Veterans Day Weekend Guide: Parade, 5K, and Family Events in Colorado Springs
Veterans Day is November 11, but in Colorado Springs, the celebrations kick off this Saturday with one of the best community parades in the city. Here's everything COS families need to know to make the most of Veterans Day weekend โ from parade routes to kids' races to conversation starters for young ones.
Advertisement
Advertise hereSaturday, Nov 7: The Annual Veterans Day Parade
The annual In Their Honor Veterans Day Parade steps off in downtown Colorado Springs on Saturday, November 7. Historically, the parade begins at 11 AM and marches south along Tejon Street, from St. Vrain Street to Vermijo Avenue. Weather in early November can shift quickly at our altitude โ in 2024, the parade was delayed to noon due to snow โ so it's worth confirming the 2026 start time on the organizers' website before you head downtown.
The parade draws military units, veterans organizations, marching bands, ROTC groups, and community organizations from across Colorado Springs and the Front Range. For kids, it's a chance to see real veterans up close, wave at passing units, and begin to understand the community that surrounds them in a city with Fort Carson, the Air Force Academy, Peterson Space Force Base, Schriever Space Force Base, and Cheyenne Mountain.
Bring layers, a folding chair, and a flag. Good viewing spots fill up early along Tejon โ arriving by 10:30 AM is a reasonable plan. Parking is available in downtown garages. Street closures on Tejon will apply; check with the city of Colorado Springs for the specific closure map.
Sunday, Nov 8: Turkey Trails 5K and Kids Race
If your family is looking to move on Sunday morning, the Turkey Trails 5K starts at 8 AM. The race includes an adult 5K and a kids 5K for runners ages 15 and under, with a $15 registration fee for the kids event.
The Turkey Trails 5K is a popular Thanksgiving-season warm-up that falls conveniently on Veterans Day weekend. It's a great way to build a family routine around the holiday week โ and it burns off some energy before the parade coverage, school events, and eventual Thanksgiving prep begin.
Registration is available through RunSignup. If you haven't registered yet, check for day-of availability, though the kids race spots can fill ahead of time.
Monday, Nov 10: Veterans Day Observed
Veterans Day falls on Wednesday, November 11 in 2026, so most schools and many businesses observe the federal holiday on Monday, November 10. Many COS museums, the Air Force Academy, and local military-affiliated organizations host special events or offer free admission to veterans and military families on the observed holiday. Check with individual venues for 2026 specifics.
Talking to Kids at the Parade
The parade is a natural conversation starter. For little kids, keeping it simple works well: "These are people who worked very hard to help keep everyone safe." For older elementary kids, you can connect the visible military units to what they've learned in school about the different branches of the Armed Forces. For tweens and teens, the parade is an opening to talk about service, sacrifice, and what it means that so many of their neighbors, teachers, and friends' families have military ties.
Colorado Springs has one of the largest active-duty military populations of any city in the country. Veterans Day here isn't abstract โ it's personal for a large portion of the community.
What's Next
Confirm the parade start time and any street closures on the In Their Honor website before Saturday. Check RunSignup for Turkey Trails 5K registration status. Veterans Day itself, November 11, may bring additional events at local military installations โ check Fort Carson and the Air Force Academy websites for community open events, if any are scheduled for 2026. COS Parenting will post reminders on social media as the weekend approaches.
What locals are saying
Be the first to share your thoughts
Start the conversation about this article.
Leave a reply
More from Colorado Springs
Talking to Kids About Veterans Day: An Age-by-Age Guide for COS Families
With the Veterans Day parade on Saturday and a whole weekend of community events ahead, kids across Colorado Springs are going to have questions. This city is home to Fort Carson, the Air Force Academy, Peterson Space Fo
D49 and D11 Families: Plan Now for the No-School Days Coming This Week
Between Veterans Day weekend and two separate professional development days, COS families are navigating several no-school days in quick succession. Here's the full breakdown by district, so you can arrange childcare, pl
Flu Season Is Here: What COS Families Should Do Before Thanksgiving
Colorado confirmed its first pediatric flu death of the 2026-27 season on Monday, and health officials say this season is tracking earlier than last year. With the flu's typical December-to-January peak approaching โ and