Thanksgiving With Kids in San Antonio (2026)
Last updated by Moms Guide SA
Quick answer
Thanksgiving is Thursday, Nov. 26, 2026. Kids 10 and under can run the SARR Pumpkin Dash at 8:15 a.m. that morning. On Black Friday, Magik Theatre has a pay-what-you-wish Grinch at 2 p.m., and the Ford Holiday River Parade starts at 6 p.m. with a free viewing area. Saturday brings the free Tobin Center Holiday Art Market.
- Kids' race
- SARR Pumpkin Dash, Thu., Nov. 26, 8:15 a.m.
- River Parade
- Fri., Nov. 27, 6 p.m.
- School break
- Nov. 23 to 27 for Northside and North East ISD
Quick picks
- Magik Theatre
Pay-what-you-wish Grinch on Fri. Nov. 27 at 2 p.m. Tickets are sold only at the door that day. For ages 3 and up.
- Tobin Center for the Performing Arts
Free River Parade viewing party on Fri. Nov. 27, and a free Holiday Art Market with photos with Santa on Sat. Nov. 28.
- Enchanted Springs Ranch
The Old West Christmas Light Fest opens Fri. Nov. 27, 5 to 10 p.m. Kids 5 and under are free.
- Devine Acres
Christmas CountryFest opens on Black Friday, Nov. 27, then runs weekends through Dec. 20. A visit with Santa comes with admission.
- The Rock at La Cantera
The outdoor skating rink is open 4 to 10 p.m. during Thanksgiving week, except on Thanksgiving Day, when it's closed.
Turkey trots with kids' races
Thanksgiving morning runs. Sign up early, and check each race page for prices before you register.
We don't have a page for these yet. The link goes to the official site.
- SARR Turkey Trot and Kids' Pumpkin Dash Thu., Nov. 26, at The Rim Trailhead, 17612 Vance Jackson Rd. The Kids' Pumpkin Dash, for ages 10 and under, starts at 8:15 a.m. The 4-miler starts at 8:30 a.m. and the 2-miler at 8:35 a.m. The race page shows two prices for the kids' dash, so check it when you sign up.
- San Antonio Food Bank Turkey Trot 5K Thu., Nov. 26. It's a 5K, with no separate kids' race listed. Check the Food Bank's site for the start time, the place and kids' prices.
What's open on Thanksgiving Day
Thu., Nov. 26, 2026. We list a place as closed or open only when its own site says so. For the rest, check the venue's site before you go.
| Place | Thanksgiving Day |
|---|---|
| The DoSeum | Closed |
| Witte Museum | Closed |
| San Antonio Museum of Art | Closed |
| San Antonio Missions | Closed |
| Skating rink at The Rock at La Cantera | Closed |
| The Light Park at Wolff Stadium | Open 5:30 to 11 p.m. (drive-thru lights) |
| Lights Alive! at Alamo Ranch | Open 6 to 10 p.m. (drive-thru lights) |
| San Antonio Zoo | Hours not posted yet |
| SeaWorld San Antonio | Hours not posted yet |
| Six Flags Fiesta Texas | Hours not posted yet |
Black Friday with kids
Fri., Nov. 27. The holiday season starts tonight, when the River Walk lights come on after the parade.
| Event | Time | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Pay-what-you-wish Grinch at Magik Theatre | 2 p.m. | Any amount, at the door that day only |
| River Parade viewing party at the Tobin Center | Plaza opens 5 p.m., ends 8 p.m. | Free |
| Ford Holiday River Parade | 6 p.m., from the Tobin Center | Seats are ticketed for ages 2 and up. Free viewing area |
| Old West Christmas Light Fest opens | 5 to 10 p.m. | Ages 6 and up $25, plus fees online. Kids 5 and under free |
| Lights Alive! at Alamo Ranch | 6 to 11 p.m. | One ticket per vehicle |
| Christmas CountryFest at Devine Acres opens | Santa from 10:30 a.m. | Check the farm's site for prices |
- Strollers, ice chests and carriers aren't allowed on the River Walk for the parade.
- The free viewing area is on the east side of the River Walk, between Pecan Street and Richmond Avenue. Spots are first come, first served, so bring a chair.
Saturday and Sunday
Nov. 28 and 29, 2026.
Tobin Center for the Performing Arts
Holiday Art Market, Sat. Nov. 28, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Free, with photos with Santa, a mechanical reindeer, reindeer lawn games and more than 80 local vendors.
