Thanksgiving weekend activities for families around Raleigh–Durham (2026)
Checked · Covers Nov 25 – Nov 29 · All times are local Eastern Time
We list 3 family events around Raleigh–Durham for Nov 25 – Nov 29. Each listing links to the organizer's own page.
Thanksgiving week events
TROSA Turkey Trot 5K
- When
- Thu, Nov 26
- Hours
- 8am start
- Cost
- Registration fee (see site)
- Age
- All ages
- Setting
- Outdoor
Durham’s Thanksgiving-morning 5K starting and finishing at TROSA’s campus. Strollers are allowed (aim to finish within an hour). Park in nearby lots or on the street; don’t drive to the campus.
✓ Dates checked Nov 8, 2026
Booking with venue required
Raleigh Turkey Trot 8K & Kids Dash
- When
- Thu, Nov 26
- Hours
- 8K 8:30am; Kids Dash about 9:35am
- Cost
- 8K $37 Nov 1–17, $40 from Nov 18; Kids Dash (7 and under) $7
- Age
- All ages
- Setting
- Outdoor
A Thanksgiving-morning 8K run/walk with a Kids Dash for ages 7 and under (a few hundred feet in the shopping-center lot, with medals) after the 8K finishes. Strollers OK at the back. Park at Meredith College (Faircloth Rd entrance).
✓ Dates checked Oct 26, 2026
Fieldstream Farm Drive-Thru Christmas Light Show New · Just listed
- When
- Fri, Nov 27 – Thu, Dec 31
- Schedule
- Nightly
- Hours
- Mon–Thu 6:30–9:30pm; Fri 6:30–10pm; Sat–Sun 5:30–10pm
- Cost
- Drive-thru admission (see Fieldstream Farm site for current ticket price)
- Age
- All ages
- Setting
- Outdoor
About a 1-mile drive-through Christmas light show with more than 3 million lights, including a long LED tunnel, opening the Friday after Thanksgiving.
✓ Dates checked Nov 9, 2026
Frequently asked questions
What can families do around Raleigh–Durham over Thanksgiving weekend?
We list 3 family events for Nov 25 – Nov 29, including TROSA Turkey Trot 5K (Durham, Thu, Nov 26), Raleigh Turkey Trot 8K & Kids Dash (Raleigh, Thu, Nov 26) and Fieldstream Farm Drive-Thru Christmas Light Show (Raleigh, Nov 27 – Dec 31).
Which Thanksgiving weekend events near Raleigh–Durham need tickets or registration?
1 event on our list says on the official page that it needs advance tickets, timed entry or registration: TROSA Turkey Trot 5K (Durham). Book through each official page.
Which Raleigh–Durham-area cities have Thanksgiving weekend events?
We list Thanksgiving weekend events in 2 cities, including Raleigh (2) and Durham (1).
Our weekend search covers Phoenix Metro & Arizona for now, and more areas are coming soon. This guide is hand-checked the same way.
How we build this page: each event comes from the organizer's official website and shows the date we checked it. An event is called free only when its official page says so. Read how we verify listings.
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