Western Days Returns to Twin Falls City Park This Weekend With Parade, Live Music and Family Fun
43rd Annual Celebration Honors America’s 250th Birthday
TWIN FALLS — One of southern Idaho’s most anticipated summer traditions kicks off Friday afternoon as Western Days returns to Twin Falls City Park for its 43rd year, bringing three days of live entertainment, a parade, carnival rides, food vendors, and family attractions to the heart of the Magic Valley.
The event opens Friday at noon with the arrival of food booths and dozens of commercial vendors spreading across the park. Entertainment at the band shell begins at 4:35 p.m. Friday when Avery takes the stage, followed by Sweet Nadine at 7:15 p.m.
Event chairman Stan Crowley, who has been involved with Western Days for two decades, said the celebration has expanded significantly over the years. “We have grown dramatically,” Crowley said. “We fill the park.”
This year’s theme — “Celebrating America’s 250th” — pays tribute to the nation’s landmark birthday, tying the local community festival to a historic national milestone.
Parade, Headline Acts and New Attractions
Saturday morning’s parade down Blue Lakes Boulevard and Shoshone Street, starting at 9 a.m., is a perennial highlight and ranks among the largest parade events in Idaho. Crowley called the turnout “pretty impressive for Twin Falls.”
Saturday’s full entertainment lineup at the band shell runs from early afternoon into the evening, featuring Layne Bowen at 1:45 p.m., Northleft at 3:00 p.m., Gene Sievers Music at 4:00 p.m., Jesse Dayne and the Sagebush Drifters at 5:00 p.m., and the Aaron Ball Band closing out the night at 7:00 p.m.
Sunday’s entertainment is headlined by Hell’s Belles, a Seattle-based all-female AC/DC tribute band that has toured internationally and carries an endorsement from one of AC/DC’s founders. Crowley said booking the group was a deliberate effort to drive Sunday attendance. “We are doing it for the community,” he said of the investment. Hell’s Belles perform at 4:15 p.m. Sunday, following Front Porch Flavor at 12:15 p.m., Paige Anne at 1:30 p.m., and Ellie Mae and Band at 3:15 p.m.
Crowley, who has watched Hell’s Belles perform live on multiple occasions, expressed confidence the crowd will respond well. The band has previously sold out shows at Cactus Pete’s.
For younger attendees, Rainier Amusements is bringing in 10 carnival rides, and Vertical Amusements debuts a new attraction this year called the “Walk on Water” — inflatable spheres that visitors climb inside and walk across a shallow pool. The popular Butterfly Haven, an enclosure where visitors can observe and interact with live butterflies, will also return.
Community Honors and Local Recognition
The festivities carry civic tradition alongside the entertainment. Sister RoseMary Boessen, director of La Posada, has been named grand marshal, while Gerald Martens, president at EHM Engineers, has been designated grand pioneer for the event.
Crowley praised the local bands that have performed at Western Days over the years, noting that the quality of homegrown musical talent in the region has steadily improved.
Western Days was first established in 1984 as a community event honoring the area’s pioneer heritage, originally held at the Lynwood Mall before eventually growing into the full-park footprint it occupies today. The event’s growth over four decades reflects the broader expansion of Twin Falls itself — a city that has added residents, businesses, and regional prominence while maintaining the western identity that defines much of Magic Valley culture.
With summer tourism ramping up across the region — southern Idaho parks recorded more than 430,000 visits last year, including a record number at the Minidoka historic site — Western Days offers residents and visitors alike a locally rooted alternative to destination travel. Local dining options are also expanding to welcome the summer crowd, including Antojos Eatery and Café, which has been drawing steady traffic since opening in the area.
What Comes Next
Western Days runs Friday through Sunday, May 29–31, at Twin Falls City Park. Vendors open Friday at noon, with entertainment beginning at 4:35 p.m. The Saturday parade steps off at 9 a.m. along Blue Lakes Boulevard and Shoshone Street. Full schedule and event details are available at twinfallswesterndays.com.