# Thanksgiving weekend with kids in Denver, 2026

> 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.

- Last checked: 2026-10-26
- 6 listings with dates; 0 not posted or announced yet
- Canonical page: https://littlesweekly.com/denver/thanksgiving/
- Free things to do (Markdown): https://littlesweekly.com/denver/free/index.md
- This week (Markdown): https://littlesweekly.com/denver/index.md
- City index for agents: https://littlesweekly.com/denver/llms.txt

## Thanksgiving week, Monday to Wednesday

- **Zoo Lights** at Denver Zoo, 2300 Steele St., Denver, CO 80205. When: Nov 23 – Jan 3. Time: Sun–Thu 4:30–9pm; Fri–Sat 4:30–10pm. Price: Adults $29.95, youth $22.95 ($25.95/$18.95 on value nights); 2 and under free. Light display opening. Tickets on sale Nov 5. Closed Thanksgiving and Christmas. Official page: https://denverzoo.org/events/zoo-lights/ (checked 2026-10-26)

## Turkey trots with kids’ races

- **Mile High United Way Turkey Trot** at Washington Park (start at South High School), Washington Park. When: Thu, Nov 26, 2026. Time: Waves from 9am; Lil Gobbler 1-mile Fun Run at 10:15am. A 4-mile Thanksgiving morning race with a 1-mile kids’ fun run. Official page: https://unitedwaydenver.org/turkey-trot/ (checked 2026-10-26)

## More on Thanksgiving Day

- **Schweiger Ranch Holiday Display of Lights** at Schweiger Ranch, 10822 S. Havana St., Lone Tree, CO 80134. When: Nightly Nov 26, 2026 – Jan 24, 2027. Time: After dark. Price: Free. Light display opening this weekend. View the lit historic ranch buildings from your car in the parking lot or along Havana Street. Official page: https://schweigerranch.org/event/schweiger-ranch-holiday-display-of-lights-2026/ (checked 2026-10-26)

## Friday, the day after Thanksgiving

- **Candlelight Walk in Downtown Littleton** at Main Street, Downtown Littleton, Littleton. When: Fri, Nov 27, 2026. Time: 5–8pm. Free. Santa lights the trees, then a drone show. Official page: https://visitlittleton.org/events-and-programs/candlelight-walk/ (checked 2026-10-26)
- **Denver Botanic Gardens free day** at Denver Botanic Gardens, Denver. When: Fri, Nov 27, 2026. Free admission the day after Thanksgiving; register ahead. Official page: https://www.botanicgardens.org/events/free-days (checked 2026-10-26)
- **McGregor Square Holiday Tree Lighting** at McGregor Square, 1901 Wazee St., Denver, CO 80202. When: Fri, Nov 27, 2026. Time: 1–8pm (tree lit at halftime of the 1pm Broncos game). Price: Free. Light display opening this weekend. Photos with Dinger in a Santa suit 2–4pm; Elf on the big screen after the game. Official page: https://www.mcgregorsquare.com/event/mcgregor-skate-grand-opening-holiday-tree-lighting/ (checked 2026-10-26)
- **Parker Mayor's Holiday Lighting** at O'Brien Park, Parker. When: Fri, Nov 27, 2026. Time: 5–7pm; lighting at 6pm. Price: Free. Official page: https://www.parkerco.gov/172/Mayors-Holiday-Lighting (checked 2026-10-26)

## Open or closed on Thanksgiving Day and Black Friday

- **Denver Zoo**: Thursday: Closed Thanksgiving Day. Friday: not posted. Source: https://denverzoo.org/hours-admission/ (checked 2026-10-26)
- **Butterfly Pavilion**: Thursday: Closed Thanksgiving Day. Friday: not posted. Source: https://butterflies.org/hours-and-admission/ (checked 2026-10-26)
- **Denver Art Museum**: Thursday: Closed Thanksgiving Day. Friday: not posted. Source: https://www.denverartmuseum.org/en/plan-your-visit (checked 2026-10-26)
- **Children’s Museum of Denver at Marsico Campus**: Thursday: Closed Thanksgiving Day. Friday: not posted. Source: https://www.mychildsmuseum.org/visit (checked 2026-10-26)

## Thanksgiving events that come back every year

- [Mile High United Way Turkey Trot](https://littlesweekly.com/denver/events/mile-high-united-way-turkey-trot-washington-park/): next dates Nov 26, 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 Denver?
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.

### Are there turkey trots with kids’ races in Denver?
Mile High United Way Turkey Trot: Thu, Nov 26, 2026.

### What can we do with kids in Denver on Thanksgiving Day?
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.

### What’s open on Thanksgiving Day in Denver with kids?
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.

### Is the Denver Zoo open on Thanksgiving?
No. Its hours page lists it as closed Thanksgiving Day. Holiday hours can change, so check [the hours page](https://denverzoo.org/hours-admission/) that morning.

### Is the Children’s Museum of Denver at Marsico Campus open on Thanksgiving?
No. Its hours page lists it as closed Thanksgiving Day. Holiday hours can change, so check [the hours page](https://www.mychildsmuseum.org/visit) that morning.

### What can we do with kids the day after Thanksgiving in Denver?
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.

### When is the tree lighting in Denver Thanksgiving weekend?
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.

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

### What can we do with little kids on Black Friday weekend in Denver?
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.

### What’s free on Thanksgiving weekend in Denver?
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](https://littlesweekly.com/denver/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 26, 2026, and we recheck them every Thursday through Thanksgiving week. [How we choose and check](https://littlesweekly.com/how-we-choose/).