Nov23Mon
Thanksgiving 2026Dallas–Fort Worth · The Metroplex
Thanksgiving weekend in Dallas–Fort Worth, with little ones.
We haven’t found a 2026 Thanksgiving parade in Dallas–Fort Worth with posted details yet. In all we found five Thanksgiving-weekend outings in and around Dallas–Fort Worth: two turkey trots with kids’ races and three Black Friday weekend picks, and one is free. We also list four 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?Dallas YMCA Turkey Trot · Diaper Dash heats at 8:30, 9, 9:30, 10, 10:30 and 11am (+1 more)2 racesWhat’s open Thursday?Open: Fort Worth Zoo, Dallas Zoo.2 of 4 openAnything free this weekend?Home for the Holidays in Downtown McKinney · Fri–Sat 10:30am–9pm1 free
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
Friday
Nov 27
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.
Need something today?This week’s full list for Dallas–Fort Worth has every checked outing by day.This week in Dallas–Fort Worth
Thursday morning
Thanksgiving parade in Dallas–Fort Worth
Start time, route and what to know with a stroller, from the organizer’s page.
No 2026 parade posted yet.
Email me when it’s postedWe check the organizers every week. The 5 outings below are confirmed on their official pages.
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
Dallas YMCA Turkey Trot
Dallas City Hall Plaza · Downtown Dallas
- Time
- Diaper Dash heats at 8:30, 9, 9:30, 10, 10:30 and 11am; 5K and 8-mile at 8:30am
- Price
- Diaper Dash $15 + $0.91 fees; Tots/Toddlers/Strollers 5K or 8-mile $18 + $0.91 fees
For kids: The Diaper Dash runs in six heats through the morning, from 8:30 to 11am.
With littles: Strollers go at the back of the run/walk pack and stay out of the timed corral. The Family Zone opens at 7am. DART rail is the easy way in, since downtown streets close.
Nov26Thu
Irving Turkey Trot
The Plaza at Toyota Music Factory · 340 W. Las Colinas Blvd., Irving, TX 75039
- Time
- 8-mile 9am; 5K 9:15am
- Price
- 8-mile $69.99, 5K $54.99 before the next price increase
For kids: A Tot Trot for kids is offered at registration.
With littles: Packet pickup is Wednesday, Nov 25, 11am–7pm at the Plaza. Parking is right next door.
Thanksgiving Day
More on Thursday
Other things to do with little kids on Thanksgiving Day itself.
Nov26to Dec 31
Prairie Lights
Lynn Creek Park at Joe Pool Lake · 5610 Lake Ridge Pkwy, Grand Prairie, TX 75052
- Time
- Opens 6pm; line closes 10pm or at capacity
- Price
- $50 per car
With littles: Light display opening this weekend. More than 5 million lights on a two-mile drive. Halfway through is Holiday Village with a walk-through forest, carnival rides and photos with Santa.
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, for Thanksgiving Day and the day after. “Not posted” means the page doesn’t list Friday hours yet. Worth a quick check that morning.
PlaceThursdayFridayNoteChecked
Fort Worth ZooOpenOpenNoon–4pm (some dining, shops and attractions closed). Friday: open 10 a.m.–4 p.m.Hours page ↗ · Oct 26
Dallas ArboretumCheckNot postedHoliday at Night open Thanksgiving evening 5–10pm ($15 Holiday Cheer tickets).Hours page ↗ · Oct 26
Dallas ZooOpenOpen364 days a year; closed only Dec 25. Friday: open (usual hours).Hours page ↗ · Oct 26
Friday, Nov. 27
The day after Thanksgiving
Tree lightings, parades, light-display openings and Santa arrivals on Black Friday.
Nov27to 29
Home for the Holidays in Downtown McKinney
Historic Downtown McKinney square · 111 N. Tennessee St., McKinney, TX 75069
- Time
- Fri–Sat 10:30am–9pm; Sun noon–5pm; tree lighting Fri 6:15pm
- Price
- Free; some rides cost extra
With littles: Santa visits opening this weekend. Santa visits all weekend, with a Ferris wheel, carousel, Snow Hill, train rides and a petting zoo. A free shuttle runs Friday and Saturday from First McKinney Baptist Church, 1615 W. Louisiana St.
