FAQ
Common questions.
The how, the why, and the small print — for subscribers and businesses.
For subscribers
Calendar, emails, and how it works.
How do I find free events in Boise this weekend?
Subscribe to the free What's Up 208 newsletter -- every Friday morning we send the weekend calendar, including the free events. You can also browse /tags/boise/free for free Boise-specific events, or filter the main events page by the "free" chip.
What's the best Treasure Valley events calendar?
We're biased — but What's Up 208 is built specifically for the Treasure Valley. We hand-curate every event (no algorithm spam), cover all seven cities (Boise, Meridian, Nampa, Eagle, Star, Caldwell, Kuna), and we're free to subscribe.
How can I submit my event to What's Up 208?
Use our /submit-event form. We read every submission, typically respond within 1-2 business days, and the bar for inclusion is editorial — we feature events we think are worth the reader's time.
How often will you email me?
Once a week (Friday mornings) plus once a month (the monthly edition, first weekday of the month). That's it. No daily blast, no "limited-time offer" pings.
Is this really free?
Yes. The newsletter is free; the website is free; the print mailer is free to recipients. We're funded by sponsorships from local businesses.
Can I subscribe to just one city?
Yes. When you sign up, pick the city you want to hear about — Boise, Meridian, Nampa, Eagle, Star, Caldwell, or Kuna. We'll only send you that city's content. (Or pick all of them — your call.)
How do I unsubscribe?
Every email has an unsubscribe link in the footer. One click and you're off the list, no questions asked. If you want to come back later, sign up again.
Why didn't you cover [event]?
We probably didn't know about it. The best way to make sure we cover something is to submit it through our Submit-an-Event form. We see every submission.
Is this a Boise-only thing?
No — we cover the whole Treasure Valley. Boise, Meridian, Nampa, Eagle, Star, Caldwell, and Kuna all have city pages. The calendar is segmented so you only see your city if you want, or browse Treasure-Valley-wide.
How do you decide what makes the calendar?
Editorial taste, basically. We look for things that are useful, distinctive, family-friendly when possible, and worth a reader's time. We won't list every market and concert in the valley — we'll list the ones we think are worth showing up to.
Why are some events marked "Sponsored"?
A small number of event organizers pay us to feature their event with extra prominence. We mark those clearly so you can see who's sponsored and who's editorial. Sponsored events still have to meet our quality bar — we won't list something we wouldn't recommend.
Can I recommend a business or an event?
Please do. Recommend a business via /recommend. Suggest an event via /submit-event. We read every submission.
Do you sell my email?
No. Never have, never will. We use it to send you the calendar and that's it. See our Privacy Policy.
How do I update my preferences?
Click the "Manage preferences" link at the bottom of any email, or email us at brayden@whatsup208.com.
I'm a business — can I be featured?
Maybe. Apply at /sponsor or have someone recommend you through the recommendation form.
I have a complaint or feedback.
Email Brayden directly: brayden@whatsup208.com. He reads every email. He'd rather hear hard feedback than have you quietly leave.
For businesses & sponsors
Pricing, slots, and what you get.
Detailed packages and the application form live on the sponsor page.
How long is the commitment?
Insider Partner is a 24-month tenure lock — that's how we can offer category exclusivity and the editorial slots. Insider Sponsor is 6 months standard, 3 or 12 also available. Featured Event is per-event with no ongoing commitment. Cancel-for-cause is always available; otherwise 30 days notice.
Can I see other sponsors first?
Yes. Apply and we'll send the current sponsor lineup with the one-pager.
What if I don't see results?
We don't guarantee specific lead counts. What we guarantee is the deliverables — print, email, social, profile. If we materially fail to ship what we promised, the contract has a termination-for-cause clause.
How does category exclusivity work?
At the Insider Partner tier only: we won't take two of your direct competitors in the same city in the same month. Insider Sponsor listings can share a category with other businesses.
Are sponsored events promoted differently?
Sponsored events get extra prominence, but we still gate on quality — we won't promote something we wouldn't normally recommend. Sponsored placements are clearly marked.
Do you take payment by credit card?
We invoice via ACH or check for now. Stripe billing for cards is coming.
What happens if you grow really fast?
Founding-partner pricing is locked for 6 months. Standard pricing applies after that, with at least 30 days advance notice of any change. Renewal rates are fixed at signing for the next term — no surprise increases.
For event organizers
Submitting + editing events.
What happens after you hit submit.
How do you handle event submissions?
Every submission via /submit-event lands in our admin queue. A human reviews it, typically within 1-2 business days. We'll either approve and publish, ask for clarification, or pass — and we'll email you either way.
Can I edit an event after it's published?
Email us at brayden@whatsup208.com with the slug and the change. We'll update it within a day. We don't yet have a public self-serve edit surface — coming in a later phase.
Why does my event show as 'recommended elsewhere'?
When a city's calendar is sparse, we pull in events from neighboring cities so visitors aren't shown an empty page. Your event still shows under your city as primary; the cross-listing is for discoverability.
How do I correct a mistake in a published event?
Use the "Report an issue" link on the event detail page (it pre-fills the slug + title for us) or email brayden@whatsup208.com directly.