Indiana State Parks is offering a Black Friday discount unlike any other sale you’d find at big-box retailers – free.
There is no charge for admission on Nov. 25, the day after Thanksgiving. The one-day, 100-percent deduction is part of a partnership to get people outside on a day that is traditionally associated with chasing deals and frustrating shopping experiences.
The offer applies to state parks, state reservoirs and state forest recreation areas.
Visitors can come after they are done shopping and decompress, or avoid stores altogether and hit the outdoors.
Outdoor gear retailer REI started the #OptOutside initiative in 2015, announcing it they would close all REI stores on Black Friday to encourage people to experience nature instead of long lines at cash registers.
This year, Indiana State Parks, the Indiana Natural Resources Foundation, and the nationwide organization America’s State Parks are partnering with REI to promote the concept.
State parks offer plenty of recreation opportunities in the late fall. Visitors can hike trails, take a bike ride, picnic, camp, or visit the restaurant at one of seven state park inns for lunch.
Indiana State Parks is inviting visitors to take a selfie at a recognizable location at the property they visit and post it on the division’s Facebook page, tagged with #OptOutside or #OptOutsideIN.
The Indiana State Parks Facebook page is facebook.com/INdnrstateparksandreservoirs.
Everyone who posts a photo will be entered in a drawing for a “hiking package” valued at $200, courtesy of the Indianapolis Castleton REI store. There will also be drawings for state park camping gift cards and state park annual entrance passes for 2017.
The REI hiking package includes set of trekking poles, a water bottle, a day pack and a pair of wool stocks, plus an Indiana State Parks annual entrance pass for 2017. The camping gift cards are courtesy of the Indiana Natural Resources Foundation.
