Thanksgiving weekend activities for families around Dallas–Fort Worth (2026)
Checked · Covers Nov 25 – Nov 29 · All times are local Central Time
We list 11 family events around Dallas–Fort Worth for Nov 25 – Nov 29, 1 free. Each listing links to the organizer's own page.
Thanksgiving week events
Holiday at the Arboretum
- When
- Wed, Nov 25 – Sun, Nov 29 (Daily Nov 11–Jan 3; admission varies by date (exact price shown when you pick a date)) · Daytime 9am–4pm; Holiday at Night 5–10pm
- Cost
- Ticketed; prices vary by day and time (see site)
- Ages
- All ages · Outdoor
Holiday displays across the garden, including the final season of the 12 Days of Christmas gazebos. Evening Holiday at Night sessions run 5–10pm.
✓ Checked Oct 25, 2026 on the organizer's official page
Dallas Zoo Lights
- When
- Wed, Nov 25 – Sun, Nov 29 (Select nights Nov 13–Jan 3; closed Dec 24–25) · 5:30–9pm
- Cost
- Tickets from $19; parking $15
- Ages
- All ages · Outdoor
Walk-through holiday light and lantern displays at the Main Entrance, ZooNorth and the zoo tunnel. A combo ticket ($10 more) adds daytime zoo entry from 2:30pm.
✓ Checked Oct 25, 2026 on the organizer's official page
Christmas in the Garden at Fort Worth Botanic Garden
- When
- Wed, Nov 25 – Sun, Nov 29 (Evenings Nov 20–Jan 3; Santa visits nightly through Dec 24) · Timed entry every 15 minutes, 5:30–9pm
- Cost
- Timed-entry tickets required
- Ages
- All ages · Outdoor
Evening holiday light installations across the garden, including the Winter Cathedral and a glowing bluebonnet field, plus Santa's Village with photos every night through Christmas Eve.
✓ Checked Oct 25, 2026 on the organizer's official page
Fort Worth YMCA Turkey Trot (1K Gobbler Trot for kids)
- When
- Thu, Nov 26 · 1K Gobbler Trot 7:45am; 5K and 8K 8:30am
- Cost
- Registration required
- Ages
- All ages · Outdoor
Thanksgiving morning 5K, 8K and a 1K Gobbler Trot for kids downtown. Strollers and dogs are welcome; the first 1,000 Gobbler Trot kids get a finisher award.
✓ Checked Oct 25, 2026 on the organizer's official page
SCHEELS North Texas Turkey Trot (Miracle Mile fun run)
- When
- Thu, Nov 26 · Miracle Mile 7:55am; 5K and 10K 8:15am
- Cost
- Registration required; Miracle Mile $27.50 through Nov 5, then $30 (Tots/Toddlers/Strollers entry for newborns to age 5)
- Ages
- All ages · Outdoor
Frisco’s Thanksgiving morning run in Frisco Square with a 1-mile Miracle Mile fun run for kids and first-timers alongside the 5K and 10K. In-person packet pickup is required before the race; proceeds benefit the Miracle League of Frisco.
✓ Checked Oct 26, 2026 on the organizer's official page
Arlington Turkey Trot (5K & 1-Mile Fun Run)
- When
- Thu, Nov 26 · 1-mile fun run/walk 8am; 5K 8:30am
- Cost
- $30 registration (2026 listing)
- Ages
- All ages · Outdoor
Family Thanksgiving morning 5K and 1-mile fun run/walk at Choctaw Stadium, benefiting the Miracle League of Arlington. It sold out in 2025, so register early.
✓ Checked Oct 25, 2026 on the organizer's official page
Dallas YMCA Turkey Trot
- When
- Thu, Nov 26 · Timed start 8:30am; untimed start 8:30 or 9am; Diaper Dash 8:30–11am
- Cost
- Registration required; Tots/Toddlers/Strollers $15 (prices rise closer to race day)
- Ages
- All ages · Outdoor
Thanksgiving-morning 5K and 8-mile run/walk downtown, with youth entries for ages 7–12, a tots/strollers entry for newborns to age 6 and a Diaper Dash crawl for babies.
✓ Checked Oct 25, 2026 on the organizer's official page
Plano Turkey Trot 5K & Kids 100M Dash
- When
- Thu, Nov 26 · Kids Dash 8:45am; 5K 9am
- Cost
- Kids 100M Dash $0 (ages 8 and under, register); 5K kids division $12.99; 5K $49.99
- Ages
- All ages · Outdoor
Thanksgiving morning 5K run/walk in Oak Point Park, with a donut for every finisher. Kids 8 and under can run the 100-meter dash (every finisher gets a ribbon), and an untimed kids' 5K division is open to ages 11 and under.
✓ Checked Oct 25, 2026 on the organizer's official page
Irving Turkey Trot (with Tot Trot)
- When
- Thu, Nov 26 · 8-mile 9am; 5K 9:15am; kids Tot Trot
- Cost
- Registration required
- Ages
- All ages · Outdoor
Thanksgiving morning 5K and 8-mile around the Las Colinas Urban Center, plus a Tot Trot for kids. Parking is next door.
✓ Checked Oct 25, 2026 on the organizer's official page
Santa's North Pole Express (Grapevine Vintage Railroad)
- When
- Fri, Nov 27 – Sun, Nov 29 (Select dates Nov 27–Dec 30; no Grapevine trips Dec 3, 24 or 25) · Boarding times vary by date (see site)
- Cost
- Sold by the bench (2 seats): $90, $96 or $100 depending on day and time; buy online
- Ages
- All ages · Indoor
Holiday train ride to the North Pole with Santa. Arrive at least an hour early for parking; Main Street is closed to traffic during the season.
✓ Checked Oct 25, 2026 on the organizer's official page
Home for the Holidays, A McKinney Christmas
- When
- Fri, Nov 27 – Sun, Nov 29 (Nov 27–29) · Fri–Sat 10:30am–9pm, Sun noon–5pm
- Cost
- Free admission, no ticket; select rides and attractions cost extra
- Ages
- All ages · Outdoor
Thanksgiving-weekend holiday festival on the downtown square with the community tree lighting Friday at 6:15pm.
✓ Checked Oct 25, 2026 on the organizer's official page
Frequently asked questions
What can families do around Dallas–Fort Worth over Thanksgiving weekend?
We list 11 family events for Nov 25 – Nov 29, 1 free, including Holiday at the Arboretum (Dallas, Nov 25 – Nov 29), Dallas Zoo Lights (Dallas, Nov 25 – Nov 29) and Christmas in the Garden at Fort Worth Botanic Garden (Fort Worth, Nov 25 – Nov 29). See all 11 above.
Which Thanksgiving weekend events near Dallas–Fort Worth are free?
1 event on our list is free: Home for the Holidays, A McKinney Christmas (McKinney, Nov 27 – Nov 29).
Which Thanksgiving weekend events near Dallas–Fort Worth need tickets or registration?
7 events on our list say on the official page that they need advance tickets, timed entry or registration: Christmas in the Garden at Fort Worth Botanic Garden (Fort Worth) and Fort Worth YMCA Turkey Trot (1K Gobbler Trot for kids, Fort Worth). See all 7 above. Book through each official page.
Which Dallas–Fort Worth-area cities have Thanksgiving weekend events?
We list Thanksgiving weekend events in 8 cities, including Dallas (3), Fort Worth (2), Frisco (1), Arlington (1) and Plano (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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