# Thanksgiving weekend with kids in Providence, 2026 > 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. - Last checked: 2026-10-28 - 7 listings with dates; 0 not posted or announced yet - Canonical page: https://littlesweekly.com/providence/thanksgiving/ - Free things to do (Markdown): https://littlesweekly.com/providence/free/index.md - This week (Markdown): https://littlesweekly.com/providence/index.md - City index for agents: https://littlesweekly.com/providence/llms.txt ## Turkey trots with kids’ races - **Rhode Island Family Turkey Trot 5K and Kids Race** at Pawtucket, Pawtucket, RI 02860. When: Thu, Nov 26, 2026. Time: Kids race 9am; 5K 10am. Price: 5K $34; kids race (12 and under) $17; prices rise after Oct 31. A Thanksgiving morning 5K with a separate kids race. Check the race page for the start location. Official page: https://runsignup.com/Race/Info/RI/Pawtucket/RhodeIslandFamilyTurkeyTrot (checked 2026-10-28) ## Friday, the day after Thanksgiving - **Holiday Lights Spectacular at Roger Williams Park Zoo** at Roger Williams Park Zoo, 1000 Elmwood Avenue, Providence, RI 02907. When: Nov 27, 2026 – Jan 3, 2027. Time: 5–9:30pm. Price: $13–$15; buy online ahead. 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. Official page: https://www.rwpzoo.org/event/holiday-lights-spectacular/ (checked 2026-10-28) - **Rhode Island Lights Festival** at Centreville Bank Stadium, Pawtucket, RI. When: Nov 27, 2026 – Jan 3, 2027. Time: See the ticket page. Price: Tickets on sale Nov 10. Light display opening this weekend. A new light festival at the Pawtucket stadium, with a holiday market and Santa. Official page: https://centrevillebankstadium.com/pages/rhodeislandlights (checked 2026-10-28) - **Coastal Queen’s Meet & Greet with Santa Cruise** at Coastal Queen, Bowen’s Wharf, Bowen’s Wharf, Newport, RI. When: Fri Nov 27 at 1pm; Sat Dec 12, Sat Dec 19 and Sun Dec 20 at 11am. Time: 1-hour cruise. Price: Not listed; book on the Cruise RI site. 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. Official page: https://cruiseri.com/cruises-tours/event-cruises/ (checked 2026-10-29) - **Santa at Emerald Square** at Emerald Square, 999 South Washington St, North Attleboro, MA 02760. When: From Nov 27, 2026. Time: During mall hours; reserve a photo time online or walk up. Price: Photo packages priced at the booking site. Santa visits opening this weekend. Reserving a time online skips most of the line. Walk-ups are welcome when slots are open. Official page: https://whereissanta.com/mall/1360 (checked 2026-10-30) - **Track 15 Tree Lighting** at Track 15, Downtown. When: Fri, Nov 27, 2026. Time: 4–7pm. Price: Free to attend. Carolers from VoX – Voices of Christmas sing in the food hall, and there’s hot cocoa at the bar before the tree goes on. Official page: https://www.downtownparks.org/events/tree-lighting/ (checked 2026-10-29) ## Saturday and Sunday - **Christmas on the Hill** at Atwells Avenue, Federal Hill, Federal Hill. When: Sat, Nov 28, 2026. Time: 2–6pm; tree lighting at 5pm. Price: Free to attend. 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. Official page: https://federalhillprov.com/festivals/christmas-on-the-hill/ (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 Providence? 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. ### Are there turkey trots with kids’ races in Providence? Rhode Island Family Turkey Trot 5K and Kids Race: Thu, Nov 26, 2026. ### What can we do with kids in Providence on Thanksgiving Day? 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. ### What can we do with kids the day after Thanksgiving in Providence? 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. ### When is the tree lighting in Providence Thanksgiving weekend? 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. ### What can we do with little kids on Black Friday weekend in Providence? 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. ### What’s free on Thanksgiving weekend in Providence? 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](https://littlesweekly.com/providence/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 28, 2026, and we recheck them every Thursday through Thanksgiving week. [How we choose and check](https://littlesweekly.com/how-we-choose/).