Last updated: November 5, 2026. Dates below are for November 2026.
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November is the best month of the year for free kids events. Stores are busy getting families through the door before the holidays, so they hand out crafts, build kits, plush toys and photos with Santa without asking you to buy anything. If you plan it right, your kids can build a dump truck, a LEGO scene and a toy train, make a turkey and an ornament, and come home with a reindeer and a teddy bear keychain, all for $0.
We checked every event below against the store’s own page or a recent announcement, and we added the details most roundups skip: the hours, whether you need to register, and what to bring. Store participation can vary, so always do a quick check of your local store before you load everyone into the car.
💡 Saving on holiday gifts too? While you plan the weekends, browse today’s deals and coupon codes on OneStop4Deals. We update them every day through the holidays.
Free kids events in November 2026 at a glance
| Date | Store | Free activity | Time (local) | Sign up? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sat, Nov 7 | The Home Depot | Dump Truck build | 9 a.m. to noon | Register online |
| Sat, Nov 7 | Target | Holiday bear keychain | Noon to 4 p.m. | No, while supplies last |
| Sat, Nov 7 | Bass Pro Shops & Cabela’s | Santa’s arrival + mini reindeer plush | 5 p.m. | No, while supplies last |
| Sat, Nov 7 | Tractor Supply | Kids craft + Touch-a-Truck | Varies by store | Check your store |
| Sat-Sun, Nov 7-8 | Bank of America Museums on Us | Free museum entry for cardholders | Museum hours | Card + photo ID |
| Sun, Nov 8 | Michaels | Holiday Ornament craft | 1 to 3 p.m. | Sign up online |
| Fri-Sun, Nov 13-15 | Barnes & Noble | LEGO holiday build | Varies by store | Reserve with your store |
| Sat, Nov 14 | Lowe’s | Holiday Engine build | 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. | Register online |
| Sat, Nov 14 | JCPenney | 3D Turkey craft (Kids Zone) | 11 a.m. to noon | No |
| Sat, Nov 14 | Michaels | Kids Club: Air-Dry Clay Figurines | 10 a.m. to noon | Sign up online |
| Sun, Nov 15 | Michaels | Cookie Cutter Clay Ornaments | 1 to 3 p.m. | Sign up online |
| Sat, Nov 21 | The Home Depot | Christmas Car build | 9 a.m. to noon | Register online |
Saturday, November 7: the busiest free kids events day of the month
November 7 is stacked. With a little planning you can hit three or four of these free kids events in one day: a workshop in the morning, Target after lunch and Bass Pro at 5 p.m.
The Home Depot Kids Workshop: Dump Truck (9 a.m. to noon)
The Home Depot Kids Workshop has been running since 1997, and it is still one of the best free things you can do with kids on a Saturday morning. This month kids build a wooden dump truck with real hammers and nails, then paint and decorate it.
- Who it’s for: Home Depot says the workshops are made for kids ages 5 to 12.
- What kids take home: the finished project plus a kids’ apron, an apron pin and a certificate of achievement, according to Home Depot’s own write-up of the program.
- How to sign up: register online for your store to reserve a kit. When you arrive, ask at the customer service desk where the workshop is set up that day.
- Tip: go early. Kits can open up to walk-ins closer to noon, but popular stores run out.
Target: free holiday bear keychain (noon to 4 p.m.)
Participating Target stores are giving away a free plaid holiday teddy bear keychain, one per guest, from noon to 4 p.m. while supplies last, as reported by TheStreet. No purchase is needed. The toy department will also have demos so kids can try a few toys and start their wish lists.
- Not every store takes part, and kids under 16 need an adult with them.
- The bears go fast at busy stores. If you are coming from the Home Depot workshop, head straight over at noon.
Bass Pro Shops & Cabela’s: Santa arrives + free mini reindeer plush (5 p.m.)
Santa’s Wonderland opens with an outdoor welcome party for Santa at 5 p.m. local time on November 7 at Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s stores in the U.S. and Canada. There are seasonal treats and a free Mini Reindeer Plush for kids while supplies last (official announcement).
From Sunday, November 8 through December 24, Santa’s Wonderland is open inside the store with:
- A free 4×6 photo with Santa and a free video you can share. Bigger photo packages cost extra.
- Free crafts and activities, plus a mailbox for letters to Santa. Add an email address and Santa writes back.
- Weekday freebies while supplies last: a Santa ornament craft (Nov 9-27) and a Bass sticker-by-number sheet (Nov 30-Dec 18).
- Christmas Tales story time with Santa and Mrs. Claus at 5 p.m. on Tuesdays (Nov 10-Dec 22).
How to skip the line: book a free Santa time at basspro.com/santa or cabelas.com/santa. Reservations open up to seven days ahead, and walk-ins are welcome too.
Tractor Supply: Hometown Heroes family event (hours vary)
Tractor Supply is marking Hometown Heroes Day on November 7 with a free family event that includes a kids’ craft and a Touch-a-Truck, where kids can climb into big trucks and equipment. Hours and activities change from store to store, so call your local store first. Military members, veterans and first responders in the Neighbor’s Club also get 10% off on November 7 and November 11.
Weekend of November 7-8: free museum day with Bank of America
If you bank with Bank of America, the Museums on Us program gets you free general admission to more than 225 museums, zoos and science centers on the first full weekend of every month. In November that is Saturday and Sunday, November 7-8.
