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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade (100th)

Thu, Nov 26 · Starts 8:30am

Traditional route: Central Park West & W. 77th St south to Macy's Herald Square, 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.

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.

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)

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.