# Thanksgiving weekend with kids in Hartford and New Haven, 2026 > 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. - Last checked: 2026-10-29 - 5 listings with dates; 0 not posted or announced yet - Canonical page: https://littlesweekly.com/hartford-new-haven/thanksgiving/ - Free things to do (Markdown): https://littlesweekly.com/hartford-new-haven/free/index.md - This week (Markdown): https://littlesweekly.com/hartford-new-haven/index.md - City index for agents: https://littlesweekly.com/hartford-new-haven/llms.txt ## Turkey trots with kids’ races - **Manchester Road Race** at Manchester, Manchester, CT. When: Thu, Nov 26, 2026. Time: 10am. Price: $37 through Oct 31; $40 from Nov 1. The 90th running of the 4.737-mile Thanksgiving race. Registration for the Little Manchester Road Race opens Nov 1. Official page: https://www.manchesterroadrace.com/ (checked 2026-10-28) - **Webster Hill Turkey Trot** at Webster Hill School, 125 Webster Hill Boulevard, West Hartford, CT 06107. When: Thu, Nov 26, 2026. 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. Official page: https://runsignup.com/Race/CT/WestHartford/WebsterHillPTOTurkeyTrot2021 (checked 2026-10-29) - **Branford Thanksgiving 5K Kids Fun Run** at Walsh Intermediate School, 185 Damascus Road, Branford, CT 06405. When: Thu, Nov 26, 2026. Time: Kids Fun Run 9am. For kids: Kids Fun Run; every runner gets a finisher ribbon. Kids activities and music at the pre- and post-race party. Official page: https://www.jbsports.com/thanksgiving5k (checked 2026-10-29) ## Friday, the day after Thanksgiving - **Magic of Lights East Hartford** at Pratt & Whitney Stadium at Rentschler Field, 615 Silver Lane, East Hartford, CT 06118. When: Nov 27, 2026 – Jan 2, 2027. Time: 5–9 p.m. (Fri–Sat to 10 p.m. from Dec 18). Price: Per car; November-only tickets $18.99 online. Light display opening this weekend. Drive-through LED scenes, with a reindeer rest stop. Official page: https://magicoflights.com/locations/easthartford/ (checked 2026-10-29) ## Saturday and Sunday - **Branford Holiday Tree Lighting and Parade** at Branford (route not listed), Branford. When: Sat, Nov 28, 2026. Time: Parade starts at 6:30pm. Price: Free to attend. 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. Official page: https://branfordct.myrec.com/info/activities/program_details.aspx?ProgramID=30148 (checked 2026-10-29) ## 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 Hartford and New Haven? 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. ### Are there turkey trots with kids’ races in Hartford and New Haven? 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. ### What can we do with kids in Hartford and New Haven on Thanksgiving Day? 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. ### What can we do with kids the day after Thanksgiving in Hartford and New Haven? On Friday, Nov. 27: Magic of Lights East Hartford. Times and prices are on each card. ### When is the tree lighting in Hartford and New Haven Thanksgiving weekend? Branford Holiday Tree Lighting and Parade: Sat, Nov 28, 2026, Parade starts at 6:30pm, Branford. Times come from each organizer’s page. ### What can we do with little kids on Black Friday weekend in Hartford and New Haven? Magic of Lights East Hartford and Branford Holiday Tree Lighting and Parade. Dates and times are on each card. ### What’s free on Thanksgiving weekend in Hartford and New Haven? Branford Holiday Tree Lighting and Parade is free to watch or attend. More free ideas are on [free things to do in Hartford](https://littlesweekly.com/hartford-new-haven/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 29, 2026, and we recheck them every Thursday through Thanksgiving week. [How we choose and check](https://littlesweekly.com/how-we-choose/).