We haven’t found a 2026 Thanksgiving parade in Portland, but Tree Lighting at Pioneer Courthouse Square is Friday, Nov 27. In all we found eight Thanksgiving-weekend outings in and around Portland: two turkey trots with kids’ races and six Black Friday weekend picks, and three are free. We also list three places and whether they’re open on Thanksgiving Day.
Thursday 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 Portland this-week page.
Thursday morning
Start time, route and what to know with a stroller, from the organizer’s page.
We check the organizers every week. The 8 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.
Oregon Zoo · 4001 SW Canyon Road, Portland, OR 97221
With littles: A hilly 5K from the zoo to the Rose Garden and back, plus short kids’ runs in Elephant Plaza. Every runner gets a beanie and a chocolate turkey. Zoo food stands are closed.
OMSI · 1945 SE Water Ave., Portland, OR 97214
With littles: A paved course along the Willamette over the Tilikum and Hawthorne bridges, with no street crossings. Strollers are welcome.
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.
The Grotto · 8840 NE Skidmore St., Portland, OR 97220
With littles: Light display opening this weekend. Lights around the sanctuary grounds, an hourly puppet show and free parking. Value nights are Nov 30–Dec 3 and Dec 7–10.
Pioneer Courthouse Square · 701 SW 6th Ave., Portland, OR 97204
With littles: Light display opening this weekend. The 42nd lighting of the square’s tree, with music and a countdown.
Oregon Rail Heritage Center · 2250 SE Water Avenue, Portland, OR 97214
With littles: Santa visits opening this weekend. A steam train ride with Santa aboard. Strollers can’t go on the cars, so plan to carry little ones.
Cedar Hills Crossing · 3205 SW Cedar Hills Blvd, Beaverton, OR 97005
With littles: Santa visits opening this weekend. Reserving a time online skips most of the line. Walk-ups are welcome when slots are open.
Grant Street Pier · Vancouver, WA
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
Parades, lightings, light displays and other easy outings Saturday and Sunday.
McMenamins Kennedy School gym · 5736 NE 33rd Ave., Portland, OR 97211
With littles: Santa visits opening this weekend. Breakfast in the old school gym with a visit from Santa. Each date has its own ticket page on mcmenamins.com.
More to come.Tree lightings and holiday openings often post closer to the holiday. We add them every Thursday.Get the Thursday emailEvery year
Each of these comes back every year. Its page keeps the last confirmed dates, and the new ones go up there once they’re posted. Every year in Portland
Keep planning
November: things to do in PortlandEvery dated listing for the month, by weekDecember: things to do in PortlandEvery dated listing for the month, by week
Free things to do in PortlandFree days, free events and places that never charge
Indoor play in PortlandIndoor playgrounds, toddler times, museums and classes, with prices
Library storytimes in PortlandBaby, toddler and preschool storytimes by day and branch
Ice skating in PortlandHoliday and indoor rinks, skate aids and prices
Noon Year’s Eve in PortlandKid-friendly countdowns, home by napChristmas parades in PortlandParades and tree lightings with dates and start times
Christmas trains in PortlandPolar Express, Santa and lights trains with datesThe Nutcracker in PortlandBallet and touring shows, sensory-friendly flagged
Christmas markets in PortlandChristkindlmarkts and winter wonderlands with hours
Christmas break in PortlandWhat’s open on Dec 24, Dec 25 and Jan 1This week in PortlandDated outings for ages 0–6, checked every Thursday
Good questions
We haven’t found 2026 details for a Thanksgiving parade in Portland yet. We check again every Thursday and add it as soon as the organizer posts it.
Turkey Trot at the Zoo: Thu, Nov 26, 2026. Tofurky Trot: Thu, Nov 26, 2026.
On Thanksgiving Day (Thu, Nov 26, 2026) our list has Turkey Trot at the Zoo and Tofurky Trot. Times, prices and the official links are on each card.
Closed on Thanksgiving: Oregon Zoo, ZooLights and Oregon Rail Heritage Center. Check the venue page the morning of, since holiday hours can change.
No. Its hours page lists it as closed Nov 26. Holiday hours can change, so check the hours page that morning.
On Friday, Nov. 27: Christmas Festival of Lights at The Grotto, Tree Lighting at Pioneer Courthouse Square, Holiday Express at the Oregon Rail Heritage Center and Santa at Cedar Hills Crossing and 1 more. Times and prices are on each card.
Tree Lighting at Pioneer Courthouse Square: Fri, Nov 27, 2026, 5:30–6:45pm, 701 SW 6th Ave., Portland, OR 97204. Vancouver Rotary Tree Lighting with the Christmas Ships: Fri, Nov 27, 2026, 4–5pm (the ships escort Santa to the waterfront), Vancouver, WA. Times come from each organizer’s page.
Christmas Festival of Lights at The Grotto, Tree Lighting at Pioneer Courthouse Square, Breakfast with Santa at Kennedy School, Holiday Express at the Oregon Rail Heritage Center and Santa at Cedar Hills Crossing and 1 more. Dates and times are on each card.
Tofurky Trot, Tree Lighting at Pioneer Courthouse Square and Vancouver Rotary Tree Lighting with the Christmas Ships are free to watch or attend. More free ideas are on free things to do in Portland.
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 28, 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 Portland that weekend, Thanksgiving week included.
Tofurky Trot