Thanksgiving 2026Albany · The Capital Region

Thanksgiving weekend in Albany, with little ones.

We haven’t found a 2026 Thanksgiving parade in Albany with posted details yet. In all we found four Thanksgiving-weekend outings in and around Albany: three turkey trots with kids’ races and one Black Friday weekend pick. We also list one place and whether it’s open on Thanksgiving Day.

The quick answersChecked
Is there a parade?No 2026 parade posted yet. We check weekly.Not yetTurkey trot with a kids’ race?Pioneer Troy Turkey Trot: Turkey Walk and Grade School Mile · Grade School Mile 9:30am (+2 more)3 racesWhat’s open Thursday?The place we checked is closed. Plan a park morning.0 of 1 openAnything free this weekend?Nothing free posted for the weekend yet.Not yet

Last checked · Every listing links to its official page. How we choose

Thursday to Sunday

The weekend at a glance.

Everything below, laid out by day. Tap any outing to jump to its details.

Thursday
Nov 26 · Thanksgiving
Pioneer Troy Turkey Trot: Turkey Walk and Grade School MileGrade School Mile 9:30amWest Hill Turkey Trot 1-lap walkBib pickup 9 a.m.Christopher Dailey 5K Turkey Trot8:30 a.m.
Friday
Nov 27

Nothing posted yet

Saturday
Nov 28
Santa at Christmas LandSat-Sun 10am-6pm
Sunday
Nov 29
Santa at Christmas LandSat-Sun 10am-6pm

Monday to Wednesday, Nov. 23–25

Thanksgiving week with little kids

Many schools are off all week. The full Monday-to-Wednesday list goes up with the weekly update on Monday, Nov. 23; what’s already posted is below.

The Thanksgiving week list goes up Monday, Nov. 23.

It comes from the same weekly check as the Albany this-week page.

Email me when it’s posted

Thursday morning

Thanksgiving parade in Albany

Start time, route and what to know with a stroller, from the organizer’s page.

No 2026 parade posted yet.

We check the organizers every week. The 4 outings below are confirmed on their official pages.

Email me when it’s posted

Run it off

Turkey trots with kids’ races

Kids’ races, family walks and stroller rules, from each race’s own page. Kids’ turkey trots in other cities.

Nov26Thu

Pioneer Troy Turkey Trot: Turkey Walk and Grade School Mile

Fourth and Fulton Streets, finishing at Monument Square · Fourth St. and Fulton St., Troy, NY 12180

Kids’ race
Time
Grade School Mile 9:30am; Turkey Walk 9:35am; 5K 10am
Price
Turkey Walk and Grade School Mile $20 through Nov 5, then $25

For kids: The Grade School Mile is for kids through 8th grade; the untimed 1-mile Turkey Walk suits families.

With littles: One of the oldest turkey trots in the country, running since 1916. Every entry gets a shirt and a finisher medal.

Official page ↗Checked Report a problem
Nov26Thu

West Hill Turkey Trot 1-lap walk

Terrace Rd. by the Activity Field · West Hill, Schenectady

Kids’ raceStroller-friendly
Time
Bib pickup 9 a.m.; race 10 a.m.
Price
$15 plus fees, $20 from Nov. 1; free for West Hill residents

For kids: Strollers are welcome on the one-lap walk. Dogs are not.

With littles: The loop climbs Terrace Road, so expect a hill. It runs rain or shine.

Official page ↗Checked Report a problem
Nov26Thu

Christopher Dailey 5K Turkey Trot

Saratoga Springs City Hall, Broadway and Lake Ave. · Downtown Saratoga Springs

Kids’ race
Time
8:30 a.m.
Price
$30 donation through Nov. 16, then $35; family discount available

For kids: It's a non-competitive 5K run or walk, and families are welcome.

With littles: All proceeds go to the Christopher Dailey Foundation.

Official page ↗Checked Report a problem
Know a trot with a kids’ dash we missed?Send us the race page and we’ll check it.Suggest a race

Thanksgiving Day and Black Friday

Open or closed Thursday and Friday

Holiday hours from each place’s own hours page. “Not posted” means the page doesn’t list Friday hours yet. Worth a quick check that morning.

PlaceThursdayFridayNoteChecked
New York State MuseumClosedNot postedOn all state-observed holidays, per the museum’s hours.Hours page ↗ · Oct 30

Friday, Nov. 27

The day after Thanksgiving

Tree lightings, parades, light-display openings and Santa arrivals on Black Friday.

Nothing posted for Friday yet.

Tree lightings and holiday openings often post closer to the holiday. We recheck every Thursday.

Email me when it’s posted

Saturday and Sunday

Thanksgiving weekend with little kids

Parades, lightings, light displays and other easy outings Saturday and Sunday.

Nov28to Dec 20

Santa at Christmas Land

Christmas Land · 3068 Furbeck Road, Altamont, NY 12009

Santa
Time
Sat-Sun 10am-6pm
Price
Kids need a Christmas Land Passport (sold in the webstore); adults 18+ pay admission

With littles: Santa visits opening this weekend. The passport lets you book a time to meet Santa, share your list and get a photo without the line. There's also a train ride and, on weekends, horse rides (separate tickets).

Official page ↗Checked Report a problem
More to come.Tree lightings and holiday openings often post closer to the holiday. We add them every Thursday.Get the Thursday email

Keep planning

More for little kids in Albany

November: things to do in AlbanyEvery dated listing for the month, by weekDecember: things to do in AlbanyEvery dated listing for the month, by weekFree things to do in AlbanyFree days, free events and places that never chargeLibrary storytimes in AlbanyBaby, toddler and preschool storytimes by day and branchIce skating in AlbanyHoliday and indoor rinks, skate aids and pricesChristmas parades in AlbanyParades and tree lightings with dates and start timesChristmas trains in AlbanyPolar Express, Santa and lights trains with datesThe Nutcracker in AlbanyBallet and touring shows, sensory-friendly flaggedThis week in AlbanyDated outings for ages 0–6, checked every Thursday

Good questions

Thanksgiving in Albany: the FAQ

We haven’t found 2026 details for a Thanksgiving parade in Albany yet. We check again every Thursday and add it as soon as the organizer posts it.

Pioneer Troy Turkey Trot: Turkey Walk and Grade School Mile: Thu, Nov 26, 2026. The Grade School Mile is for kids through 8th grade; the untimed 1-mile Turkey Walk suits families. West Hill Turkey Trot 1-lap walk: Thu, Nov 26, 2026. Strollers are welcome on the one-lap walk. Dogs are not. Christopher Dailey 5K Turkey Trot: Thu, Nov 26, 2026. It's a non-competitive 5K run or walk, and families are welcome.

On Thanksgiving Day (Thu, Nov 26, 2026) our list has Pioneer Troy Turkey Trot: Turkey Walk and Grade School Mile, West Hill Turkey Trot 1-lap walk and Christopher Dailey 5K Turkey Trot. Times, prices and the official links are on each card.

Closed on Thanksgiving: New York State Museum. Check the venue page the morning of, since holiday hours can change.

Santa at Christmas Land. Dates and times are on each card.

Each listing comes from the venue’s or organizer’s own page and links to it. We only list a date, time or price when that page shows it, and anything we can’t confirm stays off. These were last checked Oct 30, 2026, and we recheck them every Thursday through Thanksgiving week. How we choose and check.

Holiday plans every Thursday.

One short email every Thursday evening: the best things to do with little kids in Albany that weekend, Thanksgiving week included.

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