Buhl’s largest annual celebration is underway this Fourth of July weekend, with the Buhl Sagebrush Days festival running Friday through Saturday and carrying the theme “250 Years of Freedom, 120 Years of Community” — honoring both America’s semiquincentennial and Buhl’s own 120th anniversary as a community.
Organized by the Buhl Chamber of Commerce, the event is widely considered the biggest Fourth of July celebration in all of Twin Falls County, drawing hundreds of participants across dozens of activities spread over two days. Planning for this year’s event began last August.
Friday Kicks Off With Fish Fry and Community Spirit
The celebration opened Friday evening with a community fish fry, made possible through a fish donation from Riverence. The evening also featured a Guns vs. Hoses competition between the Buhl Fire Department and Buhl Police Department, getting underway at 6 p.m.
The Buhl Senior Center offered something a bit different: ghost tours of Hotel Buhl, led by paranormal investigator Melanie Rediker. The tours take visitors through the upper floors of the historic hotel, which features a room restored to a mid-20th century appearance, paranormal investigation equipment, and figurines known as “Punkin’ Holler” characters created by three Buhl women. Proceeds from the tours benefit Meals on Wheels. The Buhl Police Department has also been raising funds this weekend to support Buhl youth sports.
Saturday Schedule Packed From Morning to Dusk
Saturday’s lineup begins early. A fun run starts at 8 a.m. from a furniture store location, with registration opening at 7 a.m. Simultaneously, a pancake breakfast runs from 7 to 9:30 a.m. at Hotel Buhl.
At 9 a.m., road closures take effect — extending one mile outside of town — with a closure near Jackson’s Corner on the Twin Falls approach and a hard closure on the opposite side of town at the same time.
The main parade steps off at 10 a.m. on Main Street, preceded by an honor guard flag raising at the corner of Main and Broadway. This year’s parade is particularly large, with more than 90 groups registered to march. At least one parade entry alone includes 21 vehicles. The grand marshal lineup pays tribute to the military, with six service members representing each branch of the armed forces, including two Marines.
The aerial highlight of the morning arrives at 10:50 a.m., when A-10 Warthogs from Gowen Field are scheduled to conduct a military flyover above the parade route — a fitting salute on a day marking 250 years of American independence. This Fourth of July weekend, communities across the Magic Valley have found multiple ways to honor military service, including a recent effort in Eden where more than 600 area veterans were recognized at a newly dedicated memorial.
Stick horse races also begin at 10 a.m., with four heats of 12 participants each. First-place finishers receive a kids’ meal courtesy of Arctic Circle, which also donated food for the event, while second-place riders earn an ice cream cone.
Afternoon activities include free pool swimming from 1 to 4 p.m., live music from JJQ at the Old Pavilion from 12:30 to 2 p.m., followed by Shenanigans from 3 to 7 p.m. America Trivia is set for 2 p.m. near the Chamber booth in the park.
Families can also visit a Twin Falls Zoo display featuring tortoises, snakes, and an alligator, and take cow train rides through Tubsberry Farms‘ farm education area. More than 300 flags line the grounds of the elementary school across from Eastman Park.
The Chamber is raffling a rifle etched with a commemorative America 250th design and the Sagebrush Days name, with the winner’s family name to be engraved on the piece. Farmers Bank donated uncirculated $2 bills and America 250th commemorative coins as prizes for a coloring contest, and Hayes Construction contributed a restroom facility for the event.
The celebration closes Saturday at dusk with a fireworks display.
What Comes Next
With Buhl marking its 120th year as a community, local organizers spent nearly a year crafting a celebration designed to reflect both civic pride and patriotic tradition. For those who attend Saturday, the fireworks finale at dusk will cap a full day of events that underscore why Sagebrush Days has grown into the signature Fourth of July gathering for Twin Falls County. Residents looking for more local summer events can follow updates at Idaho News for statewide coverage throughout the holiday weekend.