Thanksgiving 2026Chicago · The Windy City

Thanksgiving weekend in Chicago, with little ones.

There’s no Thanksgiving Day parade on our Chicago list, but Chicago Thanksgiving Parade is Thursday, Nov 26 at 7:45–10am. In all we found nine Thanksgiving-weekend outings in and around Chicago: four turkey trots with kids’ races and five Black Friday weekend picks, and three are free. We also list three places and whether they’re open on Thanksgiving Day.

The quick answersChecked
Is there a parade?No 2026 parade posted yet. We check weekly.Not yetTurkey trot with a kids’ race?Turkey Trot Chicago 5K, 8K and Plymouth Rock Ramble · 5K and 8K 9am (+3 more)4 racesWhat’s open Thursday?Check each place’s hours below.0 of 3 openAnything free this weekend?Chicago Thanksgiving Parade · 7:45–10am (+2 more)3 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
Turkey Trot Chicago 5K, 8K and Plymouth Rock Ramble5K and 8K 9amTurkey Day 5K at Danada9amSGFMC Turkey Trot9:30amGrove Express 5K8:30amChicago Thanksgiving ParadeFree · 7:45–10am
Friday
Nov 27
KohlightsEarly entry 4:30–7pmDowners Grove Main Street Tree Lighting CeremonyFree · 4:30pm
Saturday
Nov 28
KohlightsEarly entry 4:30–7pmVisits with Santa in Downtown Downers Grove1-4pmGlenview Holiday in the Park & ParadeFree · 4-6pm
Sunday
Nov 29
KohlightsEarly entry 4:30–7pmVisits with Santa in Downtown Downers Grove1-4pm

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.

The Thanksgiving week list goes up Monday, Nov. 23.

It comes from the same weekly check as the Chicago this-week page.

Email me when it’s posted

Thursday morning

Thanksgiving parade in Chicago

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

No 2026 parade posted yet.

We check the organizers every week. The 9 outings below are confirmed on their official pages.

Email me when it’s posted

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

Turkey Trot Chicago 5K, 8K and Plymouth Rock Ramble

Lincoln Park, Cannon Dr. just south of Diversey · Lincoln Park

Kids’ raceStroller-friendly
Time
5K and 8K 9am; kids’ race 11am
Price
5K $60, 8K $65, kids’ race $25 (subject to change)

For kids: The Plymouth Rock Ramble is for ages 2 to 12: 50 yards for ages 2–4, a quarter mile for 5–6 and a half mile for 7–12. Kids stage at the Diversey Harbor North lot by 10:30.

With littles: Strollers are welcome in the 5K and 8K but start in the last wave. No dogs. Packet pickup Nov 24–25 and race morning.

Official page ↗Checked Report a problem
Nov26Thu

Turkey Day 5K at Danada

Danada Forest Preserve, 3S580 Naperville Rd. · Naperville, IL · about 30 miles away

Time
9am
Price
$39.99 through Nov 7, then $45.99

With littles: A 5K through the forest preserve with a finisher medal for every runner. Costumes are encouraged.

Official page ↗Checked Report a problem
Nov26Thu

SGFMC Turkey Trot

St. Giles Gym, 1020 Linden Ave. · Oak Park, IL · about 9 miles away

Time
9:30am
Price
$25, ages 9 and under $10; the price goes up after Nov 23

With littles: The 44th St. Giles Family Mass Community 5K starts in front of the parish gym. Entry is capped, so register before race day if you can.

Official page ↗Checked Report a problem
Nov26Thu

Grove Express 5K

Main and Grove Streets, downtown Downers Grove · Downers Grove

Time
8:30am
Price
$35 plus fee through Oct 31, then $45 plus fee

With littles: A Thanksgiving morning run and walk through downtown, hosted by the Grove Express Foundation.

Official page ↗Checked Report a problem

Thanksgiving Day

More on Thursday

Other things to do with little kids on Thanksgiving Day itself.

More to come.Tree lightings and holiday openings often post closer to the holiday. We add them every Thursday.Get the Thursday email

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.

