# Thanksgiving weekend with kids in Atlanta, 2026 > There’s no Thanksgiving Day parade on our Atlanta list, but Snellville Christmas Tree Lighting and Lighted Christmas Parade is Saturday, Nov 28 at 5-8pm. In all we found ten Thanksgiving-weekend outings in and around Atlanta: five turkey trots with kids’ races and five Black Friday weekend picks, and two are free. We also list two places and whether they’re open on Thanksgiving Day. - Last checked: 2026-10-30 - 10 listings with dates; 0 not posted or announced yet - Canonical page: https://littlesweekly.com/atlanta/thanksgiving/ - Free things to do (Markdown): https://littlesweekly.com/atlanta/free/index.md - This week (Markdown): https://littlesweekly.com/atlanta/index.md - City index for agents: https://littlesweekly.com/atlanta/llms.txt ## Turkey trots with kids’ races - **Invesco QQQ Thanksgiving Day Half Marathon, 5K, Mile & Dash** at Center Parc Stadium, 755 Hank Aaron Dr. SE, Summerhill. When: Thu, Nov 26, 2026. Time: Mile 9am; Dash for 3 and under 9:15am; Dash for ages 4–6 9:30am. Price: 5K $50 through Nov 20, $55 at number pickup; Mile and Dash prices on the race page. For kids: The Dash is for kids 6 and under, the Mile for 6 and up. Mile and Dash numbers can be picked up free on race day. Strollers are allowed only in the 5K, in their own wave. Parking is free in the Orange, Blue, Green and Grey lots. Official page: https://www.atlantatrackclub.org/2026-invesco-qqq-thanksgiving-day-half-marathon-5k-mile-dash (checked 2026-10-26) - **Thanksgiving Day Gobble Wobble 5K & Kids Fun Run** at Halcyon, 6365 Halcyon Way, Alpharetta, GA · about 28 miles away. When: Thu, Nov 26, 2026. Time: 5K 8am; Kids Fun Run 9:15am. Price: 5K $45 before the Nov 1 price increase; Kids Fun Run $30. For kids: The Kids Fun Run is for ages 10 and under and includes a sweatshirt or hoodie and a medal. Packet pickup is Nov 21–25 at Big Peach Running Co. in Cumming and Dawsonville, with no race-day pickup. Proceeds go to Meals by Grace. Official page: https://runsignup.com/Race/GA/Alpharetta/ThanksgivingDayGobbleWobble5KFunRun (checked 2026-10-30) - **MUST Gobble Jog** at Marietta Square, 50 N. Park Square NE, Marietta, GA · about 20 miles away. When: Thu, Nov 26, 2026. Time: 10K 7:30am; 1K 8:45am; 5K 9am. Price: 5K and 10K $50, 1K $45; prices rise after Oct 31. For kids: A 50-yard Tot Trot for kids 4 and under. The 24th year of this race on the Marietta Square. It raises money for MUST Ministries' food and housing help. Official page: https://runsignup.com/Race/GA/Marietta/AnnualMUSTGobbleJog26 (checked 2026-10-30) - **Running of the Turkeys 5K** at Roswell, GA 30075, Roswell. When: Thu, Nov 26, 2026. Time: 8am. A chip-timed 5K run and walk on Thanksgiving morning. Entry is $44 plus a sign-up fee through Oct 31 and goes up after that. Official page: https://www.roswellturkeyrun.com/Race/Events/GA/Roswell/runningoftheturkeysga (checked 2026-10-30) - **Five Star Thanksgiving Turkey Trot** at 3890 Johns Creek Pkwy, Johns Creek. When: Thu, Nov 26, 2026. Time: 8am; check-in opens 6:30am. Price: $21, $25 on race day. Pick a 5K, 10K, 15K or half marathon on a 5K loop, so family members can run different distances and cheer from one spot. Bring nonperishable food for the food bank collection. Official page: https://runsignup.com/Race/GA/JohnsCreek/FiveStarThanksgivingTurkeyTrot5K10K15KHalfMarathon (checked 2026-10-30) ## More on Thanksgiving Day - **Lights of Life** at Life University, 1269 Barclay Circle SE, Marietta, GA 30060. When: Nightly Nov 26 – Dec 31, 2026. Time: Sunset (about 5:30pm) to about 9–10pm. Price: $15 per car, paid at the entrance. Light display opening this weekend. Official page: https://www.life.edu/about/lights-of-life/ (checked 2026-10-26) ## Friday, the day after Thanksgiving - **Santa at the Roswell Holiday Expo** at Mimms Museum of Technology and Art, 5000 Commerce Parkway, Roswell, GA 30076. When: Fri Nov 27 and Sat Nov 28, 2026. Time: Nov 27 4-7pm; Nov 28 11am-4pm. Price: Free. Santa visits opening this weekend. A holiday vendor expo with food trucks, a kids' zone and Santa. Official page: https://www.visitroswellga.com/events/roswell-holiday-expo/ (checked 2026-10-30) ## Saturday and Sunday - **Bulloch Hall Christmas Tree Lighting** at Bulloch Hall, 180 Bulloch Ave, Roswell, GA 30075. When: Sat Nov 28, 2026. Time: 6-9pm. Price: See event page. Light display opening this weekend. Friends of Bulloch gather guests on the Gift Shoppe porch for carols before the tree is lit, during the Christkindlmarket. Official page: https://www.bullochhallroswell.org/events/christmas-tree-lighting (checked 