# Thanksgiving break with kids in Raleigh > 15 Thanksgiving parades, turkey trots, break camps and things to do with kids in the Raleigh–Cary 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/raleigh/thanksgiving Towns with listings: Raleigh (5), Apex (2), Knightdale (2), Cary (1), Clayton (1), Garner (1), New Hill (1), Wake Forest (1), Youngsville (1). ## Quick answers ### Where is there a turkey trot for kids near Raleigh? 4 listings: [Apex Turkey Trot 5K](https://grassyknees.com/raleigh/activities/apex-turkey-trot-5k--listing-3861e0d1eefd9ff488208c94) (Sat, Nov 21, From $12); [3rd to 5th Adventures: Gobble Gobble! — Eva Perry Regional Library, Apex](https://grassyknees.com/raleigh/activities/3rd-to-5th-adventures-gobble-gobble-eva-perry-regional-library-apex--listing-0b34f7ccefdd9d7f7ca14242) (Mon, Nov 23); [Gobbler's Run 5K — Wake Forest Thanksgiving Morning Race](https://grassyknees.com/raleigh/activities/gobbler-s-run-5k-wake-forest-thanksgiving-morning-race--listing-bb6025d24d406be2deae846f) (Thu, Nov 26, Paid); [Raleigh Turkey Trot 8K and Kids Dash at Ridgewood Shopping Center](https://grassyknees.com/raleigh/activities/raleigh-turkey-trot-8k-and-kids-dash-at-ridgewood-shopping-center--listing-69ef71a24c46f728bd5412f9) (Thu, Nov 26, Paid). ### What free Thanksgiving break events are there for kids in Raleigh? 2 listings: [Talkin' Turkey at Harris Lake](https://grassyknees.com/raleigh/activities/talkin-turkey-at-harris-lake--listing-5acbcbbf8add439a18af5c2e) (Wed, Nov 25, Free); [Light Up Main: Small Business Saturday and Tree Lighting in Downtown Garner](https://grassyknees.com/raleigh/activities/light-up-main-small-business-saturday-and-tree-lighting-in-downtown-ga--listing-20e816c6547647c7fc7781c4) (Sat, Nov 28, Free). ## Dated events ### Raleigh (5) - [Cirque Holiday Pops — NC Symphony](https://grassyknees.com/raleigh/activities/cirque-holiday-pops-nc-symphony--listing-1fe60122d93b6d448fec6b36) — Wed, Nov 25 (+2 more dates) · 4:00 PM · Meymandi Concert Hall, Martin Marietta Center for the Performing Arts · Paid · checked Oct 24. The North Carolina Symphony opens the holiday season over Thanksgiving weekend with an all-new Cirque Holiday Pops: Cirque de la Symphonie acrobats perform high-flying routines… - [K-5th Adventures: Thankful Turkey Craft — Athens Drive Community Library](https://grassyknees.com/raleigh/activities/k-5th-adventures-thankful-turkey-craft-athens-drive-community-library--listing-aa9aff7dd20352c33da1025e) — Wed, Nov 25 · 5:00 PM – 5:45 PM · Athens Drive Community Library · Ages 5–11 · checked Oct 30. Drop in to make a Thankful Turkey the day before Thanksgiving; kids can come any time until 5:45 pm. - [Raleigh Turkey Trot 8K and Kids Dash at Ridgewood Shopping Center](https://grassyknees.com/raleigh/activities/raleigh-turkey-trot-8k-and-kids-dash-at-ridgewood-shopping-center--listing-69ef71a24c46f728bd5412f9) — Thu, Nov 26 · 8:30 AM · Ridgewood Shopping Center · All ages · Paid · checked Oct 30. The Triangle's long-running Thanksgiving morning race starts on Ridge Road beside Ridgewood Shopping Center with an 8K run/walk at 8:30 am. After the 8K, kids 7 and under run the… - [Skinny Turkey Half Marathon, 10K, 5K and Kids Drumstick Dash](https://grassyknees.com/raleigh/activities/skinny-turkey-half-marathon-10k-5k-and-kids-drumstick-dash--listing-a72ecefe8be954dac2f50b52) — Thu, Nov 26 · 7:30 AM · Wakefield High School · All ages · With admission · checked Oct 30. North Raleigh's Thanksgiving morning race offers a half marathon, 10K, 5K, a 1-mile walk and a free Kids Drumstick Dash, all starting and finishing at Wakefield High School… - [Fieldstream Farm Drive-Thru Christmas Light Show](https://grassyknees.com/raleigh/activities/fieldstream-farm-drive-thru-christmas-light-show--listing-d74ccbf71a3fc800dea47534) — Nov 27 – Dec 31 · 6:30 PM – 9:30 PM · Fieldstream Farm · All ages · From $20 · checked Oct 27. Fieldstream Farm, a working agritourism hay farm on Old Stage Road in south Raleigh, turns its fields into a drive-through Christmas light show every holiday season. The farm… ### Other towns in the Raleigh–Cary area (10) - [Apex Turkey Trot 5K](https://grassyknees.com/raleigh/activities/apex-turkey-trot-5k--listing-3861e0d1eefd9ff488208c94) — Sat, Nov 21 · 10:00 AM · Apex Community Park · From $12 · checked Oct 24. The Town of Apex's 28th annual Turkey Trot is a 5K through Apex Community Park and around its lake on the Saturday before Thanksgiving. Runners choose Competitive (chip-timed… - [Turkey Leg 5K at Knightdale Station Park](https://grassyknees.com/raleigh/activities/turkey-leg-5k-at-knightdale-station-park--listing-da7adf36eee3d74cf151ef3c) — Sat, Nov 21 · 8:00 AM – 9:00 AM · Knightdale Station Park · checked Oct 30. Knightdale Parks and Recreation's annual pre-Thanksgiving 5K for runners and walkers starts and finishes in Knightdale Station Park. Every participant gets a medal and a special… - [3rd to 5th Adventures: Gobble Gobble! — Eva Perry Regional Library, Apex](https://grassyknees.com/raleigh/activities/3rd-to-5th-adventures-gobble-gobble-eva-perry-regional-library-apex--listing-0b34f7ccefdd9d7f7ca14242) — Mon, Nov 23 · 5:00 PM – 5:45 PM · Eva Perry Regional Library, Apex · Ages 8–11 · checked Oct 30. Third to fifth graders celebrate Thanksgiving with games and crafts at the library. - [Thanksgiving: K-5th Adventures — East Regional Library, Knightdale](https://grassyknees.com/raleigh/activities/thanksgiving-k-5th-adventures-east-regional-library-knightdale--listing-a8bc585bf23268bd5035b0ee) — Tue, Nov 24 · 4:30 PM – 5:15 PM · East Regional Library, Knightdale · Ages 5–11 · checked Oct 30. School-age kids celebrate Thanksgiving with seasonal crafts and activities, including fall bingo. - [Talkin' Turkey at Harris Lake](https://grassyknees.com/raleigh/activities/talkin-turkey-at-harris-lake--listing-5acbcbbf8add439a18af5c2e) — Wed, Nov 25 · 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM · Harris Lake County Park, New Hill · All ages · Free · checked Oct 24. A Thanksgiving-week nature program at Harris Lake County Park about wild turkeys. Children learn that turkeys are fast runners and fliers and make many sounds besides gobbling… - [Festival of Lights at Hill Ridge Farms](https://grassyknees.com/raleigh/activities/festival-of-lights-at-hill-ridge-farms--listing-b851867408c05106c70f642a) — Thu, Nov 26 · Hill Ridge Farms, Youngsville · All ages · Paid · checked Oct 27. Each holiday season Hill Ridge Farms, a family farm park in Youngsville on the Wake–Franklin county line, turns the whole farm into a winter wonderland lit by more than two… - [Gobbler's Run 5K — Wake Forest Thanksgiving Morning Race](https://grassyknees.com/raleigh/activities/gobbler-s-run-5k-wake-forest-thanksgiving-morning-race--listing-bb6025d24d406be2deae846f) — Thu, Nov 26 · 8:00 AM · Wake Forest Boys & Girls Club · All ages · Paid · checked Oct 30. Wake Forest's family-friendly Thanksgiving morning 5K draws about 2,500 runners and walkers, and all proceeds go to the Wake Forest Boys & Girls Club. Kids 5 and under run free… - [Lights on the Neuse Christmas Hayride](https://grassyknees.com/raleigh/activities/lights-on-the-neuse-christmas-hayride--listing-65b5152904bc09735b81bcd3) — Fri, Nov 27 (+15 more dates) · 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM · Boyette Family Farms, Clayton · All ages · From $11 · checked Oct 27. Lights on the Neuse is a farm Christmas light show at Boyette Family Farms outside Clayton in Johnston County, seen from an old-fashioned tractor-pulled hayride rather than from… - [Light Up Main: Small Business Saturday and Tree Lighting in Downtown Garner](https://grassyknees.com/raleigh/activities/light-up-main-small-business-saturday-and-tree-lighting-in-downtown-ga--listing-20e816c6547647c7fc7781c4) — Sat, Nov 28 · 3:00 PM – 6:00 PM · Downtown Garner · All ages · Free · checked Oct 30. Downtown Garner kicks off the holidays the Saturday after Thanksgiving with local vendors, food trucks, holiday activities, live performances by local choirs and dancers, a Very… - [Tea with Santa at The Umstead Hotel and Spa](https://grassyknees.com/raleigh/activities/tea-with-santa-at-the-umstead-hotel-and-spa--listing-b92b5f595383d22f157ba392) — Sat, Nov 28 (+6 more dates) · 10:30 AM · The Umstead Hotel and Spa, Cary · Up to 10 · From $125 · checked Oct 30. Children 10 and under visit with Santa, share wish lists and hear his stories about the elves and reindeer, with hot chocolate, savory and sweet bites, photography and a small… More for families in Raleigh: https://grassyknees.com/raleigh.md