National Park goes green on Black Friday, offers free admission

Published 12:05 pm Tuesday, November 24, 2015

Following a national movement to go outside on Black Friday, Olympic National Park, along with Mount Rainier National Park, will offer free admission on Nov. 27.

Members of the Washington National Park Fund, a nonprofit supporting the state’s three largest national parks, made the announcement recently following REI’s movement #OptOutside to turn the day into an opportunity to enjoy the outdoors. Park organizers are calling the local experience “Green Friday.”

Randy King, superintendent of Mount Rainier National Park, said the crowds are greatly diminished at the parks this time of year so “you’ll feel like the parks are all yours, which in fact they are!”

Marc Berejka, REI’s Director for Community and Government Affairs, said “Mount Rainier and Olympic National Parks are two of this state’s most phenomenal places. When families, adventurers or groups of friends go there, they’re creating memories for a lifetime.”

“Whether it’s snowshoeing, skiing, hiking or taking a scenic walk, we really encourage everyone to make time to get out into nature,” said Bret Wirta, board president of Washington’s National Park Fund.

“Making the national parks part of your Thanksgiving tradition can create treasured memories that would certainly be more meaningful than any shopping bargain you may find that day.”

Over seven years, Washington’s National Park Fund has helped contribute more than $3 million for the benefit of Mount Rainier, North Cascades and Olympic National Parks.

For more information, visit www.wnpf.org. For more information about the National Parks, visit www.nps.gov.