People shop ahead of Black Friday at a Walmart Supercenter in Burbank, Calif., on Nov. 14, 2023.
Mario Tama/Getty Images
This story originally published in 2023.
The Super Bowl of shopping. The all-American consumption blitz. The best of capitalism — or the absolute worst.
Whether you love it or hate it, Black Friday is once again dominating advertisements and inboxes with bold claims of deals and discounts.
And, sure, you could argue that this old shopping standby is evolving — no longer just a day but a whole long weekend with Small Business Saturday, Cyber Mondayand GivingTuesday. You might even call it “Black November,” with some seasonal sales having started days ago.
But if you’re looking to put away your pocketbook entirely? Organized alternatives for the day can feel scarce.
Thankfully, you’ve come to the right place.
Below are four creative trends when it comes to ditching the cart, plus tips for participating, if that’s your jam.
A hiker takes in the fall colors as she makes her way along the Indian Ladder Trail at John Boyd Thacher State Park in Voorheesville, New York.
Mike Groll/AP
1. Go for a hike
If you’re active on Instagram, there’s a good chance you may be familiar with the #OptOutside movement.
The trend started in 2015, when REI, the outdoor outfitting behemoth, announced that it would close its doors for Black Friday and pay its workers to go play in nature.
The bold move proved so good for PR that the company has committed to making it an annual tradition. REI says that more than 100 organizations and millions of people have followed its lead.
If you, too, want to choose trails over aisles, start by checking out the websites of your local state and national parks. Some have started waiving fees or offering special events for Black Friday.
Additionally, if you’re venturing out in cold weather, NPR’s Brian Mann offers these safety tips.
2. Try “buy nothing” groups
You might remember “Buy Nothing Day” as an anti-consumerist stunt from the early 2000s that featured participants wearing zombie costumes and conga lines of empty shopping carts.
At its core, however, the concept is a boycott of Black Friday. Started by the group Adbusters, Buy Nothing Day was intended to be a 24-hour period in which individuals refrain from making purchases as a personal stand against unsustainable consumption.
One reason Buy Nothing Day failed to catch on was that it faced backlash in the wake of the 9/11 attacks. During that time, national sentiment suggested that shopping could be an act of patriotism — a way to boost the economy and therefore beef up America’s stature in a burgeoning war against terrorism.
These days, Buy Nothing Day still exists, but the more mainstream distillation of the idea endures in the Buy Nothing Project. Millions of people participate in the series of community-centered giveaway groups powered by Facebook and, more recently, an app.
If you want to break the buying trend, check out some options for meaningful gift-giving from NPR’s Life Kit.
3. Celebrate Native American Heritage Month
On some calendars, you may see Native American Heritage Day listed for the Friday after Thanksgiving.
A dancer participates in an intertribal dance at the Schemitzun celebration on the Mashantucket Pequot reservation in Connecticut.
Jessica Hill/AP
The day was formally made into a U.S. civil holiday in 2008, conceived as a way to pay tribute to tribes and their contributions to the country.
But some Native Americans have criticized the holiday’s timing, saying it was picked in poor taste.
Firstly, the holiday comes straight after Thanksgiving, which some Native Americans call the National Day of Mourning due to its long-standing connection to colonialism. Research from University College London estimates that European settlers killed 56 million Indigenous people across South, Central and North America over the course of 100 years.
Secondly, the holiday coincides with Black Friday, which some view as a celebration of capitalist greed and gluttony.
In recent years, U.S. presidents have issued proclamations to observe Indigenous Peoples’ Day on Columbus Day, the federal holiday that falls in October and celebrates Christopher Columbus’ voyage.
But the month of November is designated as Native American Heritage Month.
There are no set rules for observing the time, but some Native American groupssuggest making space for reflection, recognition and education.
You might start by looking up and formally acknowledging which Indigenous lands you’re living on or visiting and then checking for local events or digging into books and podcasts. Check out this edition of NPR’s Up First newsletter for a handy list of ideas.
The Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum in Washington, D.C.
Andrew Harnik/AP
4. Learn something new
If the lure of a good deal is too much to give up, consider checking out your public library. As the New York Public Librarylikes to point out in an annual ad campaign, the inventory is literally free.
For the last few years, The New York Public Library has released cheesy, TV-style Black Friday ads reminding members their books are free to read.YouTube
And they’re not the only public institution that says brainy is the new black.
NASA uses the day to share fun facts about black holes. Museums across the country offer special events and discounted admission. And, of course, NPR will still be broadcasting.
Find your local radio station or tune in to the NPR app to access the latest news and compelling stories — free on Friday, Saturday, Sunday … and every single day of the year.
