Thanksgiving 2026Colorado Springs · Olympic City USA

Thanksgiving weekend in Colorado Springs, with little ones.

We haven’t found a 2026 Thanksgiving parade in Colorado Springs with posted details yet. In all we found three Thanksgiving-weekend outings in and around Colorado Springs: one turkey trot with a kids’ race and two Black Friday weekend picks. 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?YMCA Turkey Trot Kids’ Tiny Trot · Kids’ Tiny Trot at 8:15 a.m.1 raceWhat’s open on Thursday?Open: Cheyenne Mountain Zoo, Kids Empire Colorado Springs.2 of 3 openAnything free this weekend?Nothing free posted for the weekend yet.Not yet

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
YMCA Turkey Trot Kids’ Tiny TrotKids’ Tiny Trot at 8:15 a.m.
Friday
Nov 27
Santa at Chapel Hills Mall over Thanksgiving weekendSee detailsSanta Photos at The Citadel MallMost days 11 a.m.–7 p.m.
Saturday
Nov 28
Santa Photos at The Citadel MallMost days 11 a.m.–7 p.m.
Sunday
Nov 29
Santa Photos at The Citadel MallMost days 11 a.m.–7 p.m.

Thursday morning

Thanksgiving parade in Colorado Springs

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 3 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.

Nov26Thu

YMCA Turkey Trot Kids’ Tiny Trot

Briargate Family Center YMCA · Briargate

Kids’ race
Time
Kids’ Tiny Trot at 8:15 a.m.; 5K at 9 a.m.
Price
Tiny Trot free (ages 1–12); children in strollers ride free in the 5K

For kids: A free 1K Tiny Trot for ages 1–12

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
Cheyenne Mountain ZooOpenClosing early at 3 p.m. Last timed tickets are 1–1:30 p.m., and the Will Rogers Shrine of the Sun is closed for the day. Timed tickets in advance.Hours page ↗ · Oct 18
Garden of the Gods ParkCheckVisitor & Nature Center closed Thanksgiving Day. The park itself is free.Hours page ↗ · Oct 18
Kids Empire Colorado SpringsOpen(it says it’s open every day, including holidays). Weekday hours are 10am–8pm; worth a quick call that morning.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

Santa at Chapel Hills Mall over Thanksgiving weekend

Chapel Hills Mall · North

Time
Not listed
Price
Not listed

With littles: Santa photos run daily from Nov 20; walk-ups welcome.

Official page ↗Checked Report a problem
Nov27to Dec 24

Santa Photos at The Citadel Mall

The Citadel Mall · 750 Citadel Drive East, Colorado Springs, CO 80909

Time
Most days 11 a.m.–7 p.m.; Dec 24 10 a.m.–5 p.m.; hours change by day, full schedule on the booking page
Price
See photo packages on the booking page

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 30, Dec 7).

Official page ↗Checked Report a problem

Keep planning

More for little kids in COS

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

Good questions

Thanksgiving in Colorado Springs: the FAQ

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

YMCA Turkey Trot Kids’ Tiny Trot: Thu, Nov 26, 2026. A free 1K Tiny Trot for ages 1–12.

Open on Thanksgiving: Cheyenne Mountain Zoo; Kids Empire Colorado Springs. Check the venue page the morning of, since holiday hours can change.

Santa at Chapel Hills Mall over Thanksgiving weekend and Santa Photos at The Citadel Mall. Dates and times are on each card.

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:
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Holiday weekends, planned by Friday.

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

Colorado Springs skyline