Thanksgiving events for kids in NYC

Prospect Park November Weekend Nature Exploration

Sat–Sun, Nov 7–29, incl. Thanksgiving weekend · 10am–1pm

Prospect Park Audubon Center, Brooklyn

All ages

Drop in on any November weekend, including Thanksgiving weekend, for leaf art, leaf-litter bug hunts and easy citizen-science activities at the boathouse.

Checked Sep 26 · source: prospectpark.org

Riverside Church Turkey Trot & Youth Turkey Dash

Sat, Nov 7 · from 9am

Randall's Island Park, East Harlem

Youth dash from $27.50; 5K from $48.70

Youth dash ages 2–13; 5K all ages with guardian

Little runners get their own turkey dash, a 100-yard sprint for ages 2–5 or a half-mile for ages 6–13, while grown-ups do the 5K.

Checked Sep 28 · source: trcnyc.org

Native American Fall Festival at Garvies Point Museum

Sat–Sun, Nov 14–15 · 10am–4pm

Garvies Point Museum & Preserve, 50 Barry Dr, Glen Cove, NY

$15 adults, $8 kids 5–12, $10 seniors 62+; under 5 free

All ages

Kids grind corn, try a fire bow, shape clay pots and hear Montaukett stories at this two-day Long Island heritage festival with campfire cooking demos.

Checked Nov 3 · source: garviespointmuseum.com

NSRF Manhattan Turkey Trot & Free Kiddie Dash

Sun, Nov 15 · Kiddie Dash 9:30am, 5K 10am

Randall's Island Field #10

Kiddie Dash free; 5K from $38.98

All ages

An early turkey trot on Randall's Island where kids can run a free dash before parents set off on the 5K loop.

Checked Sep 26 · source: events.elitefeats.com

1863 Thanksgiving Day Celebration at Old Bethpage Village

Sat–Sun, Nov 21–22 · 10am–4pm (last entry 2:15pm)

Old Bethpage Village Restoration, Old Bethpage, Long Island (about 1 hr drive)

$15 adults, $12 kids 5–12, free 4 and under

All ages

Step into a Civil War-era Thanksgiving with hearth cooking demos, period customs and costumed reenactors across a whole 19th-century village.

Checked Sep 26 · source: ffobvr.ticketspice.com

Hearth & Harvest Festival at Historic Richmond Town

Sat, Nov 21 · 11am–4pm

Historic Richmond Town, 441 Clarke Ave, Richmondtown

All ages

Watch Indigenous dance and storytelling, try crafts, and see 18th- and 19th-century dishes cooked over open hearths in the village kitchens.

• Strollers: some areas
• Restrooms

Checked Sep 26 · source: historicrichmondtown.org

Stamford Giant Balloon Inflation Party

Sat, Nov 21 · 3–6pm

Hoyt St at Summer St, Stamford, CT (about 1 hr drive)

All ages

The night before Stamford's parade, see giant character balloons get inflated up close, with live music, performers and a Santa visit.

Checked Sep 26 · source: stamford-downtown.com

Hoboken Turkey Trot & 1-Mile Fun Run

Sat, Nov 21 · 1-mile fun run 9am, 5K 10am

Pier A Park, Hoboken, NJ

Fun run $20 (rises after Oct 18); 5K from $35

All ages

A one-mile family fun run kicks off before the 5K along Hoboken's Hudson waterfront, with big Manhattan skyline views.

Checked Oct 4 · source: runsignup.com

Head for the Hilltop Kids' Fun Run

Sun, Nov 22 · Kids' Fun Run 9am, 5K trail run 9:30am

Hilltop Hanover Farm, Yorktown Heights, Westchester (about 1 hr drive)

Kids' run $10; 5K $40 (early-bird prices through Sept 30)

Kids' run ages 6 and under; 5K ages 7+

Preschoolers race through a working farm's fields while older kids and parents run a scenic 5K trail loop past crops and hills.

Checked Sep 26 · source: runsignup.com

Stamford Downtown Parade Spectacular

Sun, Nov 22 · 12–2pm

Downtown Stamford, CT (about 1 hr drive)

All ages

A smaller, easier-to-see alternative to Macy's, with giant helium balloons, marching bands and dance troupes filling downtown streets the Sunday before Thanksgiving.

