Nov26Thu
Manchester Road Race
Manchester · Manchester, CT
- Time
- 10am
- Price
- $37 through Oct 31; $40 from Nov 1
With littles: The 90th running of the 4.737-mile Thanksgiving race. Registration for the Little Manchester Road Race opens Nov 1.
Thanksgiving 2026Hartford and New Haven · The Insurance Capital
Thanksgiving weekend in Hartford and New Haven, with little ones.
There’s no Thanksgiving Day parade on our Hartford and New Haven list, but Branford Holiday Tree Lighting and Parade is Saturday, Nov 28 at Parade starts at 6:30pm. In all we found five Thanksgiving-weekend outings in and around Hartford and New Haven: three turkey trots with kids’ races and two Black Friday weekend picks, and one is free.
The quick answersChecked
Is there a parade?No 2026 parade posted yet. We check weekly.Not yetTurkey trot with a kids’ race?Manchester Road Race · 10am (+2 more)3 racesWhat’s open Thursday?We haven’t checked holiday hours here yet.Not yetAnything free this weekend?Branford Holiday Tree Lighting and Parade · Parade starts at 6:30pm1 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
Saturday
Nov 28
Sunday
Nov 29
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.
The Thanksgiving week list goes up Monday, Nov. 23.
Email me when it’s postedIt comes from the same weekly check as the Hartford this-week page.
Thursday morning
Thanksgiving parade in Hartford and New Haven
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
Webster Hill Turkey Trot
Webster Hill School · 125 Webster Hill Boulevard, West Hartford, CT 06107
- Time
- 8–10am
- Price
- Under 5 free; ages 5–13 $16.90; 14+ $27.50 (incl. fees)
For kids: Untimed 5K where strollers are welcome; every kid gets a finisher medal, under-5s too
Nov26Thu
Branford Thanksgiving 5K Kids Fun Run
Walsh Intermediate School · 185 Damascus Road, Branford, CT 06405
- Time
- Kids Fun Run 9am
- Price
- Not listed
For kids: Kids Fun Run; every runner gets a finisher ribbon
With littles: Kids activities and music at the pre- and post-race party.
Thanksgiving Day and Black Friday
Open or closed Thursday and 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.
We haven’t checked Thanksgiving hours here yet.
Know a place that’s open?Museums, zoos and play places post holiday hours in November. We add them as soon as they do.
Friday, Nov. 27
The day after Thanksgiving
Tree lightings, parades, light-display openings and Santa arrivals on Black Friday.
Nov27to Jan 2
Magic of Lights East Hartford
Pratt & Whitney Stadium at Rentschler Field · 615 Silver Lane, East Hartford, CT 06118
- Time
- 5–9 p.m. (Fri–Sat to 10 p.m. from Dec 18)
- Price
- Per car; November-only tickets $18.99 online
With littles: Light display opening this weekend. Drive-through LED scenes, with a reindeer rest stop.
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.
Nov28Sat
Branford Holiday Tree Lighting and Parade
Branford (route not listed) · Branford
- Time
- Parade starts at 6:30pm
- Price
- Free to attend
With littles: Floats and marchers, with Santa, Mrs. Claus and Rudolph closing out the parade. The tree lighting is the same night; if it rains, the tree lighting moves to Sunday, Nov 29.
More to come.Tree lightings and holiday openings often post closer to the holiday. We add them every Thursday.Get the Thursday emailKeep planning
More for little kids in Hartford
November: things to do in HartfordEvery dated listing for the month, by weekDecember: things to do in HartfordEvery dated listing for the month, by week
Free things to do in HartfordFree days, free events and places that never charge
Indoor play in HartfordIndoor playgrounds, toddler times, museums and classes, with prices
Library storytimes in HartfordBaby, toddler and preschool storytimes by day and branch
Ice skating in HartfordHoliday and indoor rinks, skate aids and prices
Noon Year’s Eve in HartfordKid-friendly countdowns, home by napChristmas parades in HartfordParades and tree lightings with dates and start times
Christmas trains in HartfordPolar Express, Santa and lights trains with datesThe Nutcracker in HartfordBallet and touring shows, sensory-friendly flagged
Christmas markets in HartfordChristkindlmarkts and winter wonderlands with hours
Christmas break in HartfordWhat’s open on Dec 24, Dec 25 and Jan 1This week in HartfordDated outings for ages 0–6, checked every Thursday
Good questions
Thanksgiving in Hartford and New Haven: the FAQ
We haven’t found 2026 details for a Thanksgiving parade in Hartford and New Haven yet. We check again every Thursday and add it as soon as the organizer posts it.
Manchester Road Race: Thu, Nov 26, 2026. Webster Hill Turkey Trot: Thu, Nov 26, 2026. Untimed 5K where strollers are welcome; every kid gets a finisher medal, under-5s too. Branford Thanksgiving 5K Kids Fun Run: Thu, Nov 26, 2026. Kids Fun Run; every runner gets a finisher ribbon.
On Thanksgiving Day (Thu, Nov 26, 2026) our list has Manchester Road Race, Webster Hill Turkey Trot and Branford Thanksgiving 5K Kids Fun Run. Times, prices and the official links are on each card.
On Friday, Nov. 27: Magic of Lights East Hartford. Times and prices are on each card.
Branford Holiday Tree Lighting and Parade: Sat, Nov 28, 2026, Parade starts at 6:30pm, Branford. Times come from each organizer’s page.
Magic of Lights East Hartford and Branford Holiday Tree Lighting and Parade. Dates and times are on each card.
Branford Holiday Tree Lighting and Parade is free to watch or attend. More free ideas are on free things to do in Hartford.
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 29, 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 Hartford that weekend, Thanksgiving week included.
