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If the thought of stepping foot inside a store on Black Friday makes you queasy, we're here to help. 

From hitting the great outdoors (for free!) to ringing in the new year, here are a few other special ways to spend the day after Thanksgiving. 

Walk off that turkey dinner at a state park

If you ate a little too much or you're not sick of your family yet, some good news. Once again, entrance fees to all 75 Minnesota state parks and recreation areas 

 in an effort to get Minnesotans to spend time with family outdoors. 

On most days, the state charges $7 for a daily vehicle permit.

A few parks are offering special programs that day, including:

learn how to start a fire without matches or a lighter.

 From 3 p.m. to 4 p.m., a park naturalist will lead a one-mile hike to the upper cliff line 

 or signs of wild turkey. (Speaking of wild turkeys, 

The Department of Natural Resources says there's a state park within 30 miles of most Minnesotans. 

Instead of waking up at the crack of dawn to go shopping, how about waking before sunrise to check out some art?

Mia, the Minneapolis Institute of Art, is 

Museum-goers can check out the "Eyewitness Views: Making History in 18th-Century Europe" exhibit for free (normally $20); tickets are first come, first served. 

When current events were captured in paintings

The Twin Cities is home to the largest urban concentration of Hmong in the United States. This weekend, St. Paul hosts the 

The three-day event, beginning Friday, was traditionally a harvest celebration and a time for young people to meet each other. Heads up: Watch out for flying tennis balls. The traditional Hmong courtship ritual is a ball-tossing game call "pov pob." It gives people the chance to talk and woo potential partners.  

10 things you might not know about the Hmong

By Friday, holiday light shows and parades will be in full swing across Minnesota. Some shows continue through the season, and others are one-offs. 

Here's a sampling of what's up on Friday in towns across the state (disclaimer: This is by no means meant to be a comprehensive list, nor an attempt to offend any 

. Rather, it's just a sampling from across much of the state.):

 kicks off Friday night in Loring Park. Metro Transit is offering free rides to the free event.

Why one St. Paul man lights up his neighborhood for the holidays

 show starts Friday at 6 p.m. in Sibley Park with a parade. Free for all.

 "America's Largest Free Walk Through Lighting Display" — the 

 — continues Friday night from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m.

 After a day of holiday-themed events, the city is hosting a parade and bonfire as part of its "

 continues Friday night, this year featuring more than 31,000 LED lights with shows every 10 minutes from 5 to 10 p.m.

" runs through downtown beginning at 6 p.m.

Lifestyle

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Cody Nelson

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Nancy Yang

Hitting the great outdoors (for free!), ringing in the new year, or scoping out some art or holiday lights are among your options.

4 alternatives to the madness that is Black Friday in Minnesota

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