Checked Sep 26 · source: stamford-downtown.com

Trudy Dunbar Memorial Turkey Trot & Kids' Gobbler Trot

Sun, Nov 22 · kids' 1-mile 9:30am, 5K 10am

Pierson Park, 240 W Main St, Tarrytown, NY (about 45 minutes' drive)

$27.50 kids' mile; $32.80 5K (early rate through Oct 31)

Kids' mile ages 7–9; 5K ages 10+

A Hudson riverside race in Tarrytown where young runners tackle a one-mile Gobbler Trot before the grown-ups set off on the 5K.

Checked Sep 29 · source: runsignup.com

Stone Barns Thanksgiving Market

Sun, Nov 22 · 10am–2pm (members early entry 9:30am)

Stone Barns Center, Pocantico Hills, NY (day trip, about 45 minutes north)

All ages

Families wander the Pocantico Hills farm while stocking up on its own vegetables, meat and flowers plus crafts from regional vendors.

Checked Oct 4 · source: stonebarnscenter.org

Long Beach Turkey Trot & Kids' Fun Run

Sun, Nov 22 · 1-mile fun run 8:30am, 10K 9am

Long Beach Catholic Regional School, 735 W Broadway, Long Beach, Long Island (about 1 hr drive)

$23.45 kids' fun run, 10K from $38.98 (incl. fees)

Fun run for ages 14 and under

Kids 14 and under run a timed one-mile fun run near the Long Beach boardwalk before grown-ups tackle the 10K.

Checked Oct 8 · source: events.elitefeats.com

Village of Mamaroneck Turkey Trot & Gobbler

Sun, Nov 22 · 1-Mile Gobbler 9:45am, 5K 10:15am

Harbor Island Park, Mamaroneck, Westchester (about 45 min drive)

Gobbler $20 ($25 race day); 5K $40–$50

The village's 60th annual pre-Thanksgiving race starts with a one-mile Gobbler run, followed by a 5K from Harbor Island Park.

Checked Oct 8 · source: villageofmamaroneckny.gov

Macy's Parade Balloon Inflation

Wed, Nov 25 (the day before the parade) · hours to be announced by Macy's

Streets around the American Museum of Natural History: W 77th & W 81st Sts between Central Park West and Columbus Ave, Upper West Side

All ages

The night-before ritual: stroll past the giant parade balloons as crews inflate them beside the Natural History Museum.

Checked Oct 1 · source: macys.com

Hip-Hop Turkey Trot

Thu, Nov 26 · 9am start

Soundview Park Field House, 1550 Lafayette Ave, Soundview

A 2.5-mile Thanksgiving run through Soundview Park that honors hip-hop's Bronx roots and raises money for Feeding America.

Checked Sep 28 · source: runsignup.com

Jersey City Turkey Day 1-Mile Family Fun Run

Thu, Nov 26 · Fun run 9am, 5K 10am

Colgate Clock, foot of Essex St, Jersey City, NJ (about 20 min from Lower Manhattan)

Fun run $20, 5K $40 (prices rise after Oct 25)

All ages; strollers welcome on fun run

A stroller-friendly one-mile waterfront fun run with Statue of Liberty and skyline views, followed by a 5K for older runners.

Checked Sep 28 · source: runsignup.com

Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade (100th)

Thu, Nov 26 · Starts 8:30am

Starts at Central Park West & W 77th St, runs down Central Park West and 6th Ave, and ends at Macy's Herald Square on 34th St

All ages

The 100th parade brings a record 100 balloons and inflatables down Central Park West, so arrive early and aim for the less crowded upper blocks.

Checked Nov 2 · source: macys.com

NSRF Queens Turkey Trot & Free Kiddie Dash

Thu, Nov 26 · Kiddie Dash 9:30am, 5K 10am

Alley Pond Park picnic area, Oakland Gardens

Kiddie Dash free; 5K $33.80–$38.98

All ages

Eastern Queens families can start Thanksgiving with a free kids' dash, then walk or run three loops through Alley Pond Park.

Checked Nov 2 · source: events.elitefeats.com

Prospect Park Track Club Turkey Trot

Thu, Nov 26 · Wave 1 8:15am, Wave 2 9am

Prospect Park (start Center Drive, finish Harry's Wall)

Early-bird and regular bibs sold out; charity bibs $100 + fees

All ages (under 18 with guardian; under 10 run with family)

Brooklyn's big Thanksgiving-morning five-miler welcomes kids who run with a parent, and charity bibs support the American Indian Community House.