San Antonio
Magik Theatre
How the Grinch Stole Christmas runs Nov. 21 to Dec. 24, for ages 3 and up. On Sun. Nov. 29 at 3 p.m. educators get one free ticket with ID at the box office that day.
San Antonio
We don't have a page for these yet. The link goes to the official site.
- Dickens on Main in Boerne Thanksgiving weekend on Main Street in Boerne, with live music, lights, kids' activities and snow. Days and times aren't posted yet.
Thanksgiving break camps
Our winter camps page lists the camps that run Thanksgiving week, with ages, hours and prices.
- Northside ISD: no school Mon., Nov. 23 to Fri., Nov. 27.
- North East ISD: no school Mon., Nov. 23 to Fri., Nov. 27.
Free things to do Thanksgiving week
No ticket needed for these. For more ideas, see free things to do with kids.
Museums
San Antonio Museum of Art (SAMA)
Kids 12 and under get in free. Closed on Thanksgiving Day.
San Antonio
Parks & Playgrounds
Yanaguana Garden
San Antonio
Parks & Playgrounds
Brackenridge Park
Historic park with train and playgrounds
San Antonio
Parks & Playgrounds
Phil Hardberger Park (West / Military Hwy)
Urban nature park with famous Skywalk
San Antonio
- The River Walk lights come on after the parade on Nov. 27 and stay on from sundown to sunrise into early January. Seeing them is free.
- The River Parade has a free viewing area, and the Tobin Center viewing party is free.
- The Tobin Center Holiday Art Market on Nov. 28 is free.
Thanksgiving week events
Events from Nov. 21 to 29, from our events calendar. Times change, so check with the organizer.
DR. SEUSS’ HOW THE GRINCH STOLE CHRISTMAS
Magik Theatre
Nov 21 to Nov 29, multiple dates
Holidays at The Rock: Opening Night Tree Lighting
The Rock at La Cantera
Nov 21 · 7 p.m.
Little Scientist Workshop: Turkeys
Maverick Branch Library
Nov 24 · 12:15 p.m.
SARR Turkey Trot and Kids' Pumpkin Dash
The Rim Trailhead
Nov 26 · 8:15 a.m.
San Antonio Food Bank Turkey Trot 5K
Commander's House at H-E-B Arsenal
Nov 26 · 8:30 a.m.
Christmas CountryFest at Devine Acres
Devine Acres
Nov 27 to Nov 29, multiple dates
Pearl Holiday Tree Lighting
The Pearl
Nov 27
Ford Holiday River Parade
San Antonio River Walk (starts at the Tobin Center)
Nov 27 · 6 p.m.
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Questions parents ask
What's open on Thanksgiving Day in San Antonio with kids?
The DoSeum, the Witte Museum, the San Antonio Museum of Art and the San Antonio Missions are closed Thursday, Nov. 26. The Light Park is open 5:30 to 11 p.m. and Lights Alive! at Alamo Ranch is open 6 to 10 p.m. The zoo, SeaWorld and Six Flags haven't posted Thanksgiving hours yet.
Is there a kids' turkey trot in San Antonio?
Yes. The SARR Turkey Trot has a Kids' Pumpkin Dash for ages 10 and under at 8:15 a.m. on Thanksgiving morning, at The Rim Trailhead on Vance Jackson Road. The San Antonio Food Bank Turkey Trot is a 5K that day too.
When is the River Parade in 2026?
Friday, Nov. 27, at 6 p.m., starting at the Tobin Center. Seats are ticketed for ages 2 and up. A free viewing area on the east side of the River Walk is first come, first served. The Tobin Center's free viewing party opens its plaza at 5 p.m.
What can kids do on Black Friday in San Antonio?
Magik Theatre's pay-what-you-wish Grinch is at 2 p.m., and the River Parade is at 6 p.m. The Old West Christmas Light Fest in Boerne opens that night, 5 to 10 p.m., and Christmas CountryFest at Devine Acres opens that day.
When is Thanksgiving break 2026 in San Antonio?
Northside ISD and North East ISD are off Monday, Nov. 23 to Friday, Nov. 27, 2026. Check your own district calendar for other districts. See Thanksgiving break camps for camps that week.
Holiday guides
More holiday plans for San Antonio families, from Thanksgiving to New Year's Day.
How we check facts
We check the facts in this guide on each venue's official site, and we update the guide when they change.
We don't make up ratings or reviews.