Idaho Falls built its identity around the Snake River, and its biggest traditions still gather along its banks and greenbelt. Annual Events in Idaho Falls Idaho range from Idaho’s oldest rodeo to an orchestra playing under the open sky. Because downtown and the riverfront host most of the year’s signature gatherings, they’re easy to combine into one visit.
War Bonnet Round Up began in 1911 and remains Idaho’s oldest professional rodeo. Each year, the first weekend in August brings more than 450 cowboys and cowgirls to Sandy Downs Arena. The Shoshone-Bannock Tribes of Fort Hall have taken part since the rodeo’s earliest years. Additionally, a free family kickoff event opens rodeo week with youth events and games. The City of Idaho Falls has run the rodeo since taking it over in 2015.
The Idaho Falls Symphony has offered a free outdoor concert nearly every September since its founding in 1949. Freeman Park fills with blankets and lawn chairs for an evening of orchestral favorites. Programs typically mix patriotic standards with lighter pieces suited to a summer night. Meanwhile, a musical instrument petting zoo often opens the evening for kids before the concert begins. Admission is free, though the symphony welcomes donations.
The Idaho Falls Downtown Development Corporation lights the city’s official Christmas tree each November. Horse-drawn trolley rides and a holiday market fill Memorial Drive earlier in the day. As evening falls, carols and a countdown lead into the tree lighting itself. Plus, a free ice rink usually opens nearby along the River Walk for the rest of the season. Santa makes an appearance immediately following the ceremony.
Idaho Falls’ biggest gatherings center on the Snake River, downtown, and Sandy Downs. Still, some long-running traditions here have recently changed or ended entirely, so confirm details on each event’s official page before attending.