Thanksgiving 2026Boise · The City of Trees

Thanksgiving weekend in Boise, with little ones.

The big one for little kids is Boise Holiday Parade (Sat 10 a.m.). In all we found five Thanksgiving-weekend outings in and around Boise: one parade, one turkey trot with a kids’ race and three Black Friday weekend picks, and two are free. We also list four places and whether they’re open on Thanksgiving Day.

The quick answersChecked
Is there a parade?Boise Holiday Parade · 10 a.m.1 paradeTurkey trot with a kids’ race?Boise Turkey Day 5K Run/Walk · 9 a.m.1 raceWhat’s open on Thursday?The 4 places we checked are all closed. Plan a park morning.0 of 4 openAnything free this weekend?Boise Holiday Parade · 10 a.m. (+1 more)2 free

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
Boise Turkey Day 5K Run/Walk9 a.m.
Friday
Nov 27
Downtown Boise Holiday Tree LightingFree · 5 p.m.Cookies with Santa at the Canyon County Festival of Trees7–8:30 p.m.
Saturday
Nov 28
Boise Holiday ParadeFree · 10 a.m.Breakfast with Santa at the Canyon County Festival of Trees8–10 a.m.
Sunday
Nov 29

Nothing posted yet

Thursday morning

Thanksgiving parade in Boise

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

Nov28Sat

Boise Holiday Parade

Downtown Boise · Starts at Jefferson and 10th

Free
Time
10 a.m.
Price
Not listed

With littles: The 76th annual parade, the Saturday after Thanksgiving. It lasts about an hour and a half.

Official page ↗Checked Report a problem
Know a parade we missed?Send us the organizer’s page and we’ll check it.Suggest a parade

Run it off

Turkey trots with kids’ races

Kids’ races, family walks and stroller rules, from each race’s own page.

Nov26Thu

Boise Turkey Day 5K Run/Walk

Capitol Building – Cecil Andrus Park · Downtown

Kids’ race
Time
9 a.m.
Price
Kids 5K (12 and under) $18; adults $45 (prices rise after Nov. 3)

For kids: A whole-family fun run, with a kids' price for 12 and under

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

Open or closed on Thursday

Holiday hours from each place’s own page. Worth a quick check that morning.

PlaceThursdayNoteChecked
Idaho State MuseumClosed—Hours page ↗ · Oct 18
The WaterShedClosed—Hours page ↗ · Oct 18
World Center for Birds of PreyClosed—Hours page ↗ · Oct 18
Jabbers PlayClosed—Hours page ↗ · Oct 18

Friday to Sunday

Black Friday weekend with little kids

Tree lightings, light-display openings, farm days and other easy outings Friday through Sunday.

Nov27Fri

Downtown Boise Holiday Tree Lighting

The Grove Plaza · The Grove Plaza, Downtown Boise

FreeEvening
Time
5 p.m.
Price
Free

With littles: Light display opening this weekend. 40-plus-foot tree, 5,000+ lights, live music. Boise Holiday Parade next morning, Sat Nov 28 at 10 a.m., free (boiseholidayparade.org).

Official page ↗Checked Report a problem
Nov28Sat

Breakfast with Santa at the Canyon County Festival of Trees

Ford Idaho Sports Complex (Horse Park Arena) · 16200 N Idaho Center Blvd, Nampa, ID 83687

Time
8–10 a.m. (the arena's page says 8–9:30 a.m.)
Price
$30; includes festival entry, breakfast and 1 photo with Santa

With littles: Santa visits opening this weekend. Breakfast with Santa and Christmas characters at the festival that benefits Canyon County Meals on Wheels. Festival general admission is $15 adults, $10 kids 4–12, 3 and under free; Santa photos aren't included in general admission.

Official page ↗Checked Report a problem
Nov27Fri

Cookies with Santa at the Canyon County Festival of Trees

Ford Idaho Sports Complex (Horse Park Arena) · 16200 N Idaho Center Blvd, Nampa, ID 83687

Evening
Time
7–8:30 p.m. (the arena's page says 6:30–8:30 p.m.)
Price
$20; under 1 free with a ticketed adult; includes entry, 1 photo with Santa, cookies and drinks

With littles: Santa visits opening this weekend. Come in pajamas with a blanket for Christmas stories read by Santa. Reservations required; not sold at the door.

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 Friday email

Keep planning

More for little kids in Boise

Free things to do in BoiseFree days, free events and places that never chargeIndoor play in BoiseIndoor playgrounds, toddler times and museums, with pricesThis week in BoiseDated outings for ages 0–6, checked every Thursday

Good questions

Thanksgiving in Boise: the FAQ

Boise Holiday Parade: Sat, Nov 28, 2026, 10 a.m., Starts at Jefferson and 10th. Times come from each organizer’s own page.

Boise Turkey Day 5K Run/Walk: Thu, Nov 26, 2026. A whole-family fun run, with a kids' price for 12 and under.

Closed on Thanksgiving: Idaho State Museum, The WaterShed, World Center for Birds of Prey and Jabbers Play. Check the venue page the morning of, since holiday hours can change.

Downtown Boise Holiday Tree Lighting, Breakfast with Santa at the Canyon County Festival of Trees and Cookies with Santa at the Canyon County Festival of Trees. Dates and times are on each card.

Boise Holiday Parade and Downtown Boise Holiday Tree Lighting are free to watch or attend. More free ideas are on free things to do in Boise.

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 18, 2026, and we recheck them every Thursday through Thanksgiving week. How we choose and check.

Littles Weekly

Thanksgiving in another city

or nearby:
SpokaneSalt Lake CityColorado SpringsAlbuquerque
All 51 cities

Holiday weekends, planned by Friday.

One short email every Friday morning: the best things to do with little kids in Boise that weekend, Thanksgiving week included.

Boise skyline