There happens to be a little festival coming up that transforms this town into a celebration of the arts for five days! This festival is the one and only Treefort, of course. Lucky us, class will be in session during the festival this year so Boise State students will be steps away from the action!
This is Treefort Music Fest’s thirteenth year, and it is sure to be a treat. With over 500 artists and bands performing at local venues, this five-day festival will take place from Wednesday, March 26 to Sunday, March 30. Be sure to check out this year’s lineup which includes some big names, but some would argue Treefort’s main draws are the hundreds of artists you’ve likely never heard of, sprinkled throughout bars, coffee shops and traditional venues across Boise throughout the festival.
If the music scene isn’t your cup of tea, don’t worry—there are many other smaller “Forts” guaranteed to offer something you’d be interested in. Check out Artfort, Podfort, Hackfort, Storyfort, Foodfort, Alefort, Filmfort, Comedyfort, Dragfort, Music Talks, Skatefort and Kidfort.
Each fort offers something unique. The lineup of awesome things at Treefort are too long to list, so explore the Treefort app (seriously, it’s really good) that lets you “favorite” artists or events you’re interested in, and puts them on your own personal calendar so you won’t miss a thing. There’s even a feature that recognizes gaps in your schedule and suggests things going on at the time.
Students can enjoy up to $75 off their Treefort 2025 pass! Choose from Single Day Main Stage (by day), a 5-day Full Treefort Pass, or a 4-day Main Stage Only Pass. All passes are GA.
Here is what’s going on at each Fort this year:
Alefort
For Treefort attendees that are aged 21+, be sure to check out Alefort. This year you will find beers from 50+ local, regional and international breweries. This is your chance to enjoy tasty beverages alongside all the music, comedy and films Treefort has to offer.
Artfort
Experience and celebrate fine arts, performing arts and immersive experiences at various locations throughout Treefort at Artfort, including a live mural painting at Julia Davis Park. Artfort is free and open to the public but keep in mind that some installations may be located in venues that require a pass.
Comedyfort
Get all your laughs and giggles out during Comedyfort. There’ll be standup comedians performing from all over the country, including both emerging and established acts. This year’s headlining acts include Rory Scovel and the How Did This Get Made? Podcast.
You can catch Comedyfort shows at Mad Swede Brew Hall (all ages) and Boise Contemporary Theater (all ages). All Comedyfort events require a 1-day or 5-day Festival Pass or an Individual Show Ticket.
Dragfort
Visit Dragfort for the chance to experience Boise’s drag culture, including parties, performances and, more generally, a safe space for personal expression. This is a celebration of LGBTQIA+ community and culture as well as a place where allies are welcome.
Whether you want to be in drag or watch the drag queens do their thing, Dragfort should be something on your list to check out.
Filmfort
And for all you movie buffs, Filmfort is a three-day festival that offers film screenings, panels and workshops. Plus, there are plenty of chances to show support for Boise State!
You can catch films and shorts at The Flicks, Idaho Film Society and Boise Centre. All films are included 1-day or 5-day Festival Pass or a Filmfort Badge.
Foodfort
This year’s Foodfort will celebrate Boise’s local food networks and offer multi-course meals, small plates and food talks with chefs. For those that enjoy delicious food, you can’t do any better than this.
Foodfort is welcoming Chef Le Anne Wong for a decadent ticket dinner and Street Eats is back at the zoo with casual bites (ticketed).
Hackfort
Learn, connect and engage with all aspects of technology and tech culture at Hackfort (March 26-28, at Boise Centre East).
Get to know keynote speaker, Lee Kebler, at Hackfort this year.
Lee Kebler has been at the forefront of blending technology, entertainment, and storytelling for over two decades. From designing cutting-edge studios for artists like will.i.am to producing music for global icons such as Britney Spears and Big & Rich, Lee’s work bridges creativity and innovation.
Kidfort
Kidfort is free for all! From live performances to workshops and hands-on activities, Kidfort has something to offer the younger Treeforters each day of the festival!
Bonus! Treefort is free for kids under 12 years old, as long as they’re accompanied by an adult with a Treefort pass.
Music Talks
The goal of Music Talks is to bring the industry’s brightest minds together to discuss the future of music and help artists build thriving careers.
These talks are free and open to the public with programming to be announced.
Podfort
Bringing voices together on stage, Podfort celebrates all things podcast. The best part? You get to actually see a podcast get made. With your own eyes! And ears! Enjoy all sorts of topics ranging from local histories, goofy tales, and unbelievable narratives.
Podfort can be found at the Boise Contemporary Theater with different events planned from Thursday, March 27 through Sunday, March 30.
Skatefort
Are you interested in skateboarding or part of the skateboarding community here in Boise? Be sure to check out Skatefort (March 29), where the Boise Skateboard Association and Boise’s Park and Recreation are inviting people to come skate while listening to amazing music.
Storyfort
For the writers, readers and storytellers out there, Storyfort offers a huge line-up of authors and storytellers, featuring panels, workshops, readings and storytelling.
All Storyfort events are free and open to the public.