# Thanksgiving weekend with kids in Columbus, 2026

> We haven’t found a 2026 Thanksgiving parade in Columbus with posted details yet. In all we found three Thanksgiving-weekend outings in and around Columbus: one turkey trot with a kids’ race and two Black Friday weekend picks, and one is free. We also list three places and whether they’re open on Thanksgiving Day.

- Last checked: 2026-10-18
- 3 listings with dates; 0 not posted or announced yet
- Canonical page: https://littlesweekly.com/columbus/thanksgiving/
- Free things to do (Markdown): https://littlesweekly.com/columbus/free/index.md
- This week (Markdown): https://littlesweekly.com/columbus/index.md
- City index for agents: https://littlesweekly.com/columbus/llms.txt

## Turkey trots with kids’ races

- **Chase Columbus Turkey Trot** at Shops on Lane Avenue, 1675 W. Lane Ave., Columbus, OH 43221. When: Thu, Nov 26, 2026. Time: Tot Trot 8:30 a.m.; 4-mile race and 2.4-mile walk 9 a.m. Price: See the registration page. For kids: Dick's Tot Trot: a 100-yard dash for kids under 12, before the main race. The 40th year, on a new 4-mile course, benefiting Easterseals of Central and Southeast Ohio. Costumes encouraged. Official page: https://columbusturkeytrot.org/event-details/ (checked 2026-10-18)

## Black Friday weekend with little kids

- **Wanderlights** at Columbus Commons and downtown, 160 S. High St., Columbus, OH 43215. When: Nov 27 – Nov 29. Time: 5–10 p.m. daily. Price: Free. A free walk of light displays from Columbus Commons along West Town Street to the Scioto Mile, running Nov. 20 through mid-February. Official page: https://downtowncolumbus.com/wanderlights/ (checked 2026-10-18)
- **Santa at Oakland Nursery** at Oakland Nursery (Columbus, Dublin, Delaware and New Albany), 1156 Oakland Park Ave, Columbus, OH 43224 (and other stores). When: Sat & Sun Nov 28–Dec 13. Time: Noon–3:30pm. Price: No charge listed. Santa visits opening this weekend. Horse-drawn carriage rides weekends noon–4pm at the Columbus store (noon–3pm in Dublin), weather permitting, and a camel visits Columbus on Nov 28 from noon to 3pm. New Albany adds a free Breakfast with Santa on Sat Dec 19, 9–11am, with no reservation needed. Official page: https://www.oaklandnursery.com/page/sales-and-events/ (checked 2026-10-19)

## Open or closed on Thanksgiving Day

- **Columbus Zoo and Aquarium**: Closed Thanksgiving Day. Source: https://www.columbuszoo.org/hours-and-rates (checked 2026-10-18)
- **Franklin Park Conservatory**: Closed Thanksgiving Day. Source: https://www.fpconservatory.org/plan-a-visit/ (checked 2026-10-18)
- **Get Air Columbus**: Closed Thanksgiving Day. Source: https://getairsports.com/columbus/ (checked 2026-10-18)

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

### Are there turkey trots with kids’ races in Columbus?
Chase Columbus Turkey Trot: Thu, Nov 26, 2026. Dick's Tot Trot: a 100-yard dash for kids under 12, before the main race.

### What’s open on Thanksgiving Day in Columbus with kids?
Closed on Thanksgiving: Columbus Zoo and Aquarium, Franklin Park Conservatory and Get Air Columbus. Check the venue page the morning of, since holiday hours can change.

### What can we do with little kids on Black Friday weekend in Columbus?
Wanderlights and Santa at Oakland Nursery. Dates and times are on each card.

### What’s free on Thanksgiving weekend in Columbus?
Wanderlights is free to watch or attend. More free ideas are on [free things to do in Columbus](https://littlesweekly.com/columbus/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 18, 2026, and we recheck them every Thursday through Thanksgiving week. [How we choose and check](https://littlesweekly.com/how-we-choose/).