More to come.Tree lightings and holiday openings often post closer to the holiday. We add them every Thursday.Get the Thursday emailSaturday and Sunday
Thanksgiving weekend with little kids
Parades, lightings, light displays and other easy outings Saturday and Sunday.
Nov28to Dec 27
Frostival at Howell Family Farms
Howell Family Farms · 4016 W. Division St., Arlington, TX 76012
- Time
- Entry 5:30–8pm through Dec 10, 5:30–8:30pm from Dec 11
- Price
- Kids 4–11 from $16, ages 12 and up from $21, family pass from $60; 3 and under free; parking $10
With littles: Light display opening this weekend. A trail of lights on a working farm with a 200-foot tubing slide, a snowman show and real reindeer. A Santa visit comes with every ticket through Dec 24. It is closed some nights early on, so check the calendar.
More to come.Tree lightings and holiday openings often post closer to the holiday. We add them every Thursday.Get the Thursday emailEvery 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 Dallas–Fort Worth
Dallas YMCA Turkey TrotKeep planning
More for little kids in Dallas–Fort Worth
November: things to do in Dallas–Fort WorthEvery dated listing for the month, by weekDecember: things to do in Dallas–Fort WorthEvery dated listing for the month, by week
Free things to do in Dallas–Fort WorthFree days, free events and places that never charge
Free museum days in Dallas–Fort WorthFree days, Museums on Us and EBT discounts, with who gets in
Indoor play in Dallas–Fort WorthIndoor playgrounds, toddler times, museums and classes, with prices
Library storytimes in Dallas–Fort WorthBaby, toddler and preschool storytimes by day and branch
Ice skating in Dallas–Fort WorthHoliday and indoor rinks, skate aids and prices
Noon Year’s Eve in Dallas–Fort WorthKid-friendly countdowns, home by napChristmas parades in Dallas–Fort WorthParades and tree lightings with dates and start timesThe Nutcracker in Dallas–Fort WorthBallet and touring shows, sensory-friendly flagged
Christmas markets in Dallas–Fort WorthChristkindlmarkts and winter wonderlands with hours
Christmas break in Dallas–Fort WorthWhat’s open on Dec 24, Dec 25 and Jan 1Birthday party places in Dallas–Fort WorthStarting prices, ages and what’s includedThis week in Dallas–Fort WorthDated outings for ages 0–6, checked every ThursdayGood questions
Thanksgiving in Dallas–Fort Worth: the FAQ
We haven’t found 2026 details for a Thanksgiving parade in Dallas–Fort Worth yet. We check again every Thursday and add it as soon as the organizer posts it.
Dallas YMCA Turkey Trot: Thu, Nov 26, 2026. The Diaper Dash runs in six heats through the morning, from 8:30 to 11am. Irving Turkey Trot: Thu, Nov 26, 2026. A Tot Trot for kids is offered at registration.
On Thanksgiving Day (Thu, Nov 26, 2026) our list has Dallas YMCA Turkey Trot and Irving Turkey Trot. Times, prices and the official links are on each card.
Open on Thanksgiving: Fort Worth Zoo; Dallas Zoo. Closed on Thanksgiving: Perot Museum of Nature and Science. Check the venue page the morning of, since holiday hours can change.
Yes. Its hours page lists it as open Thanksgiving Day noon–4pm (some dining, shops and attractions closed). Friday, Nov. 27: open 10 a.m.–4 p.m. Holiday hours can change, so check the hours page that morning.
No. Its hours page lists it as closed Thanksgiving Day. Friday, Nov. 27: open 10 a.m.–5 p.m. Holiday hours can change, so check the hours page that morning.
Yes. Its hours page lists it as open 364 days a year; closed only Dec 25. Friday, Nov. 27: open (usual hours). Holiday hours can change, so check the hours page that morning.
On Friday, Nov. 27: Home for the Holidays in Downtown McKinney. The hours table also shows which places are open Friday. Times and prices are on each card.
Monday to Wednesday (Nov. 23–25): Carol of Lights. The full list for that week goes up Monday, Nov. 23.
Prairie Lights, Frostival at Howell Family Farms and Home for the Holidays in Downtown McKinney. Dates and times are on each card.
Home for the Holidays in Downtown McKinney is free to watch or attend. More free ideas are on free things to do in Dallas–Fort Worth.
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 Dallas–Fort Worth that weekend, Thanksgiving week included.
