# Thanksgiving break with kids in Nashville > 21 Thanksgiving parades, turkey trots, break camps and things to do with kids in the Nashville–Davidson–Murfreesboro–Franklin 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/nashville/thanksgiving Towns with listings: Nashville (8), Franklin (3), Murfreesboro (3), Christiana (1), Columbia (1), Dickson (1), Fairview (1), Hendersonville (1), Mount Juliet (1), Smyrna (1). ## Quick answers ### Where is there a turkey trot for kids near Nashville? 7 listings, the soonest 4: [Anytime Fitness Fairview 7th Annual Turkey Trot (5K and 1-Mile Fun Run)](https://grassyknees.com/nashville/activities/anytime-fitness-fairview-7th-annual-turkey-trot-5k-and-1-mile-fun-run--listing-88de7e1d23df323346079764) (Thu, Nov 26, Paid); [Give 'N Gobble 5K and One Mile Thanksgiving Day Race](https://grassyknees.com/nashville/activities/give-n-gobble-5k-and-one-mile-thanksgiving-day-race--listing-f57b2d7f0d87d99874ef4579) (Thu, Nov 26, Paid); [Music City Turkey Trot 5K & 1 Mile Waddle](https://grassyknees.com/nashville/activities/music-city-turkey-trot-5k-and-1-mile-waddle--listing-8f825498f07cbb5e31865315) (Thu, Nov 26, Paid); [Nashville Turkey Trot 10 Mile and 5K with Kids' Fun Run and 100 Meter Dash](https://grassyknees.com/nashville/activities/nashville-turkey-trot-10-mile-and-5k-with-kids-fun-run-and-100-meter-d--listing-e35b253b8f389d9a154ae700) (Thu, Nov 26, Paid). ## Dated events ### Nashville (8) - [Mansion Holiday Décor Tours at Cheekwood](https://grassyknees.com/nashville/activities/mansion-holiday-decor-tours-at-cheekwood--listing-3285bc4598c87d3dc2bf1724) — Nov 24 – Jan 3 · 11:00 AM · Cheekwood Estate & Gardens · With admission · checked Oct 27. A guided walk through the mansion's holiday installation, An Enchanted Noel, showing how the decorations were made and the French antiques and Paris hotel-inspired scenes staged… - [Music City Turkey Trot 5K & 1 Mile Waddle](https://grassyknees.com/nashville/activities/music-city-turkey-trot-5k-and-1-mile-waddle--listing-8f825498f07cbb5e31865315) — Thu, Nov 26 · 8:00 AM · Nissan Stadium · Paid · checked Oct 24. Run Nash's Music City Turkey Trot starts and finishes at Nissan Stadium, home of the Tennessee Titans, on Thanksgiving morning. Families choose between a 5K run/walk and a 1 Mile… - [Nashville Turkey Trot 10 Mile and 5K with Kids' Fun Run and 100 Meter Dash](https://grassyknees.com/nashville/activities/nashville-turkey-trot-10-mile-and-5k-with-kids-fun-run-and-100-meter-d--listing-e35b253b8f389d9a154ae700) — Thu, Nov 26 · Nashville Turkey Trot start (Two Rivers Parkway) · All ages · Paid · checked Oct 30. TennesseeRuns' Thanksgiving morning race offers a 10-mile, a timed or untimed 5K, an untimed 5K Kid's Division Fun Run for ages 11 and under, and a free Kids 100 Meter Dash for… - [The Boulevard Bolt Thanksgiving 5-Mile Run/Walk](https://grassyknees.com/nashville/activities/the-boulevard-bolt-thanksgiving-5-mile-run-walk--listing-11f934d552ad4185a9be11a5) — Thu, Nov 26 · 8:00 AM · St. George's Episcopal School · Paid · checked Oct 24. The Boulevard Bolt is Nashville's long-running Thanksgiving Day run and walk, now in its 33rd year, on a USATF-certified 5-mile course up and down Belle Meade Boulevard… - [Nashville's Nutcracker](https://grassyknees.com/nashville/activities/nashville-s-nutcracker--listing-c45083e3029e21302cdd5d91) — Fri, Nov 27 (+15 more dates) · 2:00 PM · Jackson Hall, Tennessee Performing Arts Center (TPAC) · All ages · Paid · checked Oct 24. Nashville Ballet's Nashville's Nutcracker is Paul Vasterling's Emmy Award-winning retelling of the holiday ballet, set on a uniquely Nashville adventure with swirling snowflakes… - [Santa's Arrival at Glow Wild — Meet Santa at Nashville Zoo](https://grassyknees.com/nashville/activities/santa-s-arrival-at-glow-wild-meet-santa-at-nashville-zoo--listing-99d5db6cdf6089cc1b8aabfb) — Nov 