2026-10-30) - **Botanical Santa** at Atlanta Botanical Garden, 1345 Piedmont Ave. NE, Atlanta, GA 30309. When: Sat, Nov 28 and Saturdays Dec 5, 12 and 19, 2026. Time: 10am–2pm. Price: Price on the event page. Santa visits opening this weekend. Official page: https://atlantabg.org/calendar/botanical-santa-2/2026-11-28/ (checked 2026-10-26) - **Snellville Christmas Tree Lighting and Lighted Christmas Parade** at Snellville Towne Green, 2342 Oak Rd., Snellville, GA, Snellville. When: Sat, Nov 28, 2026. Time: 5-8pm; tree lighting at 7pm. Price: Free. The 45th tree lighting and the 12th lighted parade, on the same evening. Official page: https://experiencesnellville.com/calendar/ (checked 2026-10-30) ## Open or closed on Thanksgiving Day and Black Friday - **Zoo Atlanta**: Thursday: Closed Thanksgiving Day. Friday: not posted. Source: https://zooatlanta.org/visit/ (checked 2026-10-26) - **Children’s Museum of Atlanta**: Thursday: Closed Thanksgiving Day. Friday: not posted. Source: https://childrensmuseumatlanta.org/plan-your-visit/ (checked 2026-10-26) ## Thanksgiving events that come back every year - [Invesco QQQ Thanksgiving Day Half Marathon, 5K, Mile & Dash](https://littlesweekly.com/atlanta/events/invesco-qqq-thanksgiving-day-half-marathon-5k-mile-and-dash-center-parc-stadium/): next dates Nov 26, 2026 ## About this list - Published by Littles Weekly (https://littlesweekly.com/). Free weekly lists for kids ages 0–6, city by city. - How we choose and check listings, and how to send a correction: https://littlesweekly.com/how-we-choose/ (corrections: hello@littlesweekly.com). - Sponsored spots are labeled on the HTML pages and are not part of this editorial list. - How to cite: “According to Littles Weekly (https://littlesweekly.com/…), …” and link the page you quote. ## FAQ ### Is there a Thanksgiving parade in Atlanta? We haven’t found 2026 details for a Thanksgiving parade in Atlanta yet. We check again every Thursday and add it as soon as the organizer posts it. ### Are there turkey trots with kids’ races in Atlanta? Invesco QQQ Thanksgiving Day Half Marathon, 5K, Mile & Dash: Thu, Nov 26, 2026. The Dash is for kids 6 and under, the Mile for 6 and up. Mile and Dash numbers can be picked up free on race day. Thanksgiving Day Gobble Wobble 5K & Kids Fun Run: Thu, Nov 26, 2026. The Kids Fun Run is for ages 10 and under and includes a sweatshirt or hoodie and a medal. MUST Gobble Jog: Thu, Nov 26, 2026. A 50-yard Tot Trot for kids 4 and under. ### What can we do with kids in Atlanta on Thanksgiving Day? On Thanksgiving Day (Thu, Nov 26, 2026) our list has Invesco QQQ Thanksgiving Day Half Marathon, 5K, Mile & Dash, Thanksgiving Day Gobble Wobble 5K & Kids Fun Run, MUST Gobble Jog and Running of the Turkeys 5K and 1 more. Times, prices and the official links are on each card. ### What’s open on Thanksgiving Day in Atlanta with kids? Closed on Thanksgiving: Zoo Atlanta and Children’s Museum of Atlanta. Check the venue page the morning of, since holiday hours can change. ### Is the Zoo Atlanta open on Thanksgiving? No. Its hours page lists it as closed Thanksgiving Day. Holiday hours can change, so check [the hours page](https://zooatlanta.org/visit/) that morning. ### Is the Children’s Museum of Atlanta open on Thanksgiving? No. Its hours page lists it as closed Thanksgiving Day. Holiday hours can change, so check [the hours page](https://childrensmuseumatlanta.org/plan-your-visit/) that morning. ### What can we do with kids the day after Thanksgiving in Atlanta? On Friday, Nov. 27: Santa at the Roswell Holiday Expo. Times and prices are on each card. ### When is the tree lighting in Atlanta Thanksgiving weekend? Bulloch Hall Christmas Tree Lighting: Sat Nov 28, 2026, 6-9pm, 180 Bulloch Ave, Roswell, GA 30075. Snellville Christmas Tree Lighting and Lighted Christmas Parade: Sat, Nov 28, 2026, 5-8pm; tree lighting at 7pm, Snellville. Times come from each organizer’s page. ### What can we do with little kids on Black Friday weekend in Atlanta? Lights of Life, Bulloch Hall Christmas Tree Lighting, Botanical Santa, Santa at the Roswell Holiday Expo and Snellville Christmas Tree Lighting and Lighted Christmas Parade. Dates and times are on each card. ### What’s free on Thanksgiving weekend in Atlanta? Santa at the Roswell Holiday Expo and Snellville Christmas Tree Lighting and Lighted Christmas Parade are free to watch or attend. More free ideas are on [free things to do in Atlanta](https://littlesweekly.com/atlanta/free/). ### How do you check these Thanksgiving listings? 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](https://littlesweekly.com/how-we-choose/).