While the Black Friday shopping rush rages in the United States and much of the Western world, a completely different proposal arrives from Friuli Venezia Giulia. It’s called Green Friday – the 2025 edition is the first ever – and it’s an initiative that invites people to abandon shopping centers and immerse themselves in nature.
An alternative to consumerism
The idea was born from a collective of Friulian nature guides who imagined a different way of living the day after American Thanksgiving. Instead of dedicating themselves to the hunt for discounts, often compulsively, participants choose to invest time and energy in contact with the natural environment and in caring for the territory.
The project is based on values such as sobriety, slowness and respect for nature. On November 28, the date traditionally associated with the start of the Christmas shopping season, Green Friday offers excursions, guided walks, experiential activities and outdoor workshops, with the aim of promoting a connection with the environment and promoting a more conscious lifestyle.
A success that goes beyond regional borders
The initiative received a very positive response right from the start. The nature guides welcomed the proposal with enthusiasm and several oases and nature reserves decided to join the project. In Friuli Venezia Giulia, 12 initiatives were organized, distributed in various locations: from Artegna to Tavagnacco, from the mountain areas to eastern Friuli.
Green Friday quickly surpassed the borders of the region and the organizers received expressions of interest from colleagues in Veneto and even Sardinia, where similar proposals can be found on November 28th. The idea of ”relaxing in the green instead of taking refuge in the black” has won over many operators in the sector throughout Italy.
For all ages
An important aspect of the project is its great accessibility. The activities are designed for people of all ages and aim to create moments of sharing and discovery. Each event represents a concrete message: it is possible to choose an alternative life model to that of unbridled consumption, rediscovering the value of time spent outdoors and of the direct relationship with nature.
Some proposals for November 28th
The Green Friday program in Friuli Venezia Giulia offers various opportunities to live the day in an alternative way. Among the various initiatives on the calendar, two excursions represent the spirit of the event well: one on the outskirts of Udine and the other on the Adriatic coast.
Between Pontebbana and Cormor: nature behind the commercial road
On the afternoon of November 28th, in Tavagnacco, an excursion takes place which symbolically starts from the back of one of the busiest commercial arteries in the province of Udine: Pontebbana. The meeting is set for 2pm in the Mediaworld car park, precisely to underline the contrast between the consumerism of Black Friday and the choice to dedicate oneself to nature.
From this unusual starting point, participants enter the Cormor Valley to discover an area full of surprises: Bressane, unexpected chestnut groves, woods, historic villas and the Cormor stream, which does not always flow peacefully. The route extends for approximately 6.5 kilometers with a total height difference of 80 meters and lasts approximately three hours, concluding after sunset.
The itinerary winds along country roads, headlands and paths, with some short off-path sections and a rather steep descent-ascent where trekking poles can be useful. It is advisable to bring fitness walking shoes, a head torch for the evening return and a raincoat for any weather changes.
Traces on the sand in Lignano Sabbiadoro
On the morning of the same day, on the beach of Lignano Sabbiadoro, another excursion is held which proposes to read the traces left on the sand. The meeting point is at 10am at the beach office 18, on Lungomare Trieste.
The itinerary of approximately 6 kilometers, lasting two and a half hours, allows you to observe the dunes shaped by the wind and the traces of the local fauna that returns to frequent the beach in winter. But the excursion also offers food for thought on the traces left by man, the most evident and often most problematic for the environment.
The route is simple and develops between the beach, dunes and the Bella Italia cycle/pedestrian path, with a negligible difference in altitude. Also in this case we recommend walking shoes, clothing suitable for the weather conditions and a change of footwear in case they get filled with sand during the walk.
For information and reservations we leave you at the official website of the event.
