# Thanksgiving break with kids in Indianapolis > 23 Thanksgiving parades, turkey trots, break camps and things to do with kids in the Indianapolis–Carmel–Greenwood area over Thanksgiving break 2026, each linked to the organizer’s own page with the date we last checked it. Source: Grassy Knees is a directory of real family events, places and programs for kids across major U.S. metro areas, where every listing is researched from the organizer’s own page and shows the date we last checked it. https://grassyknees.com covers 42 metro areas as of Nov 2, 2026, with more added regularly. About: https://grassyknees.com/about Freshness: listings are re-checked on a daily research run (latest check 2026-11-01), and new events are added as organizers post them. Sell-outs, weather cancellations and time changes show up on the live page first: https://grassyknees.com/indianapolis/thanksgiving Towns with listings: Indianapolis (10), Fishers (3), Noblesville (2), Anderson (1), Avon (1), Carmel (1), Greenfield (1), Greenwood (1), Lawrence (1), North Salem (1), Zionsville (1). ## Quick answers ### What free Thanksgiving break events are there for kids in Indianapolis? 3 listings: [Downtown Indy's Circle of Lights 2026](https://grassyknees.com/indianapolis/activities/downtown-indy-s-circle-of-lights-2026--listing-cc5492aef13f32072d554b47) (Fri, Nov 27, Free); [Gaylor Electric Forest of Lights at Forest Park](https://grassyknees.com/indianapolis/activities/gaylor-electric-forest-of-lights-at-forest-park--listing-40d1ce0e9656009d030b28c1) (Fri, Nov 27, Free); [A Lawrence Christmas: Parade and Tree Lighting at Lawrence Civic Plaza](https://grassyknees.com/indianapolis/activities/a-lawrence-christmas-parade-and-tree-lighting-at-lawrence-civic-plaza--listing-1e44c8a2e08e1c2ce5fb0562) (Sat, Nov 28, Free). ## Ongoing programs ### Indianapolis (5) - [YMCA Thanksgiving Break Camp at the Baxter YMCA](https://grassyknees.com/indianapolis/activities/ymca-thanksgiving-break-camp-at-the-baxter-ymca--listing-586aa3a9d81b72fc9aac4f1a) — Ongoing · Baxter YMCA · Ages 5–12 · From $52 · checked Oct 30. The Y's School's Out Camp for ages 5–12 covers the Thanksgiving school break with Thanksgiving crafts, team-building challenges and gratitude-themed games. Camp runs 6:30 am–6… - [YMCA Thanksgiving Break Camp at the Irsay Family YMCA at CityWay](https://grassyknees.com/indianapolis/activities/ymca-thanksgiving-break-camp-at-the-irsay-family-ymca-at-cityway--listing-ab688109540f7f71d8db16ec) — Ongoing · Irsay Family YMCA at CityWay · Ages 5–12 · From $52 · checked Oct 30. The Y's School's Out Camp for ages 5–12 covers the Thanksgiving school break with Thanksgiving crafts, team-building challenges and gratitude-themed games. Camp runs 6:30 am–6… - [YMCA Thanksgiving Break Camp at the Jordan YMCA](https://grassyknees.com/indianapolis/activities/ymca-thanksgiving-break-camp-at-the-jordan-ymca--listing-41c4fcdb54aa37c1099f4154) — Ongoing · Jordan YMCA · Ages 5–12 · From $52 · checked Oct 30. The Y's School's Out Camp for ages 5–12 covers the Thanksgiving school break with Thanksgiving crafts, team-building challenges and gratitude-themed games. Camp runs 6:30 am–6… - [YMCA Thanksgiving Break Camp at Liberty Park Elementary (Warren Township)](https://grassyknees.com/indianapolis/activities/ymca-thanksgiving-break-camp-at-liberty-park-elementary-warren-townshi--listing-b7cd625135b382506b85d2e5) — Ongoing · Liberty Park Elementary · Ages 5–12 · From $52 · checked Oct 30. The Y's School's Out Camp for ages 5–12 covers the Thanksgiving school break with Thanksgiving crafts, team-building challenges and gratitude-themed games. Camp runs 6:30 am–6… - [YMCA Thanksgiving Break Camp at the OrthoIndy Foundation YMCA](https://grassyknees.com/indianapolis/activities/ymca-thanksgiving-break-camp-at-the-orthoindy-foundation-ymca--listing-f3d807b35622545be725e045) — Ongoing · OrthoIndy Foundation YMCA · Ages 5–12 · From $52 · checked Oct 30. The Y's School's Out Camp for ages 5–12 covers the Thanksgiving school break with Thanksgiving crafts, team-building challenges and gratitude-themed games. Camp runs 6:30 am–6… ### Other towns in the Indianapolis–Carmel–Greenwood area (1) - [YMCA Thanksgiving Break Camp at Riverside Intermediate (Fishers)](https://grassyknees.com/indianapolis/activities/ymca-thanksgiving-break-camp-at-riverside-intermediate-fishers--listing-619f28f03212152138b9feb9) — Ongoing · Riverside Intermediate School, Fishers · Ages 5–12 · From $52 · checked Oct 30. The Y's School's Out Camp for ages 5–12 covers the Thanksgiving school break with Thanksgiving crafts, team-building challenges and gratitude-themed games. Camp runs 6:30 am–6… ## Dated events ### Indianapolis (5) - [Santa & Carolers at Winterlights](https://grassyknees.com/indianapolis/activities/santa-and-carolers-at-winterlights--listing-0fe1a1855e8f185f5a84610f) — Tue, Nov 24 (+7 more dates) · 5:00 PM – 8:00 PM · The Garden at Newfields · All ages · From $25 · checked Oct 24. On eight Tuesday and Wednesday evenings of Winterlights, its 10th season at Newfields, Santa walks the Twinkling Trail from 5 to 8 p.m., stopping for festive hellos and photos… - [Celebration Crossing Opening Day with Santa's Helicopter Arrival](https://grassyknees.com/indianapolis/activities/celebration-crossing-opening-day-with-santa-s-helicopter-arrival--listing-f12906a809054048c674fbd9) — Fri, Nov 27 · 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM · Indiana State Museum · All ages · From $17 · checked Oct 24. The Indiana State Museum opens its Celebration Crossing holiday area the day after Thanksgiving with Santa's annual helicopter landing. At 10:30 a.m. families gather on the front… - [Conservatory Crossing Holiday Display at Garfield Park Conservatory](https://grassyknees.com/indianapolis/activities/conservatory-crossing-holiday-display-at-garfield-park-conservatory--listing-19e3203866302fcfc8c8111e) — Nov 27 – Dec 27 · 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM · Garfield Park Conservatory · All ages · From $7 · checked Oct 30. The Garfield Park Conservatory's holiday show opens the day after Thanksgiving: poinsettias, model trains and a miniature village among thousands of twinkling lights. Drop in… - [Downtown Indy's Circle of Lights 2026](https://grassyknees.com/indianapolis/activities/downtown-indy-s-circle-of-lights-2026--listing-cc5492aef13f32072d554b47) — Fri, Nov 27 · 5:00 PM – 8:00 PM · Monument Circle · All ages · Free · checked Oct 31. Downtown holiday kickoff with live music, vendors, family activities, Santa, food trucks and the lighting of the Soldiers and Sailors Monument before 7pm. - [Santa's Holiday Breakfast in the Great Hall](https://grassyknees.com/indianapolis/activities/santa-s-holiday-breakfast-in-the-great-hall--listing-33fff9d2fd53a777e1d4c442) — Sun, Nov 29 (+4 more dates) · 9:00 AM – 10:00 AM · Indiana State Museum · All ages · From $30 · checked Oct 24. A buffet breakfast with holiday music in the heart of the Indiana State Museum's Celebration Crossing. Santa arrives with his wagon of gifts and talks with families about the… ### Other towns in the Indianapolis–Carmel–Greenwood area (12) - [Tadpole Time: Turkey Talk at McCloud Nature Park](https://grassyknees.com/indianapolis/activities/tadpole-time-turkey-talk-at-mccloud-nature-park--listing-1bdba181e09e9a9c36fc64c0) — Tue, Nov 10 · 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM · McCloud Nature Park, North Salem · Ages 2–5 · From $5 · checked Oct 24. A preschool nature hour at McCloud Nature Park all about turkeys, just ahead of Thanksgiving. Children ages 2 to 5 come with a parent or guardian to hear a story, make a turkey… - [Bolt for the Heart Thanksgiving Day 5K in Carmel](https://grassyknees.com/indianapolis/activities/bolt-for-the-heart-thanksgiving-day-5k-in-carmel--listing-b8f0d9a2901aadec4584c114) — Thu, Nov 26 · 9:00 AM · Carter Green, Carmel · All ages · From $35 · checked Oct 30. A Thanksgiving-morning 5K run/walk that starts at Carter Green in downtown Carmel at 9:00 am. Children 4 and under run free. Registration funds AEDs for police cars in Hamilton… - [Fishers YMCA Wishbone 5K Thanksgiving Run/Walk](https://grassyknees.com/indianapolis/activities/fishers-ymca-wishbone-5k-thanksgiving-run-walk--listing-c847c2b951bfc9836a76959e) — Thu, Nov 26 · 8:00 AM – 11:00 AM · Fishers YMCA · All ages · checked Oct 30. The Fishers YMCA's 15th annual Thanksgiving-morning 5K run/walk for the whole community. Strollers and leashed dogs are welcome but start near the back of their corrals… - [FitLivin THXRUN Thanksgiving Day Run & Walk with Free Kids