Chicago–Naperville–Elgin · Thanksgiving break, November 2026
Thanksgiving break with kids in Chicago
79 parades, turkey trots, break camps and long-weekend outings around Chicago over Thanksgiving break. 17 are free.
Updated Oct 30. Every listing links to its organizer’s page.
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Next weekMon, Nov 9 – Sun, Nov 15
Later in NovemberMon, Nov 16 – Wed, Nov 25
Thanksgiving Day and the long weekendThu, Nov 26 – Sun, Nov 29
Quick answers
Where is there a turkey trot for kids near Chicago?
16 listed. Coming up:
- 27th Annual Turkey Trot — Waukegan · Sat, Nov 14 · Waukegan's Greg Petry SportsPark
- Kids Night Out: Gobble Gobble Fun — Naperville · Fri, Nov 20 · Fort Hill Activity Center
- Lincolnwood Turkey Trot and Kids' Drumstick Dash · Sun, Nov 22 · Proesel Park
- 5K Turkey Trot Family Tradition — Elmwood Park · Thu, Nov 26 · Healthy Happy Body (start/finish)
What free Thanksgiving break events are there for kids in Chicago?
17 listed. Coming up:
- 27th Annual Turkey Trot — Waukegan · Sat, Nov 14 · Waukegan's Greg Petry SportsPark
- Thanksgiving with the Plum Creek Critters · Sun, Nov 22 · Plum Creek Nature Center
- 92nd Chicago Thanksgiving Parade on State Street · Thu, Nov 26 · State Street, the Loop (Ida B. Wells Dr. to Randolph St.)
- Annual Turkey Trot Hike at Trailside Museum · Fri, Nov 27 · Trailside Museum of Natural History
Which Thanksgiving break events suit toddlers and young kids in Chicago?
4 listed. Coming up:
- Little Chef Makes Lunch: Thanksgiving — Vernon Hills · Mon, Nov 16 · Sullivan Community Center
- Little Turkeys Thanksgiving Night — Vernon Hills · Mon, Nov 16 · Sullivan Community Center
- Lincolnwood Turkey Trot and Kids' Drumstick Dash · Sun, Nov 22 · Proesel Park
- Hoops4Health Thanksgiving Break Camp — Winnetka Community House · Tue, Nov 24 · Winnetka Community House
For organizers
Hosting a turkey trot, Thanksgiving craft, break camp or long-weekend event in Chicago?
List it on Grassy Knees and it can show up on this Thanksgiving page, in the metro’s weekend picks, in the app and in AI chats like ChatGPT. Free to post until Nov 14.
How this list works
The day itself is for the table; the days around it are long. This page collects what’s on for kids in our Chicago listings over Thanksgiving break: parades and turkey trots on Thursday morning, Thanksgiving crafts and storytimes in the weeks before, break camps for the school days off, and the light displays, tree lightings and Santa arrivals that open over the long weekend, for families at home and for those visiting relatives. 79 are still ahead. Each one opens its listing page, which links to the organizer’s own page and shows the date we last checked it. Dates are in Central Time.