Nov23Mon
Christopher Columbus Park Trellis Lighting
Christopher Columbus Park · North End
- Time
- Not listed
- Price
- Free
With littles: The city lists this lighting with its other neighborhood holiday lightings. A start time hasn’t been posted yet.
Thanksgiving 2026Boston · The Hub
Thanksgiving weekend in Boston, with little ones.
We haven’t found a 2026 Thanksgiving parade in Boston, but Martin’s Park Ship Lighting is Saturday, Nov 28. In all we found three Thanksgiving-weekend outings in and around Boston: one turkey trot with a kids’ race and two Black Friday weekend picks, and one is free.
The quick answersChecked
Is there a parade?No 2026 parade posted yet. We check weekly.Not yetTurkey trot with a kids’ race?Franklin Park Turkey Trot · 9am1 raceWhat’s open Thursday?We haven’t checked holiday hours here yet.Not yetAnything free this weekend?Martin’s Park Ship Lighting · Not listed1 free
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
Friday
Nov 27
Sunday
Nov 29
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.
Need something today?This week’s full list for Boston has every checked outing by day.This week in Boston
Thursday morning
Thanksgiving parade in Boston
Start time, route and what to know with a stroller, from the organizer’s page.
No 2026 parade posted yet.
Email me when it’s postedWe check the organizers every week. The 3 outings below are confirmed on their official pages.
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
Franklin Park Turkey Trot
Franklin Park Golf Clubhouse · 1 Circuit Drive, Dorchester, MA 02121
- Time
- 9am
- Price
- $28; ages 6–17 $15; 5 and under free
With littles: Boston’s biggest Thanksgiving race. Strollers and walkers are welcome, and kids 5 and under join free with no registration.
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.
We haven’t checked Thanksgiving hours here yet.
Know a place that’s open?Museums, zoos and play places post holiday hours in November. We add them as soon as they do.
Friday, Nov. 27
The day after Thanksgiving
Tree lightings, parades, light-display openings and Santa arrivals on Black Friday.
Nov27to Dec 23
Visit with Santa at ZooLights
Stone Zoo, Animal Discovery Center · 149 Pond Street, Stoneham, MA 02180
- Time
- 4:30–8:30pm
- Price
- $5 per guest age 2 and up; under 2 free; ZooLights ticket required
With littles: Santa visits opening this weekend. Five-minute visits during ZooLights, paid at the door by card or Apple Pay (no cash) with no advance sales. There’s no professional photographer, so bring your phone.
More to come.Tree lightings and holiday openings often post closer to the holiday. We add them every Thursday.Get the Thursday emailSaturday and Sunday
Thanksgiving weekend with little kids
Parades, lightings, light displays and other easy outings Saturday and Sunday.
Nov28Sat
Martin’s Park Ship Lighting
Martin’s Park, Children’s Wharf Harborwalk · Fort Point
- Time
- Not listed
- Price
- Free
With littles: The pirate-ship play structure at this waterfront playground gets its holiday lights. The city hasn’t posted a start time yet.
More to come.Tree lightings and holiday openings often post closer to the holiday. We add them every Thursday.Get the Thursday emailEvery year
Thanksgiving events that come back every year
Each of these comes back every year. Its page keeps the last confirmed dates, and the new ones go up there once they’re posted. Every year in Boston
Franklin Park Turkey TrotKeep planning
More for little kids in Boston
November: things to do in BostonEvery dated listing for the month, by weekDecember: things to do in BostonEvery dated listing for the month, by week
Free things to do in BostonFree days, free events and places that never charge
Indoor play in BostonIndoor playgrounds, toddler times, museums and classes, with prices
Library storytimes in BostonBaby, toddler and preschool storytimes by day and branch
Ice skating in BostonHoliday and indoor rinks, skate aids and prices
Noon Year’s Eve in BostonKid-friendly countdowns, home by napChristmas parades in BostonParades and tree lightings with dates and start times
Christmas trains in BostonPolar Express, Santa and lights trains with datesThe Nutcracker in BostonBallet and touring shows, sensory-friendly flagged
Christmas markets in BostonChristkindlmarkts and winter wonderlands with hours
Christmas break in BostonWhat’s open on Dec 24, Dec 25 and Jan 1This week in BostonDated outings for ages 0–6, checked every Thursday
Good questions
Thanksgiving in Boston: the FAQ
We haven’t found 2026 details for a Thanksgiving parade in Boston yet. We check again every Thursday and add it as soon as the organizer posts it.
Franklin Park Turkey Trot: Thu, Nov 26, 2026.
On Thanksgiving Day (Thu, Nov 26, 2026) our list has Franklin Park Turkey Trot. Times, prices and the official links are on each card.
On Friday, Nov. 27: Visit with Santa at ZooLights. Times and prices are on each card.
Martin’s Park Ship Lighting: Sat, Nov 28, 2026, Not listed, Fort Point. Times come from each organizer’s page.
Monday to Wednesday (Nov. 23–25): Christopher Columbus Park Trellis Lighting. The full list for that week goes up Monday, Nov. 23.
Visit with Santa at ZooLights and Martin’s Park Ship Lighting. Dates and times are on each card.
Martin’s Park Ship Lighting is free to watch or attend. More free ideas are on free things to do in Boston.
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 28, 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 Boston that weekend, Thanksgiving week included.