Run](https://grassyknees.com/indianapolis/activities/fitlivin-thxrun-thanksgiving-day-run-and-walk-with-free-kids-run--listing-4419acdedebeba4fc30077b2) — Thu, Nov 26 · 8:45 AM · Dr. James A. Dillon Park, Noblesville · All ages · With admission · checked Oct 30. A Thanksgiving-morning 4-mile or 1.5-mile run/walk at Dillon Park, with a free quarter-mile Kids Run at 8:45 am before the 9:00 am start and pumpkin prizes. Proceeds support… - [Gobble Gallop 5K at the Hendricks Regional Health YMCA](https://grassyknees.com/indianapolis/activities/gobble-gallop-5k-at-the-hendricks-regional-health-ymca--listing-ee07a119ec9c8abc278e4c06) — Thu, Nov 26 · 8:00 AM – 10:00 AM · Hendricks Regional Health YMCA, Avon · All ages · From $40 · checked Oct 30. Hendricks County's largest Thanksgiving-morning 5K starts and finishes at the Hendricks Regional Health YMCA in Avon at 8:00 am. It raises money for the Y's financial assistance… - [Gravy Chase Thanksgiving Morning Run/Walk in Zionsville](https://grassyknees.com/indianapolis/activities/gravy-chase-thanksgiving-morning-run-walk-in-zionsville--listing-3748dca4abf5d1edbff9de72) — Thu, Nov 26 · 8:30 AM · Downtown Zionsville (Main St and Cedar St) · All ages · From $50 · checked Oct 30. A Thanksgiving Day tradition through historic downtown Zionsville with a 2-mile or 4-mile run/walk, starting at 8:30 am at Main and Cedar streets. A 5K version runs in Lebanon at… - [Turkey Burn Thanksgiving 5K and Kid Run at Freedom Park](https://grassyknees.com/indianapolis/activities/turkey-burn-thanksgiving-5k-and-kid-run-at-freedom-park--listing-a015b64eb51ebcb15cd7fb18) — Thu, Nov 26 · 8:30 AM – 11:00 AM · Freedom Park, Greenwood · All ages · From $15 · checked Oct 30. Greenwood's Thanksgiving-morning 5K walk/run moves to Freedom Park this year. The kids' run/walk goes first at 8:30 am, with children running alongside the event's costumed… - [Turkey Day 5K and 1 Mile in Greenfield](https://grassyknees.com/indianapolis/activities/turkey-day-5k-and-1-mile-in-greenfield--listing-741a7cacacfd07bf3c11ce14) — Thu, Nov 26 · 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM · Greenfield Christian Church · All ages · From $25 · checked Oct 30. A costume-friendly Thanksgiving-morning 5K or 1-mile run/walk in Greenfield, starting at 9:00 am, with a selfie station, water and bananas at the finish. The 1-mile route suits… - [A Merry Prairie Holiday at Conner Prairie](https://grassyknees.com/indianapolis/activities/a-merry-prairie-holiday-at-conner-prairie--listing-7fd4d5ee03396155e4fc281d) — Fri, Nov 27 (+16 more dates) · 5:30 PM – 9:30 PM · Conner Prairie, Fishers · All ages · From $15 · checked Oct 24. Conner Prairie's evening holiday festival spreads across its Fishers grounds. In 1836 Prairietown, Historic Holidays shows how 1800s families celebrated, with a magic-lantern… - [Gaylor Electric Forest of Lights at Forest Park](https://grassyknees.com/indianapolis/activities/gaylor-electric-forest-of-lights-at-forest-park--listing-40d1ce0e9656009d030b28c1) — Nov 27 – Dec 31 · 5:00 PM – 9:00 PM · Forest Park, Noblesville · Free · checked Oct 27. Noblesville Parks & Recreation runs the first year of Forest of Lights, a walk-through illuminated trail in Forest Park. Families stroll past festive light displays and holiday… - [Nights of Lights at Mounds State Park](https://grassyknees.com/indianapolis/activities/nights-of-lights-at-mounds-state-park--listing-b8319239c0b24fe0986e5369) — Fri, Nov 27 (+14 more dates) · 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM · Mounds State Park, Anderson · From $10 · checked Oct 27. Friends of Mounds State Park hosts Nights of Lights on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday evenings in the park at Anderson. Visitors drive or walk the holiday light route the friends… - [A Lawrence Christmas: Parade and Tree Lighting at Lawrence Civic Plaza](https://grassyknees.com/indianapolis/activities/a-lawrence-christmas-parade-and-tree-lighting-at-lawrence-civic-plaza--listing-1e44c8a2e08e1c2ce5fb0562) — Sat, Nov 28 · 2:00 PM – 6:00 PM · Lawrence Civic Plaza · All ages · Free · checked Oct 30. Lawrence's free holiday kickoff on the Saturday after Thanksgiving brings a parade, a tree lighting and a variety show to Civic Plaza. Parade and tree-lighting times are still… More for families in Indianapolis: https://grassyknees.com/indianapolis.md