# Thanksgiving weekend with kids in Boston, 2026

> 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.

- Last checked: 2026-10-28
- 3 listings with dates; 0 not posted or announced yet
- Canonical page: https://littlesweekly.com/boston/thanksgiving/
- Free things to do (Markdown): https://littlesweekly.com/boston/free/index.md
- This week (Markdown): https://littlesweekly.com/boston/index.md
- City index for agents: https://littlesweekly.com/boston/llms.txt

## Thanksgiving week, Monday to Wednesday

- **Christopher Columbus Park Trellis Lighting** at Christopher Columbus Park, North End. When: Mon, Nov 23, 2026. Time: Not listed. Price: Free. The city lists this lighting with its other neighborhood holiday lightings. A start time hasn’t been posted yet. Official page: https://www.boston.gov/calendar/2026-copley-square-tree-lighting (checked 2026-10-29)

## Turkey trots with kids’ races

- **Franklin Park Turkey Trot** at Franklin Park Golf Clubhouse, 1 Circuit Drive, Dorchester, MA 02121. When: Thu, Nov 26, 2026. Time: 9am. Price: $28; ages 6–17 $15; 5 and under free. Boston’s biggest Thanksgiving race. Strollers and walkers are welcome, and kids 5 and under join free with no registration. Official page: https://www.franklinparkcoalition.org/featured-events/turkey-trot/ (checked 2026-10-28)

## Friday, the day after Thanksgiving

- **Visit with Santa at ZooLights** at Stone Zoo, Animal Discovery Center, 149 Pond Street, Stoneham, MA 02180. When: Fri–Sun Nov 27–29, Dec 4–6, 11–13 and 18–20, plus Tue Dec 22 and Wed Dec 23. Time: 4:30–8:30pm. Price: $5 per guest age 2 and up; under 2 free; ZooLights ticket required. 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. Official page: https://www.zoonewengland.org/engage/visit-with-santa/ (checked 2026-10-29)

## Saturday and Sunday

- **Martin’s Park Ship Lighting** at Martin’s Park, Children’s Wharf Harborwalk, Fort Point. When: Sat, Nov 28, 2026. Time: Not listed. Price: Free. The pirate-ship play structure at this waterfront playground gets its holiday lights. The city hasn’t posted a start time yet. Official page: https://www.boston.gov/calendar/2026-copley-square-tree-lighting (checked 2026-10-29)

## Thanksgiving events that come back every year

- [Franklin Park Turkey Trot](https://littlesweekly.com/boston/events/franklin-park-turkey-trot-golf-clubhouse/): 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 Boston?
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.

### Are there turkey trots with kids’ races in Boston?
Franklin Park Turkey Trot: Thu, Nov 26, 2026.

### What can we do with kids in Boston on Thanksgiving Day?
On Thanksgiving Day (Thu, Nov 26, 2026) our list has Franklin Park Turkey Trot. Times, prices and the official links are on each card.

### What can we do with kids the day after Thanksgiving in Boston?
On Friday, Nov. 27: Visit with Santa at ZooLights. Times and prices are on each card.

### When is the tree lighting in Boston Thanksgiving weekend?
Martin’s Park Ship Lighting: Sat, Nov 28, 2026, Not listed, Fort Point. Times come from each organizer’s page.

### What can we do with kids Thanksgiving week in Boston?
Monday to Wednesday (Nov. 23–25): Christopher Columbus Park Trellis Lighting. The full list for that week goes up Monday, Nov. 23.

### What can we do with little kids on Black Friday weekend in Boston?
Visit with Santa at ZooLights and Martin’s Park Ship Lighting. Dates and times are on each card.

### What’s free on Thanksgiving weekend in Boston?
Martin’s Park Ship Lighting is free to watch or attend. More free ideas are on [free things to do in Boston](https://littlesweekly.com/boston/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 28, 2026, and we recheck them every Thursday through Thanksgiving week. [How we choose and check](https://littlesweekly.com/how-we-choose/).