# Thanksgiving weekend with kids in Madison, 2026

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

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

## Turkey trots with kids’ races

- **Madison Turkey Trot** at Alliant Energy Center, South side. When: Thu, Nov 26, 2026. Time: Kids Dash 8:15 a.m.; 5K 8:30 a.m. Price: See the registration page. For kids: Kids Dash with a finisher award for every child. Official page: https://wisconsinruns.com/madisonturkeytrot/ (checked 2026-10-18)

## Black Friday weekend with little kids

- **Holiday Light Show (30th year)** at Rotary Botanical Gardens, 1455 Palmer Dr., Janesville, WI 53545. When: Select nights Nov 27, 2026 – Jan 2, 2027 (open New Year's Eve for first time). Time: Doors 4:30 p.m.; last admission 8:30; dark at 9. Price: Adults $18; kids 3–12 $5; 2 and under free (online and door). Light display opening this weekend. Holiday Market Dec 12–23. Official page: https://events.wiscotix.com/e/holiday-light-show-2026 (checked 2026-10-18)
- **PJs & Pancakes with Santa** at The Edgewater Hotel, Grand Ballroom, Madison, WI. When: Sat Nov 28, 2026. Time: 9–11 a.m. Price: Adults $48; 12 and under $32. Santa visits opening this weekend. Matching pajamas encouraged; crafts, cookie decorating, photos with Santa. Official page: https://www.theedgewater.com/events/pjs-pancakes-with-santa-3/ (checked 2026-10-18)

## Open or closed on Thanksgiving Day

- **Henry Vilas Zoo**: Open Thanksgiving Day, Morning only; the zoo closes at noon. Source: https://www.henryvilaszoo.gov/visit/ (checked 2026-10-18)
- **UW–Madison Arboretum Visitor Center**: Closed Thanksgiving Day. Source: https://arboretum.wisc.edu/visit/getting-here/ (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 Madison?
We haven’t found 2026 details for a Thanksgiving parade in Madison yet. We check again every Thursday and add it as soon as the organizer posts it.

### Are there turkey trots with kids’ races in Madison?
Madison Turkey Trot: Thu, Nov 26, 2026. Kids Dash with a finisher award for every child.

### What’s open on Thanksgiving Day in Madison with kids?
Open on Thanksgiving: Henry Vilas Zoo (Morning only; the zoo closes at noon). Closed on Thanksgiving: UW–Madison Arboretum Visitor Center. Check the venue page the morning of, since holiday hours can change.

### What can we do with little kids on Black Friday weekend in Madison?
Holiday Light Show (30th year) and PJs & 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/).