Checked Oct 8 · source: pptc.org

Sri Chinmoy Thanksgiving Day 5K/10K & Kids' Race

Thu, Nov 26 · Kids' race 8:35am, 5K/10K 9am

Flushing Meadows Corona Park

Kids $3 pre-reserved, $5 race day; 5K/10K $30–$40

Kids' race under 13; 5K/10K all ages

A low-key, budget-friendly Thanksgiving race where kids under 13 get a mini bib, finisher medal and small gift for a $3 entry.

Checked Sep 26 · source: us.srichinmoyraces.org

New Rochelle Turkey Trot

Thu, Nov 26 · Tot Trot 8:45am, Kid's Mile 9am, 5K 9:30am

New Rochelle City Hall, 515 North Ave, New Rochelle, NY

Tot Trot $18.28, Kid's Mile $23.45, 5K $44.15 (current tier, incl. fees)

Tot Trot 5 and under; Kid's Mile 10 and under

Thanksgiving morning brings a 200-meter Tot Trot for kids five and under, a timed Kid's Mile and a 5K from City Hall.

Checked Oct 4 · source: events.elitefeats.com

Westchester Turkey Trot

Thu, Nov 26 · Kids Dash 8:45am, 5K & 10K 9am

Westchester Community College, Valhalla, NY

Kids 100m dash free; kids 5K $14.99; 5K $45.99 / 10K $55.99 through Oct 14

Dash 8 and under; kids 5K 11 and under

Little runners can try a free 100-meter dash before families tackle the 5K or 10K on the Westchester Community College campus.

Checked Oct 4 · source: runsignup.com

Gratitude 5K (Forest Park Turkey Trot)

Thu Nov 26, check-in 8am, race 9am

Forest Park Drive, Richmond Hill

$35 (kids under 12 $25)

All ages

A small Thanksgiving-morning 5K on a car-free stretch of Forest Park Drive, with a reduced fee for runners under 12.

Checked Nov 2 · source: runsignup.com

Meet the Finewool Sheep at Queens County Farm

Sat, Nov 28 · 10–11am

Queens County Farm Museum, 73-50 Little Neck Pkwy, Floral Park

All ages

On Thanksgiving Saturday, kids can pet the farm's soft-fleeced sheep, watch how they behave and learn how wool goes from shearing to yarn.

• Stroller-friendly
• Restrooms

Checked Sep 26 · source: queensfarm.org

NYC Turkey Trot Kids' Dash & Kids' 5K

Sat, Nov 28 · Kids' Dash 8:15am, 5K & half 8:30am

Flushing Meadows Corona Park (Queens Museum/Unisphere)

Kids' 100m dash free; kids' 5K $14.99; adult 5K $42.99

Kids' dash 8 and under; kids' 5K 11 and under

A post-Thanksgiving race by the Unisphere with a free 100-meter dash for little kids and a kids' 5K ending in a medal and donut.

Checked Sep 28 · source: runsignup.com

Talkin' Turkey! Nature Walk

Sat, Nov 28 · 1–2:30pm

Marshlands Conservancy, Rye, Westchester (about 45 min drive)

Walk the trails with a naturalist on Thanksgiving weekend, hunting for wild turkey tracks and feathers and learning how these birds live.

Checked Sep 26 · source: parksevents.westchestercountyny.gov

Greenwich Alliance Turkey Trot & Mini-Trot

Sat, Nov 28 · Mini-Trot 9am, 1 mile 9:30am, 5K 10am

Roger Sherman Baldwin Park, 100 Arch St, Greenwich, CT (about 1 hr drive)

Kids $20 (ages 3–12); adults $50 ($55 race day)

Mini-Trot ages 3–5; 1 mile ages 6+

Preschoolers get their own mini-trot, kids 6 and up can do the one-mile fun run, and the 5K loops flat through Bruce Park.

Checked Oct 8 · source: runsignup.com

Family Art Project: Grateful for Trees at Wave Hill

Sat–Sun, Nov 28–29 · 10am–1pm (storytime Sat 11:30am)

Wave Hill House, 4900 Independence Ave, Riverdale

Free with grounds admission

All ages

On Thanksgiving weekend, families print leaf designs onto reusable canvas tote bags, and a Saturday storytime shares a book about giving thanks.

• Strollers: some areas
• Restrooms

Checked Oct 13 · source: wavehill.org