# Thanksgiving weekend with kids in Des Moines, 2026

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

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

## Turkey trots with kids’ races

- **The Des Moines Turkey Trot**, Downtown Des Moines. When: Thu, Nov 26, 2026. Price: See the registration page. For kids: Tot Trot for little ones, with a knit hat, bib and medal. 5K, 5-mile and Tot Trot, downtown on Thanksgiving morning. Official page: https://www.desmoinesturkeytrot.com/ (checked 2026-10-18)

## Black Friday weekend with little kids

- **Pajamas + Pancakes with Santa** at Des Moines Heritage Center, 120 E 5th St, Des Moines, IA 50309. When: Sun Nov 29, 2026. Time: 9 a.m.–1 p.m., open-house style. Price: Family tickets $80 (2) to $180 (7); with professional Santa photos $180–$280; babies under 1 free. Santa visits opening this weekend. Organizer: DSM Motherhood Collective (first year). Breakfast, crafts, tots music class; photo families get a reserved time. Come any time 9–1, which suits nap schedules. Official page: https://checkout.eventcreate.com/pajamas-and-pancakes-with-s-809407/select-buy (checked 2026-10-18)

## Open or closed on Thanksgiving Day

- **Science Center of Iowa**: Closed Thanksgiving Day. Source: https://www.sciowa.org/holidays (checked 2026-10-18)
- **Des Moines Public Library**: Closed Thanksgiving Day. Source: https://www.dmpl.org/locations-hours (checked 2026-10-18)
- **Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden**: Closed Thanksgiving Day. Source: https://dmbotanicalgarden.com/tickets-and-hours/ (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 Des Moines?
We haven’t found 2026 details for a Thanksgiving parade in Des Moines yet. We check again every Thursday and add it as soon as the organizer posts it.

### Are there turkey trots with kids’ races in Des Moines?
The Des Moines Turkey Trot: Thu, Nov 26, 2026. Tot Trot for little ones, with a knit hat, bib and medal.

### What’s open on Thanksgiving Day in Des Moines with kids?
Closed on Thanksgiving: Science Center of Iowa, Des Moines Public Library and Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden. Check the venue page the morning of, since holiday hours can change.

### What can we do with little kids on Black Friday weekend in Des Moines?
Pajamas + Pancakes with Santa. Dates and times are on each card.

### 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/).