Thanksgiving Day Weekend 2025 in Los Angeles: Parades, Turkey Trots, and More Things To Do

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Earn those Thanksgiving pies! Photo courtesy of Turkey Trot Los Angeles

Looking for the best things to do in Los Angeles on Thanksgiving Day and all Thanksgiving Day weekend? Here are some events and activities to add to your list for this long holiday weekend!

We'll go ahead and say it—we’re thankful. Our Thanksgiving weekend calendar is stuffed with activities reflecting the season's joy: Take part in a Turkey Trot, visit a flurry of holiday light displays, such as Tanaka Farm's Hikari and Holiday Road at King Gillette Ranch, or check out Grinchmas and Super Nintendo World during Holidays at Universal Studios Hollywood. To top it off, on Sunday, claim a spot on Hollywood Boulevard to watch the Hollywood Christmas Parade. 

Plus, discover all the activities and events open on Thanksgiving Day, find out which restaurants are open, and check out our Thanksgiving Activities Guide for Families for crafts, movies, and even Thanksgiving jokes. Happy Thanksgiving from all of us at Mommy Poppins! 

Thanksgiving Day Weekend 2025 in Dallas-Fort Worth: Turkey Trots, Home for the Holidays, and More Things To Do

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The YMCA Turkey Trot is a Dallas Thanksgiving tradition. Photo courtesy of YMCA of Metropolitan Dallas

Looking for the best things to do in Dallas-Fort Worth on Thanksgiving weekend 2025? Here are some family-friendly events and activities to add to your list for this Thanksgiving weekend.

Whether you're a Turkey Trot kind of family or a "bring on the Christmas lights" kind of family, Thanksgiving Weekend 2025 is full of fun for North Texans. Make your way to downtown Dallas on Thanksgiving morning to participate in the beloved YMCA Turkey Trot, head to the Crescent Club in Uptown for a sumptuous Thanksgiving brunch, or welcome back Prairie Lights in Grand Prairie. As for the rest of the weekend, it's all about Home for the Holidays in McKinney's historic downtown square, Home on the Range at PGA Frisco, Christmas at the Anatole, and Lights on the Farm in Plano.

For a special treat, enjoy North Texas Ballet's annual Christmas performance of The Nutcracker or the Fort Worth Symphony's Home for the Holidays! concert.

Thanksgiving Day Weekend 2025 in Orlando: Parades, Turkey Trots, and More Things To Do

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Enjoy holiday blooms and a gnome scavenger hunt throughout Leu Gardens during its annual holiday event, which kicks off this weekend. Photo by author

Looking for the best things to do in Orlando this Thanksgiving weekend? Here are some family-friendly events and activities to add to your list.

Orlando is bursting with things to do with kids this Thanksgiving weekend, including turkey trots and Christmas and holiday events. Sanford's Turkey Day 5K features a Thanksgiving costume contest in addition to the race; and Oviedo Mall's Turkey Trot has a free kiddie run with the regular 5K. After Thanksgiving, celebrate the holiday season in Eustis, Celebration, and at tourist attraction events like Epcot International Festival of the Holidays and Holidays at Leu Gardens. Looking for something beyond the seasonal holidays? Celebrate Central Florida's diverse cultures at Fusion Fest, complete with a street party, parade, and more!

Balloon Museum Dallas Soars to New Heights

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"Mariposa" is an art installation at Balloon Museum Dallas. Photo courtesy Balloon Museum Dallas

Looking for something new and cool to do with the kids during winter break? Five minutes south of downtown, you’ll find the North Texas’ latest art exhibition, Balloon Museum Dallas: “Let’s Fly – Art Has No Limits.” I had a chance to visit this immersive experience last week, and I can honestly say that I was blown away (pun intended). It’s hard to describe what you’ll find when you walk through the doors; a simple explanation doesn’t do it justice. This is something you’ll need to see firsthand, so if you’re looking for something to do with the kids in Dallas over the holiday season, consider scheduling a time to see it yourself. 

Top Tips for Visiting Macy's Santaland in 2025

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Santa is a busy man, so reservations are required to visit Santland at Macy's Herald Square in New York City in 2025. Photo by Marisa Iallonardo

There are few places to take pictures with Santa in New York City that compare with Macy's Santaland. It's a magical experience for tourists and natives alike during the Christmas season.

Macy's opens its 13,000-square-foot winter wonderland on Friday, November 28, 2025. Overflowing with holiday cheer from its live elves to an enchanted forest, animatronic toys, and a train display, Macy's Santaland 2025 is open daily through Christmas Eve: Wednesday, December 24, 2025.

As in previous years, visitors must book a FREE reservation to take pictures with Santa at Macy's Santaland, which requires some planning. Read on for everything you need to know about visiting Macy's Santaland 2025, and find more top picks for holiday fun in our NYC Kids' Guide Christmas and the Holidays, including the season's can't-miss Christmas activities for families.

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