We haven’t found a 2026 Thanksgiving parade in Denver, but McGregor Square Holiday Tree Lighting is Friday, Nov 27. In all we found six Thanksgiving-weekend outings in and around Denver: one turkey trot with a kids’ race and five Black Friday weekend picks, and three are free. We also list four places and whether they’re open on Thanksgiving Day.
Thursday to Sunday
Everything below, laid out by day. Tap any outing to jump to its details.
Monday to Wednesday, Nov. 23–25
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.
Denver Zoo · 2300 Steele St., Denver, CO 80205
With littles: Light display opening. Tickets on sale Nov 5. Closed Thanksgiving and Christmas.
Need something today?This week’s full list for Denver has every checked outing by day.This week in Denver
Thursday morning
Start time, route and what to know with a stroller, from the organizer’s page.
We check the organizers every week. The 6 outings below are confirmed on their official pages.
Run it off
Kids’ races, family walks and stroller rules, from each race’s own page. Kids’ turkey trots in other cities.
Washington Park (start at South High School) · Washington Park
With littles: A 4-mile Thanksgiving morning race with a 1-mile kids’ fun run.
Thanksgiving Day
Other things to do with little kids on Thanksgiving Day itself.
Schweiger Ranch · 10822 S. Havana St., Lone Tree, CO 80134
With littles: Light display opening this weekend. View the lit historic ranch buildings from your car in the parking lot or along Havana Street.
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
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.
Friday, Nov. 27
Tree lightings, parades, light-display openings and Santa arrivals on Black Friday.
Main Street, Downtown Littleton · Littleton
With littles: Free. Santa lights the trees, then a drone show.
Denver Botanic Gardens · Denver
With littles: Free admission the day after Thanksgiving; register ahead.
McGregor Square · 1901 Wazee St., Denver, CO 80202
With littles: Light display opening this weekend. Photos with Dinger in a Santa suit 2–4pm; Elf on the big screen after the game.
Saturday and Sunday
Parades, lightings, light displays and other easy outings Saturday and Sunday.
Tree lightings and holiday openings often post closer to the holiday. We recheck every Thursday.
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 Denver
Keep planning
November: things to do in DenverEvery dated listing for the month, by weekDecember: things to do in DenverEvery dated listing for the month, by week
Free things to do in DenverFree days, free events and places that never charge
Free museum days in DenverFree days, Museums on Us and EBT discounts, with who gets in
Indoor play in DenverIndoor playgrounds, toddler times, museums and classes, with prices
Library storytimes in DenverBaby, toddler and preschool storytimes by day and branch
Ice skating in DenverHoliday and indoor rinks, skate aids and prices
Noon Year’s Eve in DenverKid-friendly countdowns, home by napChristmas parades in DenverParades and tree lightings with dates and start timesChristmas trains in DenverPolar Express, Santa and lights trains with datesThe Nutcracker in DenverBallet and touring shows, sensory-friendly flagged
Christmas markets in DenverChristkindlmarkts and winter wonderlands with hours
Christmas break in DenverWhat’s open on Dec 24, Dec 25 and Jan 1This week in DenverDated outings for ages 0–6, checked every ThursdayGood questions
We haven’t found 2026 details for a Thanksgiving parade in Denver yet. We check again every Thursday and add it as soon as the organizer posts it.
Mile High United Way Turkey Trot: Thu, Nov 26, 2026.
On Thanksgiving Day (Thu, Nov 26, 2026) our list has Mile High United Way Turkey Trot. Times, prices and the official links are on each card.
Closed on Thanksgiving: Denver Zoo, Butterfly Pavilion, Denver Art Museum and Children’s Museum of Denver at Marsico Campus. 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.
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: Candlelight Walk in Downtown Littleton, Denver Botanic Gardens free day, McGregor Square Holiday Tree Lighting and Parker Mayor's Holiday Lighting. Times and prices are on each card.
McGregor Square Holiday Tree Lighting: Fri, Nov 27, 2026, 1–8pm (tree lit at halftime of the 1pm Broncos game), 1901 Wazee St., Denver, CO 80202. Parker Mayor's Holiday Lighting: Fri, Nov 27, 2026, 5–7pm; lighting at 6pm, Parker. Times come from each organizer’s page.
Monday to Wednesday (Nov. 23–25): Zoo Lights. The full list for that week goes up Monday, Nov. 23.
Candlelight Walk in Downtown Littleton, Denver Botanic Gardens free day, McGregor Square Holiday Tree Lighting, Schweiger Ranch Holiday Display of Lights and Parker Mayor's Holiday Lighting. Dates and times are on each card.
McGregor Square Holiday Tree Lighting, Schweiger Ranch Holiday Display of Lights and Parker Mayor's Holiday Lighting are free to watch or attend. More free ideas are on free things to do in Denver.
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 26, 2026, and we recheck them every Thursday through Thanksgiving week. How we choose and check.
One short email every Thursday evening: the best things to do with little kids in Denver that weekend, Thanksgiving week included.
Mile High United Way Turkey Trot