As you relax after a great Thanksgiving meal, you might be wondering how you should spend Black Friday. But standing in long lines after desperately scrambling to try and get that new TV? Too stressful.
So we challenge you this year to spend your Black Friday differently with Loggerhead Marinelife Center’s annual Blue Friday event! We’re providing alternative family-friendly activities to the usual traditions by encouraging our community members to lend a hand. Beginning at 8 a.m., Blue Friday will include off-campus coastal environment clean-ups, a Wasteland Interactive Exhibit, free on-campus programming and so much more. Of course, there are a few keys activities you’ll definitely want to hit up. Luckily, we’ve got our checklist right here. See if you can do them all!
Clean Up Your Community
Guests can meet LMC staff members at various off-campus locations to assist* in cleaning up coastal environments. After the clean-ups, each clean-up participant will receive one ticket to redeem at LMC for a free complimentary continental breakfast beginning at 10 a.m. on LMC’s back deck. Breakfast is provided courtesy of Another Broken Egg Café in Jupiter. As you can tell, we love local!
Clean-up locations include:
Coastal park clean-up at Sawfish Bay Park (9-10 a.m.)
1133 FL A1A Alt