We haven’t found a 2026 Thanksgiving parade in Providence, but Track 15 Tree Lighting is Friday, Nov 27. In all we found seven Thanksgiving-weekend outings in and around Providence: one turkey trot with a kids’ race and six Black Friday weekend picks, and two are free.
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 Providence 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 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.
Pawtucket · Pawtucket, RI 02860
With littles: A Thanksgiving morning 5K with a separate kids race. Check the race page for the start location.
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.
Museums, zoos and play places post holiday hours in November. We add them as soon as they do.
Friday, Nov. 27
Tree lightings, parades, light-display openings and Santa arrivals on Black Friday.
Roger Williams Park Zoo · 1000 Elmwood Avenue, Providence, RI 02907
With littles: Light display opening this weekend. A walk through 40 acres of lights. It takes about an hour to an hour and a half. Strollers are allowed, and rentals are at the entrance.
Centreville Bank Stadium · Pawtucket, RI
With littles: Light display opening this weekend. A new light festival at the Pawtucket stadium, with a holiday market and Santa.
Coastal Queen, Bowen’s Wharf · Bowen’s Wharf, Newport, RI
With littles: Santa visits opening this weekend. Santa rides along on a decorated boat around the harbor, with holiday music, photos and hot cocoa at the onboard bar. The main salon is enclosed and heated.
Emerald Square · 999 South Washington St, North Attleboro, MA 02760
With littles: Santa visits opening this weekend. Reserving a time online skips most of the line. Walk-ups are welcome when slots are open.
Track 15 · Downtown
With littles: Carolers from VoX – Voices of Christmas sing in the food hall, and there’s hot cocoa at the bar before the tree goes on.
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.
Atwells Avenue, Federal Hill · Federal Hill
With littles: Dance and music performances, free trolley rides through the decorated streets, and Providence’s first Christmas tree lighting of the season. A second afternoon on Dec 5 (2–6pm) adds Dickens carolers and lights on the neighborhood’s landmark buildings.
More to come.Tree lightings and holiday openings often post closer to the holiday. We add them every Thursday.Get the Thursday emailKeep planning
November: things to do in ProvidenceEvery dated listing for the month, by weekDecember: things to do in ProvidenceEvery dated listing for the month, by week
Free things to do in ProvidenceFree days, free events and places that never charge
Indoor play in ProvidenceIndoor playgrounds, toddler times, museums and classes, with prices
Library storytimes in ProvidenceBaby, toddler and preschool storytimes by day and branch
Ice skating in ProvidenceHoliday and indoor rinks, skate aids and prices
Noon Year’s Eve in ProvidenceKid-friendly countdowns, home by napChristmas parades in ProvidenceParades and tree lightings with dates and start times
Christmas trains in ProvidencePolar Express, Santa and lights trains with datesThe Nutcracker in ProvidenceBallet and touring shows, sensory-friendly flagged
Christmas markets in ProvidenceChristkindlmarkts and winter wonderlands with hours
Christmas break in ProvidenceWhat’s open on Dec 24, Dec 25 and Jan 1Birthday party places in ProvidenceStarting prices, ages and what’s includedThis week in ProvidenceDated outings for ages 0–6, checked every Thursday
Good questions
We haven’t found 2026 details for a Thanksgiving parade in Providence yet. We check again every Thursday and add it as soon as the organizer posts it.
Rhode Island Family Turkey Trot 5K and Kids Race: Thu, Nov 26, 2026.
On Thanksgiving Day (Thu, Nov 26, 2026) our list has Rhode Island Family Turkey Trot 5K and Kids Race. Times, prices and the official links are on each card.
On Friday, Nov. 27: Holiday Lights Spectacular at Roger Williams Park Zoo, Rhode Island Lights Festival, Coastal Queen’s Meet & Greet with Santa Cruise and Santa at Emerald Square and 1 more. Times and prices are on each card.
Track 15 Tree Lighting: Fri, Nov 27, 2026, 4–7pm, Downtown. Christmas on the Hill: Sat, Nov 28, 2026, 2–6pm; tree lighting at 5pm, Federal Hill. Times come from each organizer’s page.
Holiday Lights Spectacular at Roger Williams Park Zoo, Rhode Island Lights Festival, Coastal Queen’s Meet & Greet with Santa Cruise, Santa at Emerald Square and Track 15 Tree Lighting and 1 more. Dates and times are on each card.
Track 15 Tree Lighting and Christmas on the Hill are free to watch or attend. More free ideas are on free things to do in Providence.
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 Providence that weekend, Thanksgiving week included.