27 – Dec 24 · 5:00 PM – 9:00 PM · Nashville Zoo at Grassmere · All ages · From $27 · checked Oct 30. From the day after Thanksgiving, Santa visits nightly at The Holiday Square on Festival Field during Glow Wild, beside the 85-foot Christmas tree and its synchronized light show… - [Full Belly Friends of Shelby Thanksgiving Weekend 5K and All-Ages Fun Run](https://grassyknees.com/nashville/activities/full-belly-friends-of-shelby-thanksgiving-weekend-5k-and-all-ages-fun--listing-a90c7f6eb71751d82bb29283) — Sat, Nov 28 · 8:30 AM · Shelby Park · All ages · Paid · checked Oct 30. Friends of Shelby's race the Saturday after Thanksgiving: an all-ages Fun Run (or walk) around Lake Sevier at 8:30 am and a timed 5K at 9:00 am in Shelby Park, with check-in from… - [Santa Express at Tennessee Central Railway Museum](https://grassyknees.com/nashville/activities/santa-express-at-tennessee-central-railway-museum--listing-afa19b34e52cbf06c89f8933) — Sat, Nov 28 (+3 more dates) · Tennessee Central Railway Museum · Paid · checked Oct 27. Tennessee Central Railway Museum lists a Santa Express on four Saturdays, each marked as a ride of about an hour and a half with no layover. Tickets are bought in advance by… ### Franklin (3) - [Timeless Tales Children's Read Aloud — Thanksgiving at The Tappletons'](https://grassyknees.com/nashville/activities/timeless-tales-children-s-read-aloud-thanksgiving-at-the-tappletons--listing-1596c87c46f854d424a8cc29) — Fri, Nov 13 · 9:00 AM – 10:00 AM · The Franklin Theatre · checked Oct 27. A morning read-aloud at the Franklin Theatre for children, this month reading Thanksgiving at The Tappletons', the story of a family Thanksgiving where the turkey slides off the… - [Turkey Trot Franklin with Kids' Turkey Chase](https://grassyknees.com/nashville/activities/turkey-trot-franklin-with-kids-turkey-chase--listing-e428a8b066981a021a08800b) — Thu, Nov 26 · 6:15 AM · Turkey Trot Race Central, Cool Springs, Franklin · From $15 · checked Oct 24. GraceWorks' 27th annual Thanksgiving Day Turkey Trot draws more than 4,700 runners and walkers through the heart of Cool Springs in Franklin, with a 10K, a 5K run/walk and a… - [The Muppet Christmas Carol at The Franklin Theatre](https://grassyknees.com/nashville/activities/the-muppet-christmas-carol-at-the-franklin-theatre--listing-963d663e8696cd54395f9746) — Sun, Nov 29 · 10:00 AM · The Franklin Theatre · Paid · checked Oct 27. The Muppet Christmas Carol (1992) screens at 10 am on Sunday, November 29, the Sunday of Thanksgiving weekend, at the Franklin Theatre. It is part of the theatre's cinema run of… ### Murfreesboro (3) - [SPARK! Run, Turkey, Run at the Discovery Center](https://grassyknees.com/nashville/activities/spark-run-turkey-run-at-the-discovery-center--listing-caeba7eb1fc56be39f7ca262) — Mon, Nov 16 · 9:00 AM – 11:00 AM · Discovery Center at Murfree Spring, Murfreesboro · From $4 · checked Oct 30. Drop-in morning for the littlest explorers: read Run, Turkey, Run!, learn how animals use camouflage to hide, then free play and a themed turkey craft. $4 per session; register… - [Thanksgiving Break Campology: Operation: Ocean](https://grassyknees.com/nashville/activities/thanksgiving-break-campology-operation-ocean--listing-debd17c7a884c425cf6182ac) — Mon, Nov 23 (+2 more dates) · 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM · Discovery Center at Murfree Spring, Murfreesboro · From $65 · checked Oct 24. Discovery Center's Thanksgiving-break day camp for kindergarten through 5th grade turns each day into a marine-science mission. Campers test water samples, decode nature's hidden… - [Turkey Day at the Discovery Center](https://grassyknees.com/nashville/activities/turkey-day-at-the-discovery-center--listing-f6e6b008088e677d97c9797e) — Fri, Nov 