There’s no Thanksgiving Day parade on our Syracuse list, but Baldwinsville Parade of Lights is Saturday, Nov 28 at 5:30pm. In all we found six Thanksgiving-weekend outings in and around Syracuse: two turkey trots with kids’ races and four Black Friday weekend picks, and three are free. We also list one place and whether it’s open on Thanksgiving Day.
Thursday to Sunday
Everything below, laid out by day. Tap any outing to jump to its details.
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 Syracuse 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 6 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.
Liverpool Village · Liverpool
For kids: The kids' run is about 0.6 miles. Registration is online only.
With littles: The dog walk starts at 8:30 a.m. if you want to bring the family dog along.
Fayetteville-Manlius High School, 8199 E. Seneca Tpke. · Manlius
For kids: The 800m kids' run is on the high school track.
With littles: There's no chip timing, so it's relaxed. Race-day check-in opens at 9 a.m. by the stadium.
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.
Erie Canal Museum · 318 Erie Blvd. E., Syracuse, NY 13202
With littles: Vote for your favorite gingerbread build on Black Friday, then walk over to Clinton Square for the tree lighting.
Clinton Square · Downtown Syracuse
With littles: The city's annual tree lighting. The Erie Canal Museum's Gingerbread Gallery opening runs 4-6pm the same evening, a short walk away.
Saturday and Sunday
Parades, lightings, light displays and other easy outings Saturday and Sunday.
Starts at Smokey Hollow Plaza · Baldwinsville, about 15 miles northwest
With littles: After-party at the Baldwinsville Library with Santa and the community band.
Genesee St., from Fulton St. west to the Cayuga County Courthouse · Auburn, about 25 miles west
Keep planning
November: things to do in SyracuseEvery dated listing for the month, by weekDecember: things to do in SyracuseEvery dated listing for the month, by week
Free things to do in SyracuseFree days, free events and places that never charge
Ice skating in SyracuseHoliday and indoor rinks, skate aids and pricesChristmas parades in SyracuseParades and tree lightings with dates and start times
Christmas trains in SyracusePolar Express, Santa and lights trains with datesThe Nutcracker in SyracuseBallet and touring shows, sensory-friendly flaggedThis week in SyracuseDated outings for ages 0–6, checked every Thursday
Good questions
We haven’t found 2026 details for a Thanksgiving parade in Syracuse yet. We check again every Thursday and add it as soon as the organizer posts it.
Liverpool Turkey Trot: Kids' Fast Feet Run: Thu, Nov 26, 2026. The kids' run is about 0.6 miles. Registration is online only. F-M Turkey Trot kids' 800m fun run: Thu, Nov 26, 2026. The 800m kids' run is on the high school track.
On Thanksgiving Day (Thu, Nov 26, 2026) our list has Liverpool Turkey Trot: Kids' Fast Feet Run and F-M Turkey Trot kids' 800m fun run. Times, prices and the official links are on each card.
Closed on Thanksgiving: Rosamond Gifford Zoo. 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: Gingerbread Gallery Grand Opening at the Erie Canal Museum and Syracuse Tree Lighting in Clinton Square. Times and prices are on each card.
Syracuse Tree Lighting in Clinton Square: Fri, Nov 27, 2026, Downtown Syracuse. Auburn Holiday Parade and Tree Lighting: Sat, Nov 28, 2026, Parade 4pm; tree lighting 5pm at the State Street Event Plaza, Auburn, about 25 miles west. Times come from each organizer’s page.
Gingerbread Gallery Grand Opening at the Erie Canal Museum, Syracuse Tree Lighting in Clinton Square, Baldwinsville Parade of Lights and Auburn Holiday Parade and Tree Lighting. Dates and times are on each card.
Syracuse Tree Lighting in Clinton Square, Baldwinsville Parade of Lights and Auburn Holiday Parade and Tree Lighting are free to watch or attend. More free ideas are on free things to do in Syracuse.
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 30, 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 Syracuse that weekend, Thanksgiving week included.
