About Moscow, Idaho
Moscow, Idaho is a college town of about 25,000 people that punches well above its weight culturally. As the home of the University of Idaho — and a 15-minute drive from Washington State University in Pullman — Moscow has a steady pulse of live music, theater, lectures, art openings, and community events. Downtown Main Street is walkable, dense with restaurants and bars, and hosts the famed Saturday Farmers Market from May through October. The surrounding Palouse countryside is some of the most photogenic farmland in the country, with miles of rolling hills, hiking trails on Moscow Mountain, and the paved Bill Chipman Trail connecting Moscow to Pullman.
What Moscow is known for
Downtown Main Street
Brick buildings, indie shops, and the densest concentration of restaurants and bars in the region. Most events happen within a 4-block radius of Friendship Square.
Live music every night
John's Alley, One World Cafe, Hunga Dunga Brewing, Shattuck West, and Mikey's Greek all have regular live music. The Kenworthy Performing Arts Centre hosts touring acts and films in a beautifully restored 1926 theater.
University of Idaho
Vandals football at the Kibbie Dome, basketball at ICCU Arena, lectures and theater at the Hartung, and a constant stream of student-org events at the Pitman Center.
Outdoors
Moscow Mountain (15 minutes north) has hiking and mountain biking. The 7-mile paved Chipman Trail to Pullman is flat and family-friendly. PCEI runs a nature preserve with guided walks and volunteer days.
Saturday Farmers Market
Saturdays 8am-1pm, May through October, on Main Street downtown. Live music, food vendors, local farms, art, and crafts.
Upcoming events in Moscow
FAQ
What is there to do in Moscow, Idaho this weekend?
Moscow hosts live music, theater, university sporting events, and community gatherings nearly every weekend year-round. The Palouse Calendar lists everything happening — typically 30-60 events on any given weekend, from John's Alley shows and Kenworthy films to Vandals games, Farmers Market, and free community events.
Where is Moscow, Idaho located?
Moscow is in Latah County in the Idaho Panhandle, right on the Washington state border. It's about 90 miles south of Spokane, WA and 8 miles east of Pullman, WA (home of WSU). The Pullman-Moscow Regional Airport (PUW) sits between the two towns.
Is Moscow, Idaho a college town?
Yes. Moscow is home to the University of Idaho (~9,000 undergrads), founded in 1889. The university shapes much of the town's cultural calendar — football, lectures, theater, art exhibits, and student events run from August through May.
What are the best venues in Moscow for live music?
John's Alley is the legendary Main Street dive bar that has hosted touring blues, rock, and Americana acts since the 1970s. The Kenworthy Performing Arts Centre handles bigger touring acts and films. One World Cafe books acoustic and singer-songwriter sets. Hunga Dunga Brewing has weekend bands and trivia.
When is the Moscow Farmers Market?
Saturdays from 8am to 1pm, May through October, on Main Street in downtown Moscow. Live music, prepared food, local farms, and crafts. It's one of the longest-running farmers markets in the Pacific Northwest.
How far is Moscow from Pullman?
About 8 miles, or a 15-minute drive on US-95 / WA-270. The Bill Chipman Palouse Trail offers a 7-mile flat paved path between the two towns for biking or walking.