β οΈ WEATHER ALERT! Some displays may be down due to weather. Be prepared for this possibility when visiting displays.
Please read:
If you are a for-profit business using these routes or our listings to make money, I kindly ask you to please consider donating part of your profits to our project. I am aware that companies are using this FREE resource to make money, and the reality is that I usually don't see a dime.
I spend a lot of my own time and money building this project for the community, and I don't want to put things behind a paywall. The Driving Routes in particular take a LOT of time to plan. If you were directed here by a company for a light tour, consider asking them if they've donated to BCL.
Likewise, if you, an individual or family, have found these routes or the BCL project to be useful, please consider donating to help keep the project going!
How to Donate to BCL:
Donate via PayPal: bit.ly/BCLDonateΒ
Donate via Venmo: @BCLDonate
Donate via Cash App: $WilliamH208
Become a Paid Subscriber to our Substack: https://boisechristmaslights.substack.com/
Buy Me a Coffee: www.buymeacoffee.com/bcldonate
Donate via Stripe: https://donate.stripe.com/aEUg2s24c2nngBG3cc
Receipts for donations can be provided upon request. Contact boisechristmaslights@gmail dot com
- William, founder and admin of the Boise Christmas Lights Project
βΉοΈ Update 12/11 at 9:30 PM: Added homes to West Boise, North Meridian and Hidden Springs/Eagle route.
Update 12/11 at 4:15 PM: South Boise route added, stop added on Nampa route. Clarified on routes that time length assumes 5-8 minutes at light shows.
Update 12/10 at 12:30 PM: West Boise, North Meridian, Central Meridian, Hidden Springs/Eagle and Nampa Routes are now published!
Stay tuned for more routes and possible updates to existing routes.
Existing routes may be updated, so don't screenshot them, just bookmark them in your browser.
π₯ BCL Hot Tip! π₯
To skip the crowds, visit displays between Sunday and Thursday evenings. Fridays and Saturdays are usually more crowded at displays.
βΉοΈ Please Read This About Driving Routes:
Driving Routes are one of the most popular parts of the Boise Christmas Lights Project. After the first week of December, we take a look at the homes on the map, and we create a driving route in areas where homes are more concentrated.
Driving Routes take a bit of time to plan, because we're picky about them. We've been doing these routes for years now, and weβve learned there is a delicate balance to strike. We take the following items into consideration when making the driving routes:
Range: We like to make routes in areas where there are multiple homes in a close area.
Distance between Stops: We try to keep the drive time 5-ish minutes max between homes, and we try not to make you cross Eagle Road (you're welcome). Some exceptions to this will be made, especially in the Eagle/Star/Hidden Springs area.
Stop Limit: We try to cap each driving route at 10 stops max due to Google maps limitations and length, but we may include some other homes nearby either at the end of the main list or scattered in the main list for you to visit if you have more time.
Route Flow: We try to make the route flow in one direction as much as possible, so you don't have to zig-zag across the area.
Display Hours: Some displays/light shows turn off their lights earlier than others, so those ones will be near the beginning of the route. Some of them go late into the night, and will likely be closer to the end.
Light Shows: Light shows synced to music have proven to be very popular with our visitors, so we prioritize those when creating routes.
Must-See Displays: Other must-see displays that really make you go WOW! are prioritized as well, so not every home on the map makes it onto a route.
With all of that in mind, itβs important to note that not every home on the map makes it onto a driving route. We have been doing routes for several years now, and we believe this is the best formula to make things work for everyone. We hope everyone understands that not every home on the map makes it onto a driving route due the above parameters.
Thanks for your understanding. Hopefully this explains how routes are made and why we make the decisions we do.
Please don't take screenshots of the Routes, because the Routes may change after initial publishing. Keep the Routes page bookmarked to make sure you've got the latest version, with any last-minute additions!
Merry Christmas!
- William, Admin and Founder of the Boise Christmas Lights Project
Select a Driving Route Below:
Light Show Etiquette
Please follow these guidelines to help ensure that you and others around you enjoy the show!
π Keep your Radio at a decent volume
π ΏοΈ Don't Park in Front of the Show
π‘ Turn OFF your Car Headlights
π Do NOT block Neighbors Driveways
π Stay off Neighbors Property