospital is one of the 14 in Idaho to host the event at the same time and date), Rupert

7     Teton Valley Farmers’ Market, 9:00-1:30, Driggs

7-8     Professional Bull Riders, Ford Idaho Center, Nampa

7-9     Fall For History: A gala celebration of Wallace’s history and designation as the only city in America entirely listed on the National Register of Historic Places; Speakers; historic home, cemetery and museum tours; live theater re-enactments make-your-own-history workshops; and more, Wallace

8     Kids Discovery Day: Free admission, 1:00AM-5:00PM, South Expo Building, Expo Idaho, Garden City

8     Dirty Dash, Avimor, Garden City

8     Harvest Festival: Live music, bounce house, fresh produce, games, caramel apples, photo ops, silent auction, prizes and food, pumpkins, hot dog roast; 9:00-1:00, Mountain View Barn, Jerome

8     Canyon County Dash ($20?), “Y”, Caldwell

8-9     3rd Annual Highland Games and World Festival: This year the festival includes the Light Weight Highland Games World Championships; Free, 9:00AM-6:00PM, Carl Miller Park, Mountain Home

8-9     Crafts in the Country: Proceeds from the booth sales go to the Helping Kid’s Fund; Saturday 9:00 – 5:00, Sunday 10:00 – 4:00; Twin Falls County Fairgrounds, Filer

8-9     Renaissance Faire: Entertainment, Performances, Jousting, Activities and Demonstrations, Games For Kids and Adults, Vendors and Merchants, Fun Run and Walk, and more; 11am-6pm, Gem Island Sports Complex, Emmett

8-9     Idaho Health Fitness Fair: For healthier lifestyle options for you and your family, find the answers at the FREE Health & Fitness Fair; visit with doctors, dentists and health care professionals; get practical, take-home solutions for better nutrition and physical activities–and get your flu shot and select from health screenings all in one visit; bring the entire family; 10AM Saturday to 4:00PM Sunday; Expo Idaho, Garden City

9     City of Trees Marathon, ParkCenter Park, Boise

10     Dog-A-Palooza: Lava Heat Aquatics and

the Lava Hot Springs Foundation invite dogs and dog-lovers to Lava Hot Springs for this doggie-oriented fun day; Dogs are allowed to swim in the outdoor pool—although their humans need to stay on the deck—and play in the fully fenced lawn area; Open Swim

for Dogs noon-4:00pm; (208)776-5500;

Lava Hot Springs

11     Story Trail Book: “Owl Moon”: we invite you and your preschooler to join us as we walk the quarter-mile trail and read the book, then head into the Learning Center to do a story-related craft; for children between 3-1/2 and 6 years old and an adult companion;. $3.00 fee per student; to reserve a spot, call (208)608-768;10:00-11:00AM, Foothills Learning Center, Boise

13-15     Friends of the Marshall Public Library Book Sale: 9:00 AM, Marshall Library, Pocatello

14     Places and Faces Art show, Twin Falls

14     “Molly in the Mineshaft”: Sensory-friendly/Special Needs Concert; This continues the tradition of presenting a casual, 45-minute concert which allows patrons who may need accommodations to enjoy a live performance; participants can make a musical instrument before the program, and Dorsey Music will offer a hands-on musical instrument “petting zoo” before and after the concert; $6.00 admission for everyone, 12:00 noon, Langroise Recital Hall, The College of Idaho, Caldwell

14     Progressive Dinner, Challis Arts Council Fundraiser, Challis

14     “Can You Believe It”: Community talent show, National Oregon/California Trail Center, Montpelier

14     Inner-Tube Water Polo: Come hop in our inner-tubes for a fun game of inner-tube water polo; ages 8-14; Children must be able to pass the swim test before participating; free with Rec Center admission fee, Rec Center, Nampa

15     WaterShed Weekend Fall Festival: Our slithery, slimy friends are coming back; Come meet some live reptiles in the theater with Reptile Adventure; Create festive Fall-themed arts and crafts, Pumpkin painting, try to catch an apple on string with your teeth, explore the exhibit hall and take a silly harvest photo; Free, no registration is required; Boise WaterShed Environmental Education Center, 11818 West Joplin Road, Boise

