# Thanksgiving weekend with kids in San Francisco Bay Area, 2026

> There’s no Thanksgiving Day parade on our San Francisco Bay Area list, but Niles Festival of Lights Parade and Tree Lighting is Friday, Nov 27 at Not listed. In all we found four Thanksgiving-weekend outings in and around San Francisco Bay Area: four Black Friday weekend picks, and four are free. We also list two places and whether they’re open on Thanksgiving Day.

- Last checked: 2026-10-29
- 4 listings with dates; 1 not posted or announced yet
- Canonical page: https://littlesweekly.com/bay-area/thanksgiving/
- Free things to do (Markdown): https://littlesweekly.com/bay-area/free/index.md
- This week (Markdown): https://littlesweekly.com/bay-area/index.md
- City index for agents: https://littlesweekly.com/bay-area/llms.txt

## Friday, the day after Thanksgiving

- **Christmas in the Park, San Jose** at Plaza de César Chávez, Plaza de César Chávez, downtown San Jose, CA. When: Nov 27, 2026 – Jan 1, 2027. Time: Daily noon–10pm, including Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and New Year's Day. Price: Free. Light display opening this weekend. Rows of decorated trees, more than 40 animated displays and a 50-foot tree you can walk inside. Sensory-friendly mornings run 9am–2pm on Sundays Dec 13 and Dec 27. Official page: https://christmasinthepark.com/ (checked 2026-10-29)
- **Niles Festival of Lights Parade and Tree Lighting** at Niles Town Plaza and Niles Boulevard, Niles, Fremont. When: Fri, Nov 27, 2026. Time: Not listed. Price: Free. More than 60 floats, marching bands and costumed characters, with Santa at the end. It's the night after Thanksgiving. Official page: https://www.niles.org/festival-of-lights-parade (checked 2026-10-29)

## Saturday and Sunday

- **Free photos with Santa at Christmas in the Park** at Christmas in the Park, Plaza de César Chávez, Plaza de César Chávez, downtown San Jose, CA. When: Every night Nov 28 – Dec 24, 2026. Time: Evenings; the park is open noon–10pm. Price: Free. Santa visits opening this weekend. Santa sits for free photos every night from opening night through Christmas Eve, inside a park full of decorated trees and animated displays. Official page: https://christmasinthepark.com/events/ (checked 2026-10-29)
- **Christmas in the Park Opening Night** at Plaza de César Chávez, Downtown San Jose. When: Sat, Nov 28, 2026. Time: 6–7pm. Price: Free. The opening ceremony for San Jose's holiday park, and the first night Santa is there for free photos. Official page: https://christmasinthepark.com/events/ (checked 2026-10-29)

## Open or closed on Thanksgiving Day and Black Friday

- **San Francisco Zoo & Gardens**: Thursday: Open every day of the year. Friday: not posted. Source: https://www.sfzoo.org/ (checked 2026-10-29)
- **Glowfari at the Oakland Zoo**: Thursday: Closed Nov 26. Friday: not posted. Source: https://www.oaklandzoo.org/programs-and-events/glowfari-2026-27/ (checked 2026-10-29)

## Not posted or announced yet

- **San Francisco Turkey Trot** at Golden Gate Park: details not posted yet. Official page: https://sfturkeytrot.wixsite.com/sftt

## 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 San Francisco Bay Area?
We haven’t found 2026 details for a Thanksgiving parade in San Francisco Bay Area yet. We check again every Thursday and add it as soon as the organizer posts it.

### What’s open on Thanksgiving Day in San Francisco Bay Area with kids?
Open on Thanksgiving: San Francisco Zoo & Gardens. Closed on Thanksgiving: Glowfari at the Oakland Zoo. Check the venue page the morning of, since holiday hours can change.

### Is the San Francisco Zoo & Gardens open on Thanksgiving?
Yes. Its hours page lists it as open every day of the year. Holiday hours can change, so check [the hours page](https://www.sfzoo.org/) that morning.

### Is the Glowfari at the Oakland Zoo open on Thanksgiving?
No. Its hours page lists it as closed Nov 26. Holiday hours can change, so check [the hours page](https://www.oaklandzoo.org/programs-and-events/glowfari-2026-27/) that morning.

### What can we do with kids the day after Thanksgiving in San Francisco Bay Area?
On Friday, Nov. 27: Christmas in the Park, San Jose and Niles Festival of Lights Parade and Tree Lighting. Times and prices are on each card.

### When is the tree lighting in San Francisco Bay Area Thanksgiving weekend?
Niles Festival of Lights Parade and Tree Lighting: Fri, Nov 27, 2026, Not listed, Niles, Fremont. Christmas in the Park Opening Night: Sat, Nov 28, 2026, 6–7pm, Downtown San Jose. Times come from each organizer’s page.

### What can we do with little kids on Black Friday weekend in San Francisco Bay Area?
Christmas in the Park, San Jose, Free photos with Santa at Christmas in the Park, Niles Festival of Lights Parade and Tree Lighting and Christmas in the Park Opening Night. Dates and times are on each card.

### What’s free on Thanksgiving weekend in San Francisco Bay Area?
Christmas in the Park, San Jose, Free photos with Santa at Christmas in the Park, Niles Festival of Lights Parade and Tree Lighting and Christmas in the Park Opening Night are free to watch or attend. More free ideas are on [free things to do in Bay Area](https://littlesweekly.com/bay-area/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 29, 2026, and we recheck them every Thursday through Thanksgiving week. [How we choose and check](https://littlesweekly.com/how-we-choose/).