This Is Boise’s Complete Guide to Treefort Music Fest 2024

This Is Boise’s Complete Guide to Treefort Music Fest 2024

by Aaron McFarland

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THE GUIDE TO TREEFORT 2024

The Treefort Music Festival starts this Wednesday and This Is Boise has the complete guide to what’s new and what to look out for this weekend!

Get ready for a five-day celebration of music, art, and community. The Treefort Music Fest 2024 features an incredible lineup of 500+ artists performing across multiple stages, including local favorites and international headliners.

👉 Treefort Basics

Treefort Music Fest, an annual event held in Boise, Idaho, has established itself as a prominent cultural and music festival since its inception in 2012. This year’s festival place from Wednesday, March 20, through Sunday, March 24, 2024, Treefort Music Fest spans five days and encompasses a wide range of activities and performances.

The festival was initially conceived to showcase emerging and regional music talent, but it has since expanded to include a variety of “forts” — areas dedicated to different cultural and artistic expressions such as Artfort, Hackfort, Foodfort, Filmfort, and Yogafort.

Treefort Music Fest operates on a pass-based system, providing several options for attendees based on their preferences and availability. 5-day passes, single day passes, and under 21 passes are available. You can also purchase a main stage pass, specific venue tickets (limited availability), and entrance to some forts. Visit the Treefort Music Fest website for more details on passes and availability.

👉 What’s New at Treefort 2024

The Cyclops Stage Moves to The Grove Plaza

For Treefort Music Fest 2024, the Cyclops Stage has been relocated to the Grove Plaza in downtown Boise, putting the free, public access stage in the heart of downtown. This move enhances the stage’s accessibility and visibility. It’s an ideal setting for the publicly open stage.

👉 Free Things to do at Treefort

No pass? No Problem. There are plenty of free things to do that are open to the public.

Here’s a quick guide to the free things you can dive into, enriching your festival experience without thinning your wallet.

Free Music and Activities

The Bandshell (Julia Davis Park): Enjoy free live music in this iconic outdoor venue, a perfect backdrop for memorable festival moments.

Cyclops Stage (Grove Plaza): Enjoy free music in the heart of downtown Boise.

The Nest at Kidfort (Julia Davis Park): A family-friendly zone offering a variety of activities and performances tailored for young festival-goers.

Boise Brewing, Lost Grove Brewing, Payette Brewing: Local brews and tunes at these breweries, which host free live music.

Treeline (bands on the bus!): Experience unique performances on the move, with bands playing on city buses circling the festival area.

Skatefort (Rhodes Skate Park): Watch or participate in skateboarding activities, combined with a free live music lineup.

Free Forts

Alefort: Dive into the local craft beer scene (purchase of tokens required for drinks).

Artfort: Explore innovative art installations and performances.

Kidfort: A bunch of free activities for the kids.

Music Talks: Gain insights from discussions on various music-related topics.

Podfort: Catch live podcast recordings covering a range of subjects.

Skatefort: Enjoy skateboarding demos and open sessions.

Storyfort: Be captivated by storytellers sharing their tales.

👉 Treefort Music

We all have varying musical tastes and there are just SO many live music options at Treefort, that I’m not even going to try. The Main Stage is always a great place to be and has something for everyone.

Outside of that, Treefort does an excellent job of organizing schedules for everyone. Download the Treefort Music Fest app to organize your favorites, check out the annual Spotify playlist with this years performers to figure out what you want to see, and view curated schedules if you love a specific genre.

👉 How To Get Around

There are plenty of options for moving around the festival. Learn the best (and safest) ways to travel around town this weekend.

Treeline Shuttle

The Treeline shuttle service is a social and easy way to get from venue to venue during Treefort. The two buses run from 6 pm to 11 pm, Wednesday-Friday and 2pm-10pm on Saturday. Look for the decorated bus stops throughout downtown. Treeline stops in Julia Davis Park to shuttle to and from the Main Stage.

The Treeline bus is free for anyone (no festival wristband required) Also, anyone with a festival wristband can ride Valley Regional Transit for free during the festival. Just show the driver your wristband.

Bike, skate, walk, or scoot

Biking, skating, and walking are great ways to explore Treefort, especially since Julia Davis Park is right on the Greenbelt! Scooters are available for those that want to zip around the festival.

Cars and parking

Driving to Treefort can be a hassle, so consider carpooling or parking near downtown and walking the rest of the way. Daily parking at Boise State or downtown parking garages is available, but note that these areas are for day use only. Parking at Boise State’s Brady Garage costs $5 per day and can be paid for at the parking kiosk by selecting Treefort Music Fest and following the instructions.

Remember to move your car by 10am the following day or risk getting a citation.

👉 2024 Treefort Festival Maps

View and download the festival maps you’ll need this weekend.

👉 Treefort Essentials

Attending Treefort Music Fest is an adventure that requires some planning and preparation to make the most of the experience. Here are essential things you need to know and bring to ensure a comfortable, enjoyable, and hassle-free festival experience:

Essential Information

Dates and Times: Treefort Music Fest runs from Wednesday, March 20, through Sunday, March 24, 2024. Note the start and end times of performances each day to plan your schedule accordingly.

Venue Locations: Familiarize yourself with the layout of downtown Boise and the locations of various stages and venues. Some venues might require more travel time between them, so plan your movement to catch your must-see acts.

Weather: Boise in March can be unpredictable, with the potential for chilly evenings. Check the weather forecast and be prepared for changes.

Accessibility: If you or someone you’re festival-ing with has accessibility needs, check out which venues are accessible and plan accordingly.

Transportation and Parking: Downtown parking can be challenging during Treefort. Consider alternative transportation options like biking, public transport, or ride-sharing. The Treeline Bus offers a free shuttle service, making it easier to move between venues.