15     OHV Safety Class, Athol

15     “Molly in the Mineshaft”: This “Newgrass” group will wow the audience with their upbeat take on traditional favorites from around the world, roots-inspired original compositions, and toe-tapping solos from remarkable players, including three-time national twin-fiddle champions from the Weiser Fiddle Festival; (208)459-7583 HYPERLINK http://www.caldwellfinearts.org for prices; 6:15/7:00PM, Jewett Auditorium, The College of Idaho, Caldwell

15-16     Autocross Racing, Garden City

20     Board Game Night: Drop in and play a game or two; Challenge your friends to one of our games or introduce yourself and a favorite game to us—We have games for all ages and skill levels and a quarterly prize drawing; 6:00PM, Hillcrest Library Branch, Boise

20     A Tribute to Dr. Ralph Stanley Feat the Clinch Mountain Boys: 7:30 PM, CSI Fine Arts Auditorium, Twin Falls

21-22     What Today’s Women Want: This expo brings together a unique mix of shopping, entertainment and new experiences for a fun event you won’t forget; enjoy the event with friends and family; 9:00-5:00, Kingston Plaza, Idaho Falls

21-23     Hiitem’Waq’iswit “Dance For Life” Powwow, Clearwater River Casino and Lodge, Lewiston

22     Funtober Fest: Come have some harvest fun at this outdoor, carnival-style event; includes face painting, crafts, dancing, storytelling, a costume contest, games and more–something for everyone; Rec Center member $4, non-member $5, adults free;1:00-4:00PM, Rec Center, Nampa

22-23     Idaho Gourd Society Show and Sale: This festival features original gourd art on display and for purchase, a gourd art competition, gourd art supplies and demonstrations, holiday gift items, Make and Take activities for kids and adults, silent auction and much more; Saturday 9 – 5 & Sunday 9 – 4, Wyndham Garden Boise Airport, Boise

23     Pumpkin Carving; River Front Park, Kamiah

23     Ladies Only Swim: Ladies of all ages grab your sisters, daughters, mothers and gal pals and join us in the pools for a ladies only swim night; we will be opening the pools up after hours to women of all ages to enjoy the pool area in a female friendly environment (no males will be in the entire building); we will also have an optional water fitness class kick-off at 7:30 for a fun fitness opportunity; 7:15PM-9:00PM, Rec Center, Nampa

24     Scarecrow Festival, Lava Hot Springs

28     Piano Passport, A Musical Journey: Join the Brava Piano Duo – pianists Sue Miller and Allison Bangerter – in a musical journey without having to get your passport renewed; 7:30-9:00PM, CSI Fine Arts Auditorium, Twin Falls

28-30     Gem Faire: Fine jewelry, precious & semi-precious gemstones, millions of beads, crystals, gold & silver, minerals & much more; Expo Idaho, Garden City

29     Mini-Cassia Craft Fair: This fair is one of the biggest in southeast Idaho and has been held for over 25 years; 8:00AM-4:00PM, Minico High School, Rupert

29     OHV Safety Class, Lewiston

29     Railroad History Exhibit: “Ties to the Past: Railroad History in the Coeur d’Alene Region” explores the development of railroads in the Coeur d’Alene Region; 11:00AM-5:00PM, Museum of North Idaho, Coeur d’Alene

29     Pumpkin Palooza, Lewiston

29     ZooBoo, Zoo Idaho, Pocatello

29-30     Pickin Treasure Valley Antique Show & Artisan Market: This event showcases products like hand painted primitives, old quilts, pottery, wooden wares, tinware, heirloom crafts, hand painted signs, jewelry, soaps, candles , Home Decor, Bags & Accessories, and so on in the Antiques & Philately industry, Ford Idaho Center, Nampa

31     Kamiah Chamber of Commerce Halloween Costume Contest, Kamiah

31     Trunk-or-Treat: This is a big deal and fun for the whole family: Costume Parade, 5:45, Trunk or Treating, 6:00; prizes will be awarded for best decorated trunks, so get your trunk registered for a ghoulish night; Ashton

31     Trick-or-Treat Old Town Streets, Pocatello

31     ISU Costume Fun Run, Pocatello

31                  Downata Hot Springs Halloween Party, Downey