There’s no Thanksgiving Day parade on our Honolulu list, but Waikīkī Holiday Parade is Friday, Nov 27 at Evening. In all we found seven Thanksgiving-weekend outings in and around Honolulu: one turkey trot with a kids’ race and six Black Friday weekend picks, and five are free. We also list one place and whether it’s open on Thanksgiving Day.
Wednesday night 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.
It comes from the same weekly check as the Honolulu this-week page.
Wednesday night
Parades and lightings the night before Thanksgiving, from each organizer’s page.
Royal Hawaiian Center, The Royal Grove · 2201 Kalakaua Ave, Honolulu, HI 96815
With littles: Light display opening this weekend. A storybook holiday show leads to Aloha Santa lighting the 34-foot tree, then keiki hula and free photos with Aloha Santa (one print per family; line may close before 7 p.m.).
Royal Hawaiian Center, The Royal Grove · 2201 Kalākaua Ave., Honolulu, HI 96815
With littles: Santa visits opening this weekend. Santa sits in the Royal Grove in Waikīkī two nights a week, with a holiday show first and peppermint cookies from Honolulu Cookie Company for the kids.
Thursday morning
Start time, route and what to know with a stroller, from the organizer’s page.
We check the organizers every week. The 7 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.
Kapiʻolani Park, Honolulu Marathon finish line · 2686 Kalākaua Ave., Honolulu, HI 96815
For kids: Kids 5 and under ride free in a stroller on the 1.8-mile and 3.6-mile courses with a registered adult.
With littles: The 1.8-mile route is one lap of Kapiʻolani Park. Late registration closes Nov 25 at 5pm, and there is no race-day sign-up.
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.
International Market Place, Mauka Court (Level 1, near the escalators) · 2330 Kalakaua Avenue, Honolulu, HI 96815
With littles: Santa visits opening this weekend. Walk-ups welcome daily; booking a 15-minute slot online is encouraged (a few families share each slot).
Kalākaua Avenue · Waikīkī
With littles: Held the Friday after Thanksgiving to honor Pearl Harbor survivors and veterans, with local and mainland marching bands and military units down torch-lit Kalākaua Avenue.
Saturday and Sunday
Parades, lightings, light displays and other easy outings Saturday and Sunday.
Kapolei Hale · 1000 Uluohia St., Kapolei, HI 96707
With littles: Light display opening this weekend. A 50-foot tree outside Kapolei Hale and community-decorated trees inside, with a paniolo theme this year. Bring a picnic mat for the courtyard entertainment.
Streets around Kapolei Hale · Kapolei
With littles: Local vendors, a holiday car show and live music, then a parade of floats and decorated vehicles. The parade usually starts at 5:30pm at Kapolei High School with the Royal Hawaiian Band, but the city hasn't confirmed this year's time.
Keep planning
November: things to do in HonoluluEvery dated listing for the month, by weekDecember: things to do in HonoluluEvery dated listing for the month, by week
Free things to do in HonoluluFree days, free events and places that never charge
Indoor play in HonoluluIndoor playgrounds, toddler times, museums and classes, with prices
Library storytimes in HonoluluBaby, toddler and preschool storytimes by day and branchChristmas parades in HonoluluParades and tree lightings with dates and start times
The Nutcracker in HonoluluBallet and touring shows, sensory-friendly flagged
Christmas markets in HonoluluChristkindlmarkts and winter wonderlands with hoursThis week in HonoluluDated outings for ages 0–6, checked every Thursday
Good questions
We haven’t found 2026 details for a Thanksgiving parade in Honolulu yet. We check again every Thursday and add it as soon as the organizer posts it.
Honolulu Marathon Clinic Turkey Trot: Thu, Nov 26, 2026. Kids 5 and under ride free in a stroller on the 1.8-mile and 3.6-mile courses with a registered adult.
On Thanksgiving Day (Thu, Nov 26, 2026) our list has Honolulu Marathon Clinic Turkey Trot. Times, prices and the official links are on each card.
Open on Thanksgiving: Honolulu Zoo. Check the venue page the morning of, since holiday hours can change.
Yes. Its hours page lists it as open daily except Christmas Day; entry 10am–3pm. Holiday hours can change, so check the hours page that morning.
On Friday, Nov. 27: Santa Photos at International Market Place and Waikīkī Holiday Parade. Times and prices are on each card.
Royal Hawaiian Center Tree Lighting: Wed Nov 25, 2026, 5–7:30 p.m., 2201 Kalakaua Ave, Honolulu, HI 96815. Times come from each organizer’s page.
Kapolei City Lights, Royal Hawaiian Center Tree Lighting, Free photos with Santa at Royal Hawaiian Center, Santa Photos at International Market Place and Waikīkī Holiday Parade and 1 more. Dates and times are on each card.
Kapolei City Lights, Royal Hawaiian Center Tree Lighting, Free photos with Santa at Royal Hawaiian Center, Waikīkī Holiday Parade and Kapolei Opening Night Block Party and Parade are free to watch or attend. More free ideas are on free things to do in Honolulu.
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.
One short email every Thursday evening: the best things to do with little kids in Honolulu that weekend, Thanksgiving week included.
