Instead of lining up outside big box stores, East Bay families can spend today in the hills, along the shoreline, or at a working Victorian farm — without paying the usual entrance and parking charges.
The East Bay Regional Park District (EBRPD) is waiving all entrance and park use fees today, Friday, November 28, 2025, as part of its annual Green Friday celebration. That means free parking, free boat launching, free fishing permits, and free admission at Ardenwood Historic Farm in Fremont.
Fees are still required for state fishing licenses, watercraft inspections, and private concessions like the Tilden Park Merry-Go-Round.
What Green Friday Covers (And What It Normally Costs)
On a typical day, many East Bay regional parks charge a flat $5 day use parking fee at kiosks.
At Ardenwood Historic Farm, regular winter admission starts around $4 for adults and $2 for children, rising to $6 for adults on many days during the main season.
Today, all of those charges are waived district-wide.
For a family that might normally pay $5 to park plus $10 or more for farm admission, that makes Green Friday a real bargain.
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A Decade of Turning Black Friday Green
Green Friday is EBRPD’s local spin on the national #OptOutside movement, which encourages people to trade crowded stores for time in nature on the day after Thanksgiving.
The district has been celebrating Green Friday for more than 10 years, positioning it as a healthier way to spend the long weekend and a chance to give back through volunteer projects.
The East Bay Regional Park District is the largest regional park system in the country, with 73 parks, 55 miles of shoreline, and more than 1,330 miles of trails across Alameda and Contra Costa counties.
For residents in the 925, that includes favorites like Las Trampas near Danville, Diablo Foothills above Walnut Creek, and the Iron Horse Regional Trail that threads through central Contra Costa.
Today’s Green Friday Events
In addition to simply opening the gates for free, the district has scheduled a full slate of hikes, family programs, and volunteer projects today. Highlights include:
- Volunteer planting at Contra Loma, Antioch (9 a.m., registration requested)
- Green Friday Hike at Black Diamond Mines, Antioch (9 a.m., drop-in)
- Green Friday Hike Amongst the Trees at Reinhardt Redwood, Oakland (9 a.m., drop-in)
- Green Friday Gratitude Hike at Sunol Wilderness, Sunol (10 a.m., drop-in)
- Green Friday Hike at Coyote Hills, Fremont (10:30 a.m., drop-in)
- Volunteer invasive plant removal at Quarry Lakes in Fremont and Contra Loma in Antioch (9 a.m. to noon, registration required)
There are also kid-friendly story times and farm activities during the day at Crown Beach, Ardenwood, and other sites. More here: https://www.ebparks.org/calendar/day/20251128
A full list of Green Friday events, locations, and registration links is available on EBRPD’s Green Friday page at ebparks.org/green-friday.
Make sure to confirm times/availability before you go, and enjoy the great outdoors!
