# Thanksgiving weekend with kids in Virginia Beach–Norfolk, 2026 > We haven’t found a 2026 Thanksgiving parade in Virginia Beach–Norfolk, but Town Center Grand Illumination is Saturday, Nov 28. In all we found three Thanksgiving-weekend outings in and around Virginia Beach–Norfolk: one turkey trot with a kids’ race and two Black Friday weekend picks, and one is free. We also list two places and whether they’re open on Thanksgiving Day. - Last checked: 2026-10-28 - 3 listings with dates; 0 not posted or announced yet - Canonical page: https://littlesweekly.com/virginia-beach-norfolk/thanksgiving/ - Free things to do (Markdown): https://littlesweekly.com/virginia-beach-norfolk/free/index.md - This week (Markdown): https://littlesweekly.com/virginia-beach-norfolk/index.md - City index for agents: https://littlesweekly.com/virginia-beach-norfolk/llms.txt ## Turkey trots with kids’ races - **Tidewater Striders Turkey Trot** at Mt. Trashmore YMCA, 4441 South Blvd., Virginia Beach, VA 23452. When: Thu, Nov 26, 2026. Time: Toddler Turkey Trot (50 yards) 8am; 1 mile 8:15am; 10K 9am. Price: Toddler trot free; mile $20 and 10K $45 at current prices (runners 22 and under save $8). The 49th running. The free 50-yard Toddler Turkey Trot goes off first, at 8am. Official page: https://runsignup.com/Race/VA/VirginiaBeach/40thAnnualTurkeyTrot10KMile (checked 2026-10-28) ## More on Thanksgiving Day - **Deck the Hall at Chesapeake City Hall** at Chesapeake City Hall, 306 Cedar Road, Chesapeake, VA 23322. When: Nov 26, 2026 – Jan 2, 2027. Time: 5–9pm nightly. Price: No price listed on the city’s page. Light display opening this weekend. A drive-through light display of holiday scenes, seen from your car. Official page: https://cityofchesapeake.net/809/Deck-the-Hall-Fa-La-La-Land (checked 2026-10-28) ## Saturday and Sunday - **Town Center Grand Illumination** at Town Center Fountain Plaza, Town Center, Virginia Beach, VA 23462. When: Sat, Nov 28, 2026. Time: 5–6pm. Price: Free. Light display opening this weekend. Santa and Mrs. Claus arrive for the tree lighting, and elves hand out free hot chocolate while it lasts. From 6pm and through December, families can visit Santa in a life-size snow globe. Parking in Town Center is always free. Official page: https://www.cbda.net/events/town-center-grand-illumination-2026/ (checked 2026-10-28) ## Open or closed on Thanksgiving Day and Black Friday - **Virginia Aquarium**: Thursday: Closed on Thanksgiving. Friday: not posted. Source: https://virginiaaquarium.com/faq (checked 2026-10-28) - **Dominion Energy Garden of Lights**: Thursday: Open on Thanksgiving night. Friday: not posted. Source: https://norfolkbotanicalgarden.org/dominion-energy-garden-lights/ (checked 2026-10-28) ## Thanksgiving events that come back every year - [Tidewater Striders Turkey Trot](https://littlesweekly.com/virginia-beach-norfolk/events/tidewater-striders-turkey-trot-mt-trashmore-ymca/): 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 Virginia Beach–Norfolk? We haven’t found 2026 details for a Thanksgiving parade in Virginia Beach–Norfolk yet. We check again every Thursday and add it as soon as the organizer posts it. ### Are there turkey trots with kids’ races in Virginia Beach–Norfolk? Tidewater Striders Turkey Trot: Thu, Nov 26, 2026. ### What can we do with kids in Virginia Beach–Norfolk on Thanksgiving Day? On Thanksgiving Day (Thu, Nov 26, 2026) our list has Tidewater Striders Turkey Trot. Times, prices and the official links are on each card. ### What’s open on Thanksgiving Day in Virginia Beach–Norfolk with kids? Open on Thanksgiving: Dominion Energy Garden of Lights. Closed on Thanksgiving: Virginia Aquarium. Check the venue page the morning of, since holiday hours can change. ### Is the Virginia Aquarium open on Thanksgiving? No. Its hours page lists it as closed on Thanksgiving. Holiday hours can change, so check [the hours page](https://virginiaaquarium.com/faq) that morning. ### Is the Dominion Energy Garden of Lights open on Thanksgiving? Yes. Its hours page lists it as open on Thanksgiving night. Holiday hours can change, so check [the hours page](https://norfolkbotanicalgarden.org/dominion-energy-garden-lights/) that morning. ### When is the tree lighting in Virginia Beach–Norfolk Thanksgiving weekend? Town Center Grand Illumination: Sat, Nov 28, 2026, 5–6pm, Town Center, Virginia Beach, VA 23462. Times come from each organizer’s page. ### What can we do with little kids on Black Friday weekend in Virginia Beach–Norfolk? Deck the Hall at Chesapeake City Hall and Town Center Grand Illumination. Dates and times are on each card. ### What’s free on Thanksgiving weekend in Virginia Beach–Norfolk? Town Center Grand Illumination is free to watch or attend. More free ideas are on [free things to do in Hampton Roads](https://littlesweekly.com/virginia-beach-norfolk/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 28, 2026, and we recheck them every Thursday through Thanksgiving week. [How we choose and check](https://littlesweekly.com/how-we-choose/).