# Thanksgiving weekend with kids in Dallas–Fort Worth, 2026

> 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.

- Last checked: 2026-10-30
- 5 listings with dates; 0 not posted or announced yet
- Canonical page: https://littlesweekly.com/dallas-fort-worth/thanksgiving/
- Free things to do (Markdown): https://littlesweekly.com/dallas-fort-worth/free/index.md
- This week (Markdown): https://littlesweekly.com/dallas-fort-worth/index.md
- City index for agents: https://littlesweekly.com/dallas-fort-worth/llms.txt

## Thanksgiving week, Monday to Wednesday

- **Carol of Lights** at Historic Main Street, Grapevine. When: Mon, Nov 23, 2026. Time: 4–8pm. Price: Free. Official page: https://www.grapevinetexasusa.com/articles/post/2026-writers-reference-guide-to-the-christmas-capital-of-texas/ (checked 2026-10-26)

## Turkey trots with kids’ races

- **Dallas YMCA Turkey Trot** at Dallas City Hall Plaza, Downtown Dallas. When: Thu, Nov 26, 2026. 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. 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. Official page: https://ymcadallas.org/general-information-faqs (checked 2026-10-26)
- **Irving Turkey Trot** at The Plaza at Toyota Music Factory, 340 W. Las Colinas Blvd., Irving, TX 75039. When: Thu, Nov 26, 2026. 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. Packet pickup is Wednesday, Nov 25, 11am–7pm at the Plaza. Parking is right next door. Official page: https://runsignup.com/Race/TX/Irving/IrvingTurkeyTrot (checked 2026-10-30)

## More on Thanksgiving Day

- **Prairie Lights** at Lynn Creek Park at Joe Pool Lake, 5610 Lake Ridge Pkwy, Grand Prairie, TX 75052. When: Nightly Nov 26–Dec 31, 2026. Time: Opens 6pm; line closes 10pm or at capacity. Price: $50 per car. 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. Official page: https://prairielights.org/hours-pricing/ (checked 2026-10-26)

## Friday, the day after Thanksgiving

- **Home for the Holidays in Downtown McKinney** at Historic Downtown McKinney square, 111 N. Tennessee St., McKinney, TX 75069. When: Fri–Sun, Nov 27–29, 2026. Time: Fri–Sat 10:30am–9pm; Sun noon–5pm; tree lighting Fri 6:15pm. Price: Free; some rides cost extra. 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. Official page: https://downtownmckinney.com/events/home-for-the-holidays (checked 2026-10-26)

## Saturday and Sunday

- **Frostival at Howell Family Farms** at Howell Family Farms, 4016 W. Division St., Arlington, TX 76012. When: 24 nights, Nov 28 – Dec 27, 2026. 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. 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. Official page: https://frostivaltexas.com/ (checked 2026-10-30)

## Open or closed on Thanksgiving Day and Black Friday

- **Fort Worth Zoo**: Thursday: Open Thanksgiving Day noon–4pm (some dining, shops and attractions closed). Friday: Open 10 a.m.–4 p.m. Source: https://www.fortworthzoo.org/plan-a-visit (checked 2026-10-26)
- **Perot Museum of Nature and Science**: Thursday: Closed Thanksgiving Day. Friday: Open 10 a.m.–5 p.m. Source: https://www.perotmuseum.org/visit/hours/ (checked 2026-10-26)
- **Dallas Arboretum**: Thursday: Holiday at Night open Thanksgiving evening 5–10pm ($15 Holiday Cheer tickets). Friday: not posted. Source: https://www.dallasarboretum.org/events-activities/holiday-at-the-arboretum/ (checked 2026-10-26)
- **Dallas Zoo**: Thursday: Open 364 days a year; closed only Dec 25. Friday: Open (usual hours). Source: https://www.dallaszoo.com/general-information/ (checked 2026-10-26)

## Thanksgiving events that come back every year

- [Dallas YMCA Turkey Trot](https://littlesweekly.com/dallas-fort-worth/events/dallas-ymca-turkey-trot-city-hall-plaza/): next dates Nov 26, 2026
- [Home for the Holidays in Downtown McKinney](https://littlesweekly.com/dallas-fort-worth/events/home-for-the-holidays-in-downtown-mckinney-historic-square/): next dates Nov 27–29, 2026

## 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 Dallas–Fort Worth?
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.

### Are there turkey trots with kids’ races in Dallas–Fort Worth?
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.

### What can we do with kids in Dallas–Fort Worth on Thanksgiving Day?
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.

### What’s open on Thanksgiving Day in Dallas–Fort Worth with kids?
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.

### Is the Fort Worth Zoo open on Thanksgiving?
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](https://www.fortworthzoo.org/plan-a-visit) that morning.

### Is the Perot Museum of Nature and Science open on Thanksgiving?
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](https://www.perotmuseum.org/visit/hours/) that morning.

### Is the Dallas Zoo open on Thanksgiving?
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](https://www.dallaszoo.com/general-information/) that morning.

### What can we do with kids the day after Thanksgiving in Dallas–Fort Worth?
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.

### What can we do with kids Thanksgiving week in Dallas–Fort Worth?
Monday to Wednesday (Nov. 23–25): Carol of Lights. The full list for that week goes up Monday, Nov. 23.

### What can we do with little kids on Black Friday weekend in Dallas–Fort Worth?
Prairie Lights, Frostival at Howell Family Farms and Home for the Holidays in Downtown McKinney. Dates and times are on each card.

### What’s free on Thanksgiving weekend in Dallas–Fort Worth?
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](https://littlesweekly.com/dallas-fort-worth/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 30, 2026, and we recheck them every Thursday through Thanksgiving week. [How we choose and check](https://littlesweekly.com/how-we-choose/).