Nov21Sat
Ameren Thanks-For-Giving Parade
Downtown St. Louis · Downtown
- Time
- 2 p.m.
- Price
- Not listed
With littles: The 42nd parade is the Saturday before Thanksgiving, with floats, drumlines, marching bands and Santa.
Thanksgiving 2026St. Louis · The Gateway City
Thanksgiving weekend in St. Louis, with little ones.
The big one for little kids is Ameren Thanks-For-Giving Parade (Sat 2 p.m.). In all we found five Thanksgiving-weekend outings in and around St. Louis: one parade, two turkey trots with kids’ races and two Black Friday weekend picks, and one is free. We also list two places and whether they’re open on Thanksgiving Day.
The quick answersChecked
Is there a parade?Ameren Thanks-For-Giving Parade · 2 p.m.1 paradeTurkey trot with a kids’ race?St. Louis Turkey Trot · Kids Dash 7:45 a.m. (+1 more)2 racesWhat’s open on Thursday?Open: Saint Louis Zoo.1 of 2 openAnything free this weekend?Ameren Thanks-For-Giving Parade · 2 p.m.1 free
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
Thursday morning
Thanksgiving parade in St. Louis
Start time, route and what to know with a stroller, from the organizer’s page.
Run it off
Turkey trots with kids’ races
Kids’ races, family walks and stroller rules, from each race’s own page.
Nov26Thu
St. Louis Turkey Trot
Forest Park · Forest Park
- Time
- Kids Dash 7:45 a.m.; 5K and 8K 8 a.m.
- Price
- See the registration page
For kids: Kids Dash with a finisher award for every child
Nov26Thu
Turkey Trot STL | St. Charles
The Family Arena · St. Charles
- Time
- 5K 8 a.m.; ½-mile Kids Run about 9:15 a.m.
- Price
- 5K $25–$38 depending on when you sign up; Kids Run free
For kids: Free half-mile Kids Run
Thanksgiving Day
Open or closed on Thursday
Holiday hours from each place’s own page. Worth a quick check that morning.
PlaceThursdayNoteChecked
Friday to Sunday
Black Friday weekend with little kids
Tree lightings, light-display openings, farm days and other easy outings Friday through Sunday.
Nov27to Dec 30
Wild Lights
Saint Louis Zoo · St. Louis, MO
- Time
- 5–8:30 p.m. (last entry 8)
- Price
- $19; members $16; under 2 free; on sale late October
With littles: Light display opening this weekend. S'mores, Santa, 4D Rudolph, carousel; expanded onto Historic Hill.
Nov27to Dec 24
Santa Photos at Saint Louis Galleria
Saint Louis Galleria · 1155 Saint Louis Galleria, St. Louis, MO 63117
- Time
- Most days 11 a.m.–7 p.m.; Dec 24 9 a.m.–6 p.m.; hours change by day, full schedule on the booking page
- Price
- See photo packages on the booking page
With littles: Santa visits opening this weekend. Walk-ups welcome; booking a 15-minute slot online is encouraged (a few families share each slot). Pet photo nights on 6 evenings (Nov 30, Dec 1, Dec 7, Dec 8, Dec 14, Dec 15).
Keep planning
More for little kids in STL
Free things to do in STL
Indoor play in STL
Noon Year’s Eve in STL
This week in STL
Good questions
Thanksgiving in St. Louis: the FAQ
Ameren Thanks-For-Giving Parade: Sat, Nov 21, 2026, 2 p.m., Downtown. Times come from each organizer’s own page.
St. Louis Turkey Trot: Thu, Nov 26, 2026. Kids Dash with a finisher award for every child. Turkey Trot STL | St. Charles: Thu, Nov 26, 2026. Free half-mile Kids Run.
Open on Thanksgiving: Saint Louis Zoo (9 a.m.–2 p.m.). Closed on Thanksgiving: Saint Louis Art Museum. Check the venue page the morning of, since holiday hours can change.
Wild Lights and Santa Photos at Saint Louis Galleria. Dates and times are on each card.
Ameren Thanks-For-Giving Parade is free to watch or attend. More free ideas are on free things to do in STL.
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 18, 2026, and we recheck them every Thursday through Thanksgiving week. How we choose and check.
Littles Weekly
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Holiday weekends, planned by Friday.
One short email every Friday morning: the best things to do with little kids in STL that weekend, Thanksgiving week included.