PlaceThursdayFridayNoteChecked
Field MuseumClosedNot posted—Hours page ↗ · Oct 26
Kohl Children’s MuseumClosedNot posted—Hours page ↗ · Oct 26
Lincoln Park Zoo ZooLightsCheckNot postedZooLights closed Thanksgiving night.Hours page ↗ · Oct 26

Friday, Nov. 27

The day after Thanksgiving

Tree lightings, parades, light-display openings and Santa arrivals on Black Friday.

Nov27to Dec 20

Kohlights

Kohl Children’s Museum · 2100 Patriot Blvd., Glenview, IL 60026

LightsEvening
Time
Early entry 4:30–7pm; regular 5:30–7pm
Price
$20 early, $18 regular ($15 members)

With littles: Light display opening this weekend. Made for kids up to 8.

Official page ↗Checked Report a problem

Saturday and Sunday

Thanksgiving weekend with little kids

Parades, lightings, light displays and other easy outings Saturday and Sunday.

Every 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 Chicago

Chicago Thanksgiving ParadeNext: Nov 26, 2026Turkey Trot Chicago 5K, 8K and Plymouth Rock RambleNext: Nov 26, 2026

Keep planning

More for little kids in Chicago

November: things to do in ChicagoEvery dated listing for the month, by weekDecember: things to do in ChicagoEvery dated listing for the month, by weekFree things to do in ChicagoFree days, free events and places that never chargeFree museum days in ChicagoFree days, Museums on Us and EBT discounts, with who gets inIndoor play in ChicagoIndoor playgrounds, toddler times, museums and classes, with pricesLibrary storytimes in ChicagoBaby, toddler and preschool storytimes by day and branchIce skating in ChicagoHoliday and indoor rinks, skate aids and pricesNoon Year’s Eve in ChicagoKid-friendly countdowns, home by napChristmas parades in ChicagoParades and tree lightings with dates and start timesChristmas trains in ChicagoPolar Express, Santa and lights trains with datesThe Nutcracker in ChicagoBallet and touring shows, sensory-friendly flaggedChristmas markets in ChicagoChristkindlmarkts and winter wonderlands with hoursChristmas break in ChicagoWhat’s open on Dec 24, Dec 25 and Jan 1This week in ChicagoDated outings for ages 0–6, checked every Thursday

Good questions

Thanksgiving in Chicago: the FAQ

We haven’t found 2026 details for a Thanksgiving parade in Chicago yet. We check again every Thursday and add it as soon as the organizer posts it.

Turkey Trot Chicago 5K, 8K and Plymouth Rock Ramble: Thu, Nov 26, 2026. The Plymouth Rock Ramble is for ages 2 to 12: 50 yards for ages 2–4, a quarter mile for 5–6 and a half mile for 7–12. Kids stage at the Diversey Harbor North lot by 10:30. Turkey Day 5K at Danada: Thu, Nov 26, 2026. SGFMC Turkey Trot: Thu, Nov 26, 2026.

On Thanksgiving Day (Thu, Nov 26, 2026) our list has Turkey Trot Chicago 5K, 8K and Plymouth Rock Ramble, Turkey Day 5K at Danada, SGFMC Turkey Trot and Grove Express 5K and 1 more. Times, prices and the official links are on each card.

Closed on Thanksgiving: Field Museum and Kohl Children’s Museum. Check the venue page the morning of, since holiday hours can change.

No. Its hours page lists it as closed Thanksgiving Day. Holiday hours can change, so check the hours page that morning.

On Friday, Nov. 27: Kohlights and Downers Grove Main Street Tree Lighting Ceremony. Times and prices are on each card.

Downers Grove Main Street Tree Lighting Ceremony: Fri, Nov 27, 2026, 4:30pm, Downers Grove. Times come from each organizer’s page.

Kohlights, Visits with Santa in Downtown Downers Grove, Chicago Thanksgiving Parade, Downers Grove Main Street Tree Lighting Ceremony and Glenview Holiday in the Park & Parade. Dates and times are on each card.

Chicago Thanksgiving Parade, Downers Grove Main Street Tree Lighting Ceremony and Glenview Holiday in the Park & Parade are free to watch or attend. More free ideas are on free things to do in Chicago.

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 30, 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 Chicago that weekend, Thanksgiving week included.

Chicago skyline