Tired of the post-Thanksgiving shopping frenzy? San Diegans are encouraged to trade their shopping bags for hiking boots this holiday weekend with the return of Green Friday, a wonderful initiative by San Diego County Parks designed to get friends, families, and residents out and about enjoying our spectacular green spaces on Friday, November 28, 2025. Plus, the County is waiving all of its $5 day-use parking fees at participating parks, making it even easier to connect with the great outdoors!
Read on to learn more about this weekend-long celebration, offering free activities for all ages, interests, and abilities.
Green Friday Weekend Events
Green Friday Nature Hike at Dictionary Hill County Park
- Time: Friday, November 28, 10:00-11:30am
- Location: 1710 Buena Vista Ave, Spring Valley, CA 91977
- Details: Join a ranger and a local biologist for a mile-long hike, exploring the beautiful California coastal sage scrub and enjoying the view from the 1,500 ft. summit.
Green Friday Discovery Touch Table at San Dieguito County Park
- Time: Friday, November 28, 10:00am-12:00pm
- Location: 1628 Lomas Santa Fe Drive, Del Mar, CA 92014
- Details: Get up close with nature's ambassadors, including a live king snake and a blue-tongued skink.
Star Party at Sycamore Canyon
- Time: Friday, November 28, 7:00-10:00pm
- Location: Highway 67 Staging Area), 13898 CA-67, Lakeside
- Details: Join Park Rangers and the San Diego Astronomy Association for an evening of stargazing and fun at Sycamore Canyon. (Cloud cover will cancel this event.)
Hiking Stick Workshop at Sweetwater Summit Regional Park
- Time: Saturday, November 29, 10:00am
- Location: 3218 Summit Meadow Road, Bonita, CA 91902
- Details: Craft your own hiking stick, then immediately put it to use on a guided nature hike.
Walk, Talk, and Read: Story Trails
The popular Story Trails program is back in partnership with the San Diego County Library! Book pages will be placed on signs along popular, kid-friendly trails, allowing you to walk, talk, and read your way through 16 county parks. Books vary by location, with some available in both English and Spanish, and will be available through the entire Thanksgiving holiday weekend.
Partnering parks:
- Adams County Park (Valley Center)
- Dos Picos County Park (Ramona)
- El Monte County Park (Lakeside)
- Estrella County Park (Spring Valley)
- Felicita County Park (Escondido)
- Flinn Springs County Park (El Cajon)
- Lake Morena County Park (Campo)
- Lincoln Acres County Park (National City)
- Louis A. Stelzer County Park (Lakeside)
- Otay Lakes County Park (South County)
- Pine Valley County Park (Pine Valley)
- Potrero County Park (Potrero)
- Guajome Regional Park (Oceanside)
- San Dieguito County Park (Del Mar)
- Santa Ysabel Nature Center (East County)
- Spring Valley County Park (Spring Valley)
Green Friday Weekend Volunteer Opportunities
For those who want to give back to the parks they love, there are numerous family-friendly volunteer opportunities throughout the weekend. Supplies and instruction will be provided for all activities.
Friday, November 28
Saturday, November 29
Sunday, November 30
For more information and future volunteer sign-up links, visit the San Diego County Parks website.
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