15 FREE Thanksgiving Break Activities

Site Staff,
girl playing in leaves, for article on thanksgiving break in tulsa

Tulsa Public Schools students will be out of school from November 23-December 1, 2024. That’s NINE days! But don’t worry, there is plenty to do around town to keep the kiddos entertained. Here are more than 15 free activities happening in the Tulsa Metro during Thanksgiving Break, plus ten additional suggestions.

Looking for more? Check out our list of Indoor Places to Play, Places to Entertain Teens in Tulsa, Museum Roundup and Holiday Family Fun Guide.

And of course, you can always find our full Community Calendar at tulsakids.com/calendar!

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15+ Free Thanksgiving Break Activities in Tulsa and Beyond

1. Jenks Christmas Parade

  • November 23, 10 a.m.
  • Jenks Main Street

This amazing event will feature a display of floats, local organizations, and community members celebrating the holiday season

2. Christmas in Downtown – Lights On

  • November 23, 5-7 p.m.
  • Downtown Bixby

Join the city of Bixby in turning on the lights in Downtown Bixby! Featuring live music from Team Galaxy and a special visitor from the North Pole!

Victory Tile Ad

3. Dickens on the Boulevard

  • November 22-23, 6-9 p.m.
  • Downtown Claremore, The Lilac District

Kicking off the holiday season, Dickens on the Boulevard is a FREE Victorian themed Christmas event in Downtown Claremore’s Lilac District. Live entertainment, costume contest, period themed dancing, carriage rides, photos with Santa and late-night shopping. Fun for the whole family! downtownclaremore.org

4. USA BMX Grand Nationals

  • November 24-December 2
  • Expo Square, SageNet Center, 4145 E. 21st St.

Watch the top BMX athletes in the country compete in “the Greatest Race on Earth”! Find a schedule at usabmx.com/grands

5. Generations Celebrations: T-Rex Tea Party

  • November 26, 3-4 p.m.
  • Brookside Library, 1207 E. 45th Pl.

You are cordially invited to an afternoon tea with a T-Rex, in honor of DiNovember and family members young and old. Sponsored by the Friends of the Tulsa City-County Libraries. For all ages.

6. Tuesday with Tulsa Garden Club

  • November 26, 9 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
  • Teaching Garden at Woodward Park, 2435 S. Peoria Ave.

Tulsa Garden Club’s Generation Green team help future gardeners with a rotating lineup of hands-on planting, identification, pollinator, STEM and other fun, learning nature activities! Families and groups welcome; you can bring quarters to feed Teaching Garden fish. Groups can schedule/reserve dates via TulsaGardenClub@gmail.com.

7. Von Franken Family Food Run

  • November 28, 9 a.m.
  • River West Festival Park, 2100 S. Jackson Ave.

Everyone is invited to the 9 a.m. start Thanksgiving Day for the untimed 3-ish mile run/walk (or choose your own distance!) at River West Festival Park.

The event supports the Salvation Army by collecting donations of nonperishable food items and/or toys for the Angel Tree.

Oklahoma Alliance for Animals also will be there to collect supplies for our furry family members.

8. Bristow’s Route 66 Cowboy Christmas Tree Lighting

  • November 28, 5:50 p.m.
  • 8th and Main, Bristow

Join us on Historic Rt. 66 as we light our HUGE live Christmas tree! Come see Santa’s reindeer! Shopping, contests, and more! Bring your entire family and shop local!

9. Lights On at Utica Square

  • November 28, 6:30 p.m.
  • Utica Square, 21st and Utica

Celebrate the start of the holiday season and countdown to the illumination of 700,000 lights. While there, enjoy Christmas carols by some of Tulsa’s best musicians, stop by to take photos in the garden and take in the festivities, all hosted by Julie Chin.

10. Tiny Tulsa: Inclusive Play Program

  • November 23 and 30, 9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
  • Gathering Place, 2650 S. John Williams Way

On four Saturdays in November, Gathering Place will offer Tiny Tulsa, an inclusive play program in ONEOK Boathouse. This program is designed for Pre-K through 5th grade students and their families and features low lighting, soothing sounds, creative toys, art materials, and adaptive play elements in an inclusive environment, offering children with special needs a space to feel safe and play alongside others.

11. Rhema Lights

  • November 27, 6 p.m.; November 28-January 1, 5:30-11:30 p.m.
  • Rhema Bible Church, 1025 W. Kenosha, BA

Rhema’s incredible Christmas light display is free to attend. Snacks are available on-site, and donations are accepted.

12. Generations Celebrations: Frames and Fun

  • November 30, 2-3 p.m.
  • Rudisill Regional Library, 1520 N. Hartford Ave.

Make photos of yourself, family and friends look even better by putting them in frames designed by you! Sponsored by the Friends of the Tulsa City-County Libraries. For preschoolers to tweens.

13. Storytimes

Check out TulsaKids’ list of weekly and special storytimes at tulsakids.com/storytimes-in-tulsa/

14. Castle Christmas

  • Thanksgiving-New Year’s Eve, 5:30-10 p.m.
  • Castle of Muskogee, 3400 W. Fern Mountain Rd., Muskogee

Drive through Castleton Village decked out in Christmas lights! The drive-through is free; however, donations are appreciated. Additional activities, such as train rides, concessions, etc., cost extra.

15. Lights On at the Blue Whale

  • Dec. 1, 4:30 p.m.
  • Blue Whale of Catoosa

Kick off the holiday season with family fun, hot cocoa and community Christmas spirit!

Categories: things to do, Winter Fun

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