We haven’t found a 2026 Thanksgiving parade in San Diego, but Liberty Station Holiday Tree Lighting is Friday, Nov 27. In all we found five Thanksgiving-weekend outings in and around San Diego: two turkey trots with kids’ races and three Black Friday weekend picks, and one is free. We also list two 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.
Nothing posted yet
Nothing posted yet
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 San Diego 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 5 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.
Balboa Park, start at Cabrillo Bridge · Balboa Park
With littles: The festival on the Plaza de Panama runs after the race.
4S Ranch Sports Park, 16118 4S Ranch Pkwy, San Diego, CA 92127 · 4S Ranch
With littles: A short kids’ race at the 4S Ranch Sports Park.
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.
Liberty Station, North Promenade and Vesper Venue · 2640 Historic Decatur Rd, San Diego, CA 92106
With littles: Light display opening this weekend. The 88-foot Norfolk pine lights up, with live entertainment, firetruck rides and a showing of The Grinch.
Otay Ranch Town Center · 2015 Birch Road, Chula Vista, CA 91915
With littles: Santa visits opening this weekend. Reserving a time online skips most of the line. Walk-ups are welcome when slots are open.
Mission Valley · 1640 Camino Del Rio N #351, San Diego, CA 92108
With littles: Santa visits opening this weekend. Reserving a time online skips most of the line. Walk-ups are welcome when slots are open.
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.
Tree lightings and holiday openings often post closer to the holiday. We recheck every Thursday.
Every 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 San Diego
Keep planning
November: things to do in San DiegoEvery dated listing for the month, by weekDecember: things to do in San DiegoEvery dated listing for the month, by week
Free things to do in San DiegoFree days, free events and places that never charge
Free museum days in San DiegoFree days, Museums on Us and EBT discounts, with who gets in
Indoor play in San DiegoIndoor playgrounds, toddler times, museums and classes, with prices
Library storytimes in San DiegoBaby, toddler and preschool storytimes by day and branch
Ice skating in San DiegoHoliday and indoor rinks, skate aids and prices
Noon Year’s Eve in San DiegoKid-friendly countdowns, home by napChristmas parades in San DiegoParades and tree lightings with dates and start timesChristmas trains in San DiegoPolar Express, Santa and lights trains with datesThe Nutcracker in San DiegoBallet and touring shows, sensory-friendly flagged
Christmas markets in San DiegoChristkindlmarkts and winter wonderlands with hours
Christmas break in San DiegoWhat’s open on Dec 24, Dec 25 and Jan 1This week in San DiegoDated outings for ages 0–6, checked every Thursday
Good questions
We haven’t found 2026 details for a Thanksgiving parade in San Diego yet. We check again every Thursday and add it as soon as the organizer posts it.
Father Joe’s Villages Run for Hope 5K: Thu, Nov 26, 2026. North County Turkey Trot Kids 1K: Thu, Nov 26, 2026.
On Thanksgiving Day (Thu, Nov 26, 2026) our list has Father Joe’s Villages Run for Hope 5K and North County Turkey Trot Kids 1K. Times, prices and the official links are on each card.
Open on Thanksgiving: Skating by the Sea at Hotel del Coronado. Check the venue page the morning of, since holiday hours can change.
On Friday, Nov. 27: Liberty Station Holiday Tree Lighting, Santa at Otay Ranch Town Center and Santa at Mission Valley. Times and prices are on each card.
Liberty Station Holiday Tree Lighting: Nov 27, 2026, 5–9pm, 2640 Historic Decatur Rd, San Diego, CA 92106. Times come from each organizer’s page.
Liberty Station Holiday Tree Lighting, Santa at Otay Ranch Town Center and Santa at Mission Valley. Dates and times are on each card.
Liberty Station Holiday Tree Lighting is free to watch or attend. More free ideas are on free things to do in San Diego.
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 26, 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 San Diego that weekend, Thanksgiving week included.
Father Joe’s Villages Run for Hope 5K