Nov26Thu
Magnuson Turkey Trot
Magnuson Park, NE 65th and Sand Point Way · Sand Point
- Time
- Kids Dash 9:15am; 5K, 10K and 15K 9:30am
- Price
- Kids Dash $6, 5K $32 (plus signup fees)
With littles: A 400-meter Kids Dash goes off before the main race.
Thanksgiving 2026Seattle · The Emerald City
Thanksgiving weekend in Seattle, with little ones.
We haven’t found a 2026 Thanksgiving parade in Seattle, but Tree Lighting Celebration at Westlake Park is Friday, Nov 27. In all we found seven Thanksgiving-weekend outings in and around Seattle: one turkey trot with a kids’ race and six Black Friday weekend picks, and five are free. We also list four places and whether they’re open on Thanksgiving Day.
Thursday to Sunday
The weekend at a glance.
Everything below, laid out by day. Tap any outing to jump to its details.
Thursday
Nov 26 · Thanksgiving
Friday
Nov 27
Monday to Wednesday, Nov. 23–25
Thanksgiving week with little kids
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.
The Thanksgiving week list goes up Monday, Nov. 23.
Email me when it’s postedIt comes from the same weekly check as the Seattle this-week page.
Thursday morning
Thanksgiving parade in Seattle
Start time, route and what to know with a stroller, from the organizer’s page.
No 2026 parade posted yet.
Email me when it’s postedWe check the organizers every week. The 7 outings below are confirmed on their official pages.
Run it off
Turkey trots with kids’ races
Kids’ races, family walks and stroller rules, from each race’s own page. Kids’ turkey trots in other cities.
Thanksgiving Day and Black Friday
Open or closed Thursday and 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.
PlaceThursdayFridayNoteChecked
Woodland Park Zoo WildLanternsCheckNot postedWildLanterns closed Thanksgiving night.Hours page ↗ · Oct 26
Friday, Nov. 27
The day after Thanksgiving
Tree lightings, parades, light-display openings and Santa arrivals on Black Friday.
Nov27to Dec 24
Snowflake Lane
Bellevue Way between NE 4th and NE 8th · Bellevue, WA 98004
- Time
- 7pm (about 25 minutes)
- Price
- Free; parking is free in Bellevue Collection garages
With littles: Light display opening this weekend. A free holiday show on Bellevue Way every night at 7. On Friday through Sunday, get there about an hour early.
Nov27to Dec 31
Winterfest Winter Train and Village
Seattle Center Armory · Seattle Center Armory, 305 Harrison St., Seattle, WA 98109
- Time
- 10am–6pm
- Price
- Free; donations accepted
With littles: Light display opening this weekend. A model train and holiday village inside the Armory. Kids can take a turn running the train between 10:30am and 5:30pm.
Nov27to Dec 23
Cookies with Santa on the Christmas Ship
Argosy Cruises Christmas Ship · Departures from Pier 55, Lake Union Park, Shilshole, Kirkland, Renton, Edmonds and more
- Time
- 2pm sailings
- Price
- Cruise ticket; price on the booking page
With littles: Santa visits opening this weekend. Kids on 2pm sailings get cookies with Santa. Every sailing has a choir and Santa reading ’Twas the Night Before Christmas.
Nov27Fri
Tree Lighting Celebration at Westlake Park
Westlake Park · Downtown
- Time
- 11am–6pm; tree lights at 5pm, then fireworks
- Price
- Free
Saturday and Sunday
Thanksgiving weekend with little kids
Parades, lightings, light displays and other easy outings Saturday and Sunday.
Nov28Sat
Nov28Sat
Edmonds Tree Lighting Ceremony
Centennial Plaza · 5th Ave. N & Bell St., Edmonds, WA
- Time
- 3–5 p.m.; Santa arrives for selfies at 4 p.m.; lighting countdown starts 4:30 p.m.
- Price
- Free
With littles: The Edmonds Chamber's Small Business Saturday lighting, with a live band, free warm drinks and kids' crafts run with the Edmonds Historical Museum. The chamber's Santa mailbox opens in mid-November if your kids want to write ahead.
Every year
Thanksgiving events that come back 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 Seattle
Magnuson Turkey TrotKeep planning
More for little kids in Seattle
November: things to do in SeattleEvery dated listing for the month, by weekDecember: things to do in SeattleEvery dated listing for the month, by week
Free things to do in SeattleFree days, free events and places that never charge
Free museum days in SeattleFree days, Museums on Us and EBT discounts, with who gets in
Indoor play in SeattleIndoor playgrounds, toddler times, museums and classes, with prices
Library storytimes in SeattleBaby, toddler and preschool storytimes by day and branch
Ice skating in SeattleHoliday and indoor rinks, skate aids and prices
Noon Year’s Eve in SeattleKid-friendly countdowns, home by napChristmas parades in SeattleParades and tree lightings with dates and start timesChristmas trains in SeattlePolar Express, Santa and lights trains with datesThe Nutcracker in SeattleBallet and touring shows, sensory-friendly flagged
Christmas markets in SeattleChristkindlmarkts and winter wonderlands with hours
Christmas break in SeattleWhat’s open on Dec 24, Dec 25 and Jan 1This week in SeattleDated outings for ages 0–6, checked every Thursday
Good questions
Thanksgiving in Seattle: the FAQ
We haven’t found 2026 details for a Thanksgiving parade in Seattle yet. We check again every Thursday and add it as soon as the organizer posts it.
Magnuson Turkey Trot: Thu, Nov 26, 2026.
On Thanksgiving Day (Thu, Nov 26, 2026) our list has Magnuson Turkey Trot. Times, prices and the official links are on each card.
Closed on Thanksgiving: The Museum of Flight, KidsQuest Children’s Museum and Seattle Christmas Market. Check the venue page the morning of, since holiday hours can change.
No. Its hours page lists it as closed Thanksgiving Day. Holiday hours can change, so check the hours page that morning.
On Friday, Nov. 27: Snowflake Lane, Winterfest Winter Train and Village, Cookies with Santa on the Christmas Ship and Tree Lighting Celebration at Westlake Park. Times and prices are on each card.
Tree Lighting Celebration at Westlake Park: Fri, Nov 27, 2026, 11am–6pm; tree lights at 5pm, then fireworks, Downtown. Magic in the Market: Sat, Nov 28, 2026, See the event page, Downtown. Edmonds Tree Lighting Ceremony: Sat, Nov 28, 2026, 3–5 p.m.; Santa arrives for selfies at 4 p.m.; lighting countdown starts 4:30 p.m., 5th Ave. N & Bell St., Edmonds, WA. Times come from each organizer’s page.
Snowflake Lane, Winterfest Winter Train and Village, Cookies with Santa on the Christmas Ship, Tree Lighting Celebration at Westlake Park and Magic in the Market and 1 more. Dates and times are on each card.
Snowflake Lane, Winterfest Winter Train and Village, Tree Lighting Celebration at Westlake Park, Magic in the Market and Edmonds Tree Lighting Ceremony are free to watch or attend. More free ideas are on free things to do in Seattle.
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.
Holiday plans every Thursday.
One short email every Thursday evening: the best things to do with little kids in Seattle that weekend, Thanksgiving week included.
