Free Admission To Oregon State Parks On 'Black Friday'

OREGON -- All Oregon State Parks will be free to enter on Black Friday. Dubbing the day "Green Friday" instead, the agency said parking fees will be waived at 26 state parks the day after Thanksgiving.

"We started this tradition three years ago to encourage people to opt outside," said Lisa Sumption, director of Oregon Parks and Recreation Department,. "Why not get some fresh air with your family and create a new holiday tradition?"

On top of the free entrance, the nonprofit Oregon State Parks Foundation is offering free hot drinks and snacks at Tryon Creek State Natural Area, Fort Stevens State Park, Silver Falls State Park and Cape Blanco State Park. Refreshments, which will be donated by Starbucks Coffee, Nossa Familia Coffee, Smith Tea, Stevens Cocoa and KIND Bars, will be served by volunteers from the local Friends Groups.

Parking is free year-round at almost all state parks; the waiver applies to the 26 parks that charge $5 daily for parking. The waiver applies from open to close on Nov. 24, except at Shore Acres State Park, where it expires at 3 p.m. for the Holiday Lights event that runs Thanksgiving through New Year's Eve.

For more information, go to oregonstateparks.org.

--Photo of Wallowa Lake State Park courtesy of the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department