Items to Bring

Treefort Pass or Tickets: Have your pass or tickets ready, whether it’s a digital copy on your phone or a physical ticket.

Your legal ID, cash, or Debit/Credit Card: Many venues will check ID, especially for age-restricted events. Having cash on hand or a card is essential for vendors that might not accept digital payments.

Portable Phone Charger: With long days and reliance on your phone for schedules and communication, a charger is a must to keep your device powered up.

Reusable Water Bottle: Stay hydrated throughout the festival. Most venues will have water refill stations.

Earplugs: Protect your hearing – Treefort can get pretty loud.

Comfortable Appropriate Footwear: Treefort = steps! Expect a lot of walking between venues, so wear shoes that will keep you comfortable.

Reusable Metal Cup: If you’re planning to enjoy a cocktail or beer/cider at Alefort, you should bring a reusable metal cup if you have one. There will be cups available for purchase, but they can get spendy pretty quickly.

Weather-Appropriate Clothing: Check the weather and dress accordingly! Layers are suggested to adjust easily to changing temperatures. Prepare for potential rain as well.

Sunglasses and Sunscreen: Even in March, sunny days can be intense, especially for outdoor stages and activities.

Backpack or Fanny Pack: A small bag is useful for carrying essentials like snacks, water, sunscreen, and everything in this list.

Bike Lock (if biking): If you’re traveling by bicycle, be sure to secure your bike with a sturdy lock.

Treefort Tips for a Better Experience

Download the Treefort App (link here): The official app is a lifesaver for not missing anything you want to see or do. It includes a full guide to Treefort schedules, maps, and festival updates, helping you stay organized and informed.

Explore Freely: While having a plan is great, be open to being spontaneous and stumbling upon something you didn’t know about. Treefort is known for its vibrant array of performances and installations, so allow yourself the flexibility to explore new music and experiences.

Keep your energy up: Keep snacks on hand and take time to eat full meals. Foodfort and various local vendors/food trucks offer a range of options to keep you going.

Stay Safe and Respectful: While Treefort is usually a happy occasion, expect crowds and potentially some grumpy folks. Stay hydrated, and respect personal space to ensure everyone has a positive experience.

👉 The Forts

It wouldn’t be Treefort with a fort for nearly every interest out there. Dive into your passions all over the city this weekend!

ALEFORT
ALEFORT

Alefort is the craft beverage and food tasting component of Treefort Music Fest. The Alefort team is committed to the presentation of unique and high quality food and beverage experiences that illuminate the intersection of craft beverage and local cuisine with Boise’s greater culture.

View the full schedule at the link below.

ARTFORT
ARTFORT

Artfort is an experience within Treefort Music Fest. Bringing light to the fine arts, performing arts, public art installations, and more.

View the full schedule at the link below.

comedyfort
COMEDYFORT

Bringing Treeforters laughs, chuckles and snorts during Treefort.

View the full schedule at the link below.

DRAGFORT
DRAGFORT

Dragfort is a celebration of your best, most authentic self. It’s more than just drag, balls, and queens (though it’s definitely about that), it’s about creating a safe space for everyone to express themselves.

View the full schedule at the link below.

FILMFORT
FILMFORT

Filmfort is a 3-day festival celebrating the best of emerging independent cinema during Treefort Music Fest. We showcase diverse cinematic perspectives for audiences of all ages, ranging from the enigmatic to the experimental to the off-beat. In addition to film screenings, we host DIY film panels and Q+A sessions with Filmfort filmmakers in the heart of downtown Boise.

View the full schedule at the link below.

FOODFORT
FOODFORT

Foodfort is a weekend-long celebration of the food and food systems local to the greater-Boise area. As the culinary branch of the Treefort mothership, Foodfort works to bring local, regional and national chefs, media, and culinary experts together to facilitate thinking and discussion about food in our daily lives.

View the full schedule at the link below.

HACKFORT
HACKFORT

Hackfort is about celebrating all things tech. It’s not your typical conference. We encourage conversation and engagement, and we love providing a platform for people that are doing interesting or unique things with technology. We love makers, developers, musicians, gamers, content creators, innovators, leaders, journalists, educators, and entertainers.

View the full schedule at the link below.

KIDFORT
KIDFORT

At Treefort we all value fans from tots up to adults and want to make sure there is programming and places for fans of all ages to discover something new! Kidfort provides programming, promotes integration among other forts and filters the best things for young people to do during Treefort Music Fest. (Fun Fact- Kids 12 and younger can enjoy the entire festival wristband free!).

View the full schedule at the link below.

PODFORT
PODCASTS

Treefort looks forward to hosting a variety of podcast programming. We love new perspectives, niche topics, passionate storytelling and much more.

View the full schedule at the link below.

SKATEFORT
SKATEFORT

In a partnership with the local skate community, Skatefort is a celebration of skateboarding, roller skating, music and community. Skateboarding and music have always gone hand in hand and our goal is to bring people together at a world class skatepark to celebrate our creativity.

View the full schedule at the link below.

STORYFORT
STORYFORT

Storyfort is a unique literary and storytelling programming track at Treefort Music Fest. Storyfort is all about great writing and compelling narrative, bringing in top-notch authors, poets, journalists, spoken word artists, memoirists, refugee storytellers, podcasters and much more.

View the full schedule at the link below.

YOGAFORT
YOGAFORT

Storyfort is a unique literary and storytelling programming track at Treefort Music Fest. Storyfort is all about great writing and compelling narrative, bringing in top-notch authors, poets, journalists, spoken word artists, memoirists, refugee storytellers, podcasters and much more.

View the full schedule at the link below.

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