- Show an active Bank of America, Merrill or Bank of America Private Bank credit or debit card plus a photo ID.
- The free entry is for the cardholder. Kids’ tickets are not covered, so check the museum’s prices for children (many charge little or nothing for young kids).
- Special exhibits may cost extra. Look up your nearest participating museum on Bank of America’s site before you go.
Michaels: free holiday crafts on November 8, 14 and 15
Michaels has a run of free holiday classes this month, and three of them fit kids well (Parade has the full list):
- Sunday, Nov 8, 1-3 p.m.: Holiday Ornament made with foam and pom-poms, or a personalized decoration.
- Saturday, Nov 14, 10 a.m.-noon: Kids Club Air-Dry Clay Figurines.
- Sunday, Nov 15, 1-3 p.m.: Cookie Cutter Clay Ornaments.
Sign up for your store at michaels.com/classes. Michaels classes are some of the calmer free kids events of the month, so they suit younger or shy kids. The ornaments make a sweet gift for grandparents, so write the date on the back.
November 13-15: Barnes & Noble LEGO holiday build
The Barnes and Noble LEGO event is one of the most searched free kids events every season, and it books up fast. From Friday, November 13 to Sunday, November 15, select stores host a free holiday LEGO build where kids put together a small Christmas model and take it home.
- You need a spot. Spots are limited, so call or visit your local store to reserve one. Times change by location.
- Find your store with the Barnes & Noble store locator and check its events page.
- This is a great one for kids who are a little old for the craft-table events.
Saturday, November 14: Lowe’s, JCPenney and Michaels
Saturday the 14th is the second big day of the month. You can do Lowe’s at 10, JCPenney at 11 and still be home for lunch.
Lowe’s Kids Workshop: Holiday Engine (10 a.m. to 1 p.m.)
The Lowe’s kids workshop this month is a Holiday Engine, a wooden toy train engine that kids build and decorate.
- How to sign up: sign in or create a free Lowe’s account, then pick your store and time slot. Registration closes on the day of the event.
- Check-in: your confirmation email is your ticket. Show the QR code to the Workshop Captain when you arrive.
- Bonus: kids earn digital badges for each workshop they finish.
- Coming up next at Lowe’s: the Holiday Trolley Car on December 12.
JCPenney Kids Zone: 3D Turkey craft (11 a.m. to noon)
JCPenney’s Kids Zone is the easiest event of the month: no registration, just show up. Kids make a 3D turkey just in time for Thanksgiving.
- It runs for one hour only, so be on time. Supplies are limited.
- A parent has to stay with the child.
- Kids get a badge, lanyard and collector’s pin, and adults get a 10% off coupon, which is handy for holiday shopping while you’re in the store.
Saturday, November 21: Home Depot Christmas Car
The Home Depot is adding a second November workshop, a Christmas Car build on November 21, 9 a.m. to noon. This one falls on the third Saturday instead of the usual first Saturday, so double-check the date on your store’s workshop page when you register. The next Home Depot workshop after that is the Holiday Train on December 5.
Tips to get the most from free kids events
A little prep makes free kids events far less stressful, especially on the busy Saturdays.
- Register the same day you read this. Home Depot, Lowe’s, Michaels and Barnes & Noble spots fill up, especially at busy stores.
- Call your local store. Every event above says “participating” or “select” stores. A 30-second call saves a wasted trip.
- Arrive 15 minutes early. Anything marked “while supplies last” (Target bears, Bass Pro reindeer, JCPenney kits) can run out in the first hour.
- Dress for mess. Paint and glue are part of the Home Depot and Lowe’s builds. The aprons help, but old clothes are better.
- Bring a bag or box. Wet paint, LEGO pieces and clay figurines travel better in a shoebox.
- Plan a route. Many of these stores sit in the same shopping area. Map them the night before and you can do three events in one morning.
- Save the freebies as gifts. Ornaments, clay figures and the reindeer plush make easy stocking stuffers or presents for grandparents.
For more ways to save this season, read our guide on how to use coupons, and if you’re already making a list, see our best Christmas gifts for 2026.
FAQ: free kids events in November
Are these free kids events really free?
Yes. None of the events above require a purchase. The only exceptions are optional extras, like a bigger Santa photo package at Bass Pro Shops. Museums on Us is free only for Bank of America cardholders, and kids’ tickets aren’t included.
Do I need to register for the Home Depot kids workshop?
It’s strongly recommended. Registering online reserves a kit for your child. Some stores take walk-ins later in the morning if kits are left, but there’s no guarantee.
How do I sign up for the Barnes & Noble LEGO event?
Spots are limited and handled by each store. Use the Barnes & Noble store locator to find your nearest store, then call or visit to reserve a spot for November 13-15.
What age is the Lowe’s kids workshop for?
Lowe’s doesn’t list an age range on the event page. The projects are simple wooden builds, and younger kids will need a parent’s help with the hammer.
Do all stores take part?
No. Each event runs at participating or select stores, and hours can vary. Check your local store’s event page or call ahead.
Make a plan for the month
Here’s the whole month on one page. Save it to your phone, print it for the fridge, or share it with other parents.
Pick two Saturdays, November 7 and November 14, and you can fit in nearly every one of these free kids events. Register for the workshops tonight, put the others on the family calendar, and let the kids choose which freebie they’re most excited about.
Which event is your family going to first? And before you head out, check the latest deals and coupons on OneStop4Deals so the holiday shopping costs less too.
