BOISE, Idaho – This year marks Treefort’s 11th epic reunion of local artists, creatives, storytellers and performers.
As artists and bands prepare their final soundchecks and setlists, we’ve prepared the ultimate guide to help you compose own setlist for the Treefort Music Fest 2023 this 22-26 March.
From the various “forts” and freebies to transportation and pro tips, here’s your treefort treasure trove of participant resources for an efcontless experience.
Worth knowing festival information
Information about the festival site and for pass holders.
• The main hub of Treefort Music Fest will be Wednesday, March 22 through Sunday, March 26 in the western portion of Julia Davis Park between Capitol Boulevard and Zoo Boise.
• There will be two zones at Julia Davis Park: The Fort Zone (free and public) and the Wristband Zone (pass holders).
• All participants enter the park through the main entrance overlooking Capitol Boulevard, just south of the Boise Art Museum. All participants, regardless of the status of the pass holder, will be taken through security when entering the park.
• NO passes are sold in the park; Only pre-purchased passes can be picked up at the park. To purchase a pass during the festival, visit the box office at Treefort Music Hall (722 W Broad Street) or purchase online.
• Looking for more music? Catch a Free Show at Cyclops Stage, Payette Brewing, Lost Grove Brewing, Boise Brewing and Camp Modern!
• All pass holders get 50% off admission to Boise Zoo during Treefort week!
• BONUSES! There Will Be Bands Performing On Valley Regional Transit’s ‘Treeline’ Shuttle – Lineup TBA!
Pro Tip:
Download the Treefort app. Not only can you create your own personalized schedule, but you can also share your schedule with friends, and when it’s time for the festival, you can check the queue lengths at different venues AND Get festival updates in real time.
Photo credit: Treefort Music Fest
Passport holder and ticket options
Passes are still available. Participants have a variety of options ranging from $100 one-day passes to $420 zipline 5-day passes.
• The Five-day festival pass. This will take you to all music venues, forts and events.
• The single day pass. This pass gives you entry for one day/night.
• The ZIPLINE pass. This allows you to jump to the front of the line at any venue.
• The BUZZ pass. Similar to a ZIPLINE pass but only for Alefort and access to a secret menu within Alefort.
All fortress events are included in a five-day festival pass or a one-day pass. Fort Badges for sale include: Dragfort ($69), Hackfort ($30), Filmfort ($30), Kidfort Comedy + Stunt Show ($10), and Yogafort ($69).
Children under the age of 12 can enter an event for free when accompanied by an adult pass holder. Many of the venues, including the main stage, are suitable for all ages, but some are restricted to over 21s.
Visit treefortmusicfest.com for more information on passes and pricing.
Zones & “Forts”
Zones and of course…the “fortresses” by Treefort. Access to forts varies by age and passport. Part of what makes the festival so unique and inclusive for all ages and people with different activity levels.
• THE FORT ZONE (free and open to the public) includes many forts and activities such as Alefort, Kidfort, Radioland, Ranger Station, Food Trucks, Bars, Restrooms, Water Stations and Merchandise/Token Sales.
• THE WRISTBAND ZONE (5-day, 1-day or Main Stage pass required for entry) includes the Main Stage, Hideout Stage, Garden Dome, art installations and more.
• ALEFORT 2023 (Free and open to the public over 21) Craft Drinks and Food Tasting. Sample local and regional beers, wines, ciders and cocktails that reflect Boise’s welcoming culture and unique style.
• ARTFORT 2023 (free and open to all ages) features performances and visual artists including Starbelly Dancers, BRENDA ARTS and Colossal Collective, as well as artists painting live murals during the festival and two dedicated artist showcases.
• COMEDYFORT 2023 (festival pass required), headlined by Emmy- and Grammy-nominated stand-up comedian Tig Notaro. Single tickets to see Tig are sold out, but festival pass holders will be first come, first serve on the second level/mezzanine of The Egyptian.
• FILMFORT 2023 (requires a Festival Pass or Filmfort Pass for $30) has feature films and short films screened daily in blocks of 5-6 films.
• FOODFORT 2023 (with admission ticket) On Wednesday, March 22, James Beard nominee and Food & Wine’s Best New Chef of 2021, Chef Ji Hye Kim will prepare an intimate dinner exploring Korean cuisine. Street Eats returns on Thursday, March 23rd. On Saturday, March 26th, Virginia’s five-time world grilling champion, Tuffy Stone, is hosting a delicious BBQ.
• HACKFORT 2023 (requires a $30 festival or hackfort pass, open to all ages) has announced several workshops taking place during the fest, including Build Your Own Custom Keyboard, Solderfort 101: An Introduction to Basic Soldering, a Lock Picking Lounge and more interactive activities.