27 · 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM · Discovery Center at Murfree Spring, Murfreesboro · With admission · checked Oct 24. On the day after Thanksgiving, the Discovery Center at Murfree Spring hosts Turkey Day, a DC+ Day of seasonal hands-on activities across the museum. Families follow the clues on… ### Other towns in the Nashville–Davidson–Murfreesboro–Franklin area (7) - [Turkey Trails Nashville 5K, 10K, Half and Kids Dash](https://grassyknees.com/nashville/activities/turkey-trails-nashville-5k-10k-half-and-kids-dash--listing-61503c76c23741ab6b13ab53) — Sat, Nov 21 · 7:55 AM · Veterans Park, Hendersonville · All ages · Paid · checked Oct 30. Bodies Race Company's Thanksgiving-themed run at Hendersonville's Veterans Park has a Kids Dash at 7:55 am (meet at the start line), plus 1 mile, 5K, 10K and half marathon at… - [Smyrna Christmas Tree Lighting](https://grassyknees.com/nashville/activities/smyrna-christmas-tree-lighting--listing-6cef4431d547c1cd90a1d828) — Tue, Nov 24 · 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM · Smyrna Train Depot · Free · checked Oct 27. The town lights its Christmas tree at the Smyrna Train Depot, with music, treats, and festive performances. Children can join a sing-along led by SOAC staff, and Smyrna fire and… - [A Gentle Thanksgiving at The Gentle Barn Tennessee](https://grassyknees.com/nashville/activities/a-gentle-thanksgiving-at-the-gentle-barn-tennessee--listing-d6e76110db437783f2810c95) — Thu, Nov 26 · 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM · The Gentle Barn Tennessee, Christiana · All ages · From $50 · checked Oct 30. A Thanksgiving morning visit with the sanctuary's rescued turkeys: feed them their favorite treats, enjoy seasonal desserts and games, and hear the birds' stories. It is a… - [Anytime Fitness Fairview 7th Annual Turkey Trot (5K and 1-Mile Fun Run)](https://grassyknees.com/nashville/activities/anytime-fitness-fairview-7th-annual-turkey-trot-5k-and-1-mile-fun-run--listing-88de7e1d23df323346079764) — Thu, Nov 26 · 7:00 AM – 9:00 AM · Fairview City Center · All ages · Paid · checked Oct 30. A low-key Thanksgiving morning trot in Fairview with a road/trail 5K and an all-pavement 1-mile fun run/walk. The 1 mile is free for runners under 12; there are no place awards… - [Give 'N Gobble 5K and One Mile Thanksgiving Day Race](https://grassyknees.com/nashville/activities/give-n-gobble-5k-and-one-mile-thanksgiving-day-race--listing-f57b2d7f0d87d99874ef4579) — Thu, Nov 26 · 8:00 AM – 10:00 AM · Historic Main Street, Downtown Dickson · All ages · Paid · checked Oct 30. Dickson County's big Thanksgiving tradition starts on Historic Main Street in downtown Dickson and finishes at Holland Park by the Clement Railroad Hotel Museum. The chip-timed… - [Tommy Crockett Memorial Rescue Run Thanksgiving Day 5K and Family Fun Run](https://grassyknees.com/nashville/activities/tommy-crockett-memorial-rescue-run-thanksgiving-day-5k-and-family-fun--listing-2f627c8f2cd1995a69d06936) — Thu, Nov 26 · 8:00 AM · Two Rivers Ford, Mount Juliet · All ages · Paid · checked Oct 30. Animal Rescue Corps' Thanksgiving morning race at Two Rivers Ford in Mt. Juliet: a 1-mile Family Fun Run at 8:00 am and a certified, timed 5K at 8:30 am. Strollers and… - [Spring Hill Turkey Burn 1K, 5K and Half Marathon](https://grassyknees.com/nashville/activities/spring-hill-turkey-burn-1k-5k-and-half-marathon--listing-77a1dab289154a57dd31def3) — Sat, Nov 28 · 7:30 AM – 11:00 AM · Spring Hill High School, Columbia · All ages · Paid · checked Oct 30. Tennessee Children's Home's 10th annual Turkey Burn starts and finishes at Spring Hill High School the Saturday after Thanksgiving. Families can do the 1K at 9:00 am; the 5K… More for families in Nashville: https://grassyknees.com/nashville.md