Nov25to Jan 3
Bright Nights at Forest Park
Forest Park, Springfield
- Time
- Evenings
- Price
- $30 per car plus a $2 fee; $20 from Dec 28
With littles: Light display opening this weekend. Tickets have to be bought online ahead of time.
Thanksgiving 2026Worcester · The Heart of the Commonwealth
Thanksgiving weekend in Worcester, with little ones.
We haven’t found a 2026 Thanksgiving parade in Worcester with posted details yet. In all we found six Thanksgiving-weekend outings in and around Worcester: one turkey trot with a kids’ race and five Black Friday weekend picks. Each listing has the time, price and a link to the official page.
The quick answersChecked
Is there a parade?No 2026 parade posted yet. We check weekly.Not yetTurkey trot with a kids’ race?Turkey Trot for the Memory · 8am1 raceWhat’s open Thursday?We haven’t checked holiday hours here yet.Not yetAnything free this weekend?Nothing free posted for the weekend yet.Not yet
Wednesday night to Sunday
The weekend at a glance.
Everything below, laid out by day. Tap any outing to jump to its details.
Wednesday
Nov 25 · Thanksgiving Eve
Friday
Nov 27
Saturday
Nov 28
Sunday
Nov 29
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 Worcester this-week page.
Wednesday night
Thanksgiving Eve in Worcester
Parades and lightings the night before Thanksgiving, from each organizer’s page.
More to come.Tree lightings and holiday openings often post closer to the holiday. We add them every Thursday.Get the Thursday emailThursday morning
Thanksgiving parade in Worcester
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 6 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.
Nov26Thu
Turkey Trot for the Memory
Shrewsbury Common · Shrewsbury Common, Shrewsbury, MA
- Time
- 8am
- Price
- Kids 10 and under free; see the race page for other prices
For kids: A 2-mile family fun run and walk alongside the timed 5-mile race.
With littles: Register online before Nov 24.
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.
We haven’t checked Thanksgiving hours here yet.
Know a place that’s open?Museums, zoos and play places post holiday hours in November. We add them as soon as they do.
Friday, Nov. 27
The day after Thanksgiving
Tree lightings, parades, light-display openings and Santa arrivals on Black Friday.
Nov27Fri
Santa photos at Auburn Mall
Auburn Mall · Auburn Mall, Auburn, MA
- Time
- Santa arrives Nov 27 at 2pm; then Mon–Fri 3–7pm, Sat 11am–2pm and 3–7pm
- Price
- Book online or in the mall
With littles: Santa visits opening this weekend. Santa’s arrival is Friday, Nov 27 at 2pm.
Nov27Fri
Santa at The Mall at Whitney Field
The Mall at Whitney Field · 100 Commercial Road, Leominster, MA 01453
- Time
- During mall hours; reserve a photo time online or walk up
- Price
- Photo packages priced at the booking site
With littles: Santa visits opening this weekend. Reserving a time online skips most of the line. Walk-ups are welcome when slots are open.
Nov27Fri
Santa at Natick Mall
Natick Mall · 1245 Worcester Street, Natick, MA 01760
- Time
- During mall hours; reserve a photo time online or walk up
- Price
- Photo packages priced at the booking site
With littles: Santa visits opening this weekend. Reserving a time online skips most of the line. Walk-ups are welcome when slots are open.
Nov27Fri
Santa at Emerald Square
Emerald Square · 999 South Washington St, North Attleboro, MA 02760
- Time
- During mall hours; reserve a photo time online or walk up
- Price
- Photo packages priced at the booking site
With littles: Santa visits opening this weekend. Reserving a time online skips most of the line. Walk-ups are welcome when slots are open.
Saturday and Sunday
Thanksgiving weekend with little kids
Parades, lightings, light displays and other easy outings Saturday and Sunday.
Nothing posted for Saturday or Sunday yet.
Email me when it’s postedTree lightings and holiday openings often post closer to the holiday. We recheck every Thursday.
Keep planning
More for little kids in Worcester
November: things to do in WorcesterEvery dated listing for the month, by weekDecember: things to do in WorcesterEvery dated listing for the month, by week
Free things to do in WorcesterFree days, free events and places that never charge
Library storytimes in WorcesterBaby, toddler and preschool storytimes by day and branch
The Nutcracker in WorcesterBallet and touring shows, sensory-friendly flagged
Christmas markets in WorcesterChristkindlmarkts and winter wonderlands with hoursThis week in WorcesterDated outings for ages 0–6, checked every Thursday
Good questions
Thanksgiving in Worcester: the FAQ
We haven’t found 2026 details for a Thanksgiving parade in Worcester yet. We check again every Thursday and add it as soon as the organizer posts it.
Turkey Trot for the Memory: Thu, Nov 26, 2026. A 2-mile family fun run and walk alongside the timed 5-mile race.
On Thanksgiving Day (Thu, Nov 26, 2026) our list has Turkey Trot for the Memory. Times, prices and the official links are on each card.
On Friday, Nov. 27: Santa photos at Auburn Mall, Santa at The Mall at Whitney Field, Santa at Natick Mall and Santa at Emerald Square. Times and prices are on each card.
Bright Nights at Forest Park, Santa photos at Auburn Mall, Santa at The Mall at Whitney Field, Santa at Natick Mall and Santa at Emerald Square. Dates and times are on each card.
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.
Holiday plans every Thursday.
One short email every Thursday evening: the best things to do with little kids in Worcester that weekend, Thanksgiving week included.
