The big one for little kids is Novant Health Thanksgiving Eve Parade (Wed 5:30 p.m.). In all we found eight Thanksgiving-weekend outings in and around Charlotte: one parade, one turkey trot with a kids’ race and six Black Friday weekend picks, and one is free. We also list one place and whether it’s open on Thanksgiving Day.
Thursday to Sunday
Everything below, laid out by day. Tap any outing to jump to its details.
Thursday morning
Start time, route and what to know with a stroller, from the organizer’s page.
Tryon Street · Uptown
With littles: The night before Thanksgiving. It runs along Tryon Street in Uptown and airs live on WCCB at 6 p.m. Free from the curb, or buy reserved seats.
Run it off
Kids’ races, family walks and stroller rules, from each race’s own page.
SouthPark Mall · SouthPark
For kids: Free Harris Teeter Tot Trot (50-yard dash) for 8 and under, with a medal and bib
Thanksgiving Day
Holiday hours from each place’s own page. Worth a quick check that morning.
Friday to Sunday
Tree lightings, light-display openings, farm days and other easy outings Friday through Sunday.
Ballantyne's Backyard · Ballantyne, Charlotte, NC
With littles: Light display opening this weekend. 40+ scenes, interactive wands, free live entertainment, free Santa photos through Dec 23.
Carowinds · Charlotte, NC
With littles: Light display opening this weekend.
Carowinds · Charlotte, NC
With littles: Santa visits opening this weekend. Santa schedule is in the park app.
Charlotte Premium Outlets · 5404 New Fashion Way, Charlotte, NC 28278
With littles: Santa visits opening this weekend. Walk-ups welcome; booking a 15-minute slot online is encouraged (a few families share each slot). Pet photo nights on 2 evenings (Nov 29, Dec 6).
Carolina Place · 11025 Carolina Place Pkwy, Pineville, NC 28134
With littles: Santa visits opening this weekend. Walk-ups welcome; booking a 15-minute slot online is encouraged (a few families share each slot). Pet photo nights on 6 evenings (Nov 30, Dec 1, Dec 7, Dec 8, Dec 14, Dec 15).
Carolina Mall · 1480 Concord Pkwy North, Concord, NC 28025
With littles: Santa visits opening this weekend. Walk-ups welcome; booking a 15-minute slot online is encouraged (a few families share each slot).
Keep planning
Good questions
Novant Health Thanksgiving Eve Parade: Wed, Nov 25, 2026, 5:30 p.m. (Wednesday), Uptown. Times come from each organizer’s own page.
CPI Security Charlotte Turkey Trot: Thu, Nov 26, 2026. Free Harris Teeter Tot Trot (50-yard dash) for 8 and under, with a medal and bib.
Closed on Thanksgiving: The Mint Museum (Uptown and Randolph). Check the venue page the morning of, since holiday hours can change.
Carolina Holiday Light Spectacular, WinterFest at Carowinds, Santa at WinterFest, Santa Photos at Charlotte Premium Outlets and Santa Photos at Carolina Place and 1 more. Dates and times are on each card.
Novant Health Thanksgiving Eve Parade is free to watch or attend. More free ideas are on free things to do in Charlotte.
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
One short email every Friday morning: the best things to do with little kids in Charlotte that weekend, Thanksgiving week included.
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