• KIDFORT 2023 (free and open to all ages) has a program for the younger audience at Treefort Music Fest and has announced additional workshops taking place during the festival including Folky Fun for Families with Boise Music Lessons and the Aerial Circus Show.
• MUSIC TALKS (free and open to all ages) will showcase the brightest minds in the industry at Treefort Music Fest and discuss the future of music. Made for artists at any point in their careers and anyone interested in the music industry.
• PODFORT 2023 (free and open to the public) is for all things podcasting. More than 20 podcasts will be recording live at the fest including Improv4Humans with Matt Besser, High and Mighty with Jon Gabrus, Sloppy Seconds with Big Dipper and Meatball and more!
• SKATEFORT 2023 (free and open to the public) Enjoy skateboarding, roller skating, hanging out and of course listening to music. Skatefort is operated by the Boise Skateboard Association and Boise’s Parks & Recreation. Their goal is to improve the lives of Boiseans by working to ensure youth and at-risk youth can enjoy the healthy activity of skateboarding in a safe and accessible environment.
• STORYFORT 2023 (free and open to all ages) brings together some of the country’s most influential young and emerging writers, including New York Times bestselling author Kevin Maloney, Jonathan Evison, Tomás Baiza and Parker Young.
• YOGAFORT 2023 (requires Festival Pass or Yogafort Pass) Yoga and movement classes with live music. Your place to drop by for a recharging yoga session, work up a sweat and find your center amidst the high vibes of festival life.
Navigating Treefort
Driving, parking, biking, shuttle services and many more ways to get around Treefort and various venues.
Driving & Parking: Plan to walk a lot.
- Boise State University parking lots:
- The BSU offers visitors to the Treefort Festival parking spaces every day.
- Treefort attendees may park at the Brady Garage from Wednesday, March 22 through Sunday, March 26.
- Parking is $5 per day.
- Pay at the kiosk before exiting the garage. Select “Treefort Music Fest” and follow the step-by-step instructions. You must know your license plate number.
- If you overindulge in one of the bars or beer tents, please don’t drink and drive – but pick up your car in the morning. Cars must be driven by 10:00 the following day.
- Parking garages in downtown Boise will be open and available. However. Expect workshops to reach capacity quickly.
- Ride-sharing services such as Uber and Lyft are available in Boise, but note that fares often vary widely depending on driver availability and ride-sharing demand.
Road closures:
- Even if you don’t plan to visit Treefort, there are road closures to be aware of as your drive takes you through downtown Boise.
- Broad Street from 8th Street to Capitol Blvd
- Broad Street from 5th Street to 6th Street (in front of Boise Brewing)
- Freak Alley from 8th Street to 9th Street
Go:
- Most venues are within walking distance of each other. It’s just over a mile from the west end of downtown to Julia Davis Park. Downtown Boise is not hilly. That means wear comfortable shoes. Most music venues are set up for standing and dancing, not sitting.
Valley Regional Transit’s ‘Treeline’ Shuttle:
- Two buses will shuttle festival-goers between venues, including the main stage at Julia Davis Park, Wednesday through Saturday from 6:00 p.m. to midnight.
- You can catch a Treeline bus at any of the decorated stops in downtown Boise.
- The Treeline is there for everyone – a festival wristband is not required. If you have a festival wristband, you can use all regular Valley Regional Transit bus routes for free during Treefort.
- There is no bus service on Sundays.
- BONUS! There will be bands performing at Treeline – Lineup TBA!
Cycling & Scooter:
- The Boise Bicycle Project will provide two bicycle parking spaces at Julia Davis Park during Treefort.
- Electric scooters that you can take from venue to venue are scattered throughout the city.
- Lime Scooter will provide a scooter corral at Julia Davis Park. Lime also offers 30% off scooter rides for those who download the Lime app.
Pro tip:
Be aware of the scheduled road closures. Best practice would be to form a group carpool!
Photo credit: Valley Regional Transit
Schedule & Lineup
Over 60 venues from across downtown Boise, over 450 bands and over 700 events are participating
The five-day event will transform downtown Boise into a bustling cultural hub in hopes of bringing diverse, emerging, engaged artists to a place we’re calling Idahome. Well, the 2023 festival line-up:
Browse the Boise Treefort Music Fest 2023 schedule here (< there lol).
Check out the Treefort 2023 lineup here (yes, < there).
This is the 11th year of the festival, which began in 2012 as a showcase of Boise’s local music and arts scene, while also bringing some out-of-town bands and artists to the Gem State. The festival continues to focus on independent and emerging national, regional and local artists across a wide range of music genres.
Treefort Music Fest was recognized as a Cultural Ambassador for the City of Boise for 2015-2017.
Check out the latest news from Treasure Valley and Gem State in our YouTube playlist:
