# Thanksgiving weekend with kids in San Diego, 2026 > 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. - Last checked: 2026-10-26 - 5 listings with dates; 0 not posted or announced yet - Canonical page: https://littlesweekly.com/san-diego/thanksgiving/ - Free things to do (Markdown): https://littlesweekly.com/san-diego/free/index.md - This week (Markdown): https://littlesweekly.com/san-diego/index.md - City index for agents: https://littlesweekly.com/san-diego/llms.txt ## Turkey trots with kids’ races - **Father Joe’s Villages Run for Hope 5K** at Balboa Park, start at Cabrillo Bridge, Balboa Park. When: Thu, Nov 26, 2026. Time: 7:15am start; festival at Plaza de Panama 8–10am. Price: Fun run $57.08, ages 6–12 $38.72, 5 and under free (prices rise after Nov 15). The festival on the Plaza de Panama runs after the race. Official page: https://runsignup.com/Race/CA/SanDiego/FJV5K (checked 2026-10-26) - **North County Turkey Trot Kids 1K** at 4S Ranch Sports Park, 16118 4S Ranch Pkwy, San Diego, CA 92127, 4S Ranch. When: Thu, Nov 26, 2026. Time: Kids 1K 8:45am. Price: Kids 1K $27.50. A short kids’ race at the 4S Ranch Sports Park. Official page: https://runsignup.com/Race/CA/SanDiego/NCTT (checked 2026-10-26) ## Friday, the day after Thanksgiving - **Liberty Station Holiday Tree Lighting** at Liberty Station, North Promenade and Vesper Venue, 2640 Historic Decatur Rd, San Diego, CA 92106. When: Nov 27, 2026. Time: 5–9pm. Price: Free. Light display opening this weekend. The 88-foot Norfolk pine lights up, with live entertainment, firetruck rides and a showing of The Grinch. Official page: https://libertystation.com/events/salute-the-season/holiday-tree-lighting (checked 2026-10-26) - **Santa at Otay Ranch Town Center** at Otay Ranch Town Center, 2015 Birch Road, Chula Vista, CA 91915. 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/1197 (checked 2026-10-30) - **Santa at Mission Valley** at Mission Valley, 1640 Camino Del Rio N #351, San Diego, CA 92108. 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/0794 (checked 2026-10-30) ## Open or closed on Thanksgiving Day and Black Friday - **Skating by the Sea at Hotel del Coronado**: Thursday: Open Thanksgiving week 10am–10pm. Friday: not posted. Source: https://www.hoteldel.com/events/skating-by-the-sea/ (checked 2026-10-26) - **SeaWorld Christmas Celebration**: Thursday: Runs daily Nov 13 – Jan 3. Friday: not posted. Source: https://seaworld.com/san-diego/events/christmas/ (checked 2026-10-26) ## Thanksgiving events that come back every year - [Father Joe’s Villages Run for Hope 5K](https://littlesweekly.com/san-diego/events/father-joes-villages-run-for-hope-5k-balboa-park/): next dates Nov 26, 2026 - [North County Turkey Trot Kids 1K](https://littlesweekly.com/san-diego/events/north-county-turkey-trot-kids-1k-4s-ranch-sports-park/): next dates Nov 26, 2026 ## 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 San Diego? 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. ### Are there turkey trots with kids’ races in San Diego? Father Joe’s Villages Run for Hope 5K: Thu, Nov 26, 2026. North County Turkey Trot Kids 1K: Thu, Nov 26, 2026. ### What can we do with kids in San Diego on Thanksgiving Day? 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. ### What’s open on Thanksgiving Day in San Diego with kids? Open on Thanksgiving: Skating by the Sea at Hotel del Coronado. Check the venue page the morning of, since holiday hours can change. ### What can we do with kids the day after Thanksgiving in San Diego? 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. ### When is the tree lighting in San Diego Thanksgiving weekend? 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. ### What can we do with little kids on Black Friday weekend in San Diego? Liberty Station Holiday Tree Lighting, Santa at Otay Ranch Town Center and Santa at Mission Valley. Dates and times are on each card. ### What’s free on Thanksgiving weekend in San Diego? Liberty Station Holiday Tree Lighting is free to watch or attend. More free ideas are on [free things to do in San Diego](https://littlesweekly.com/san-diego/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 26, 2026, and we recheck them every Thursday through Thanksgiving week. [How we choose and check](https://littlesweekly.com/how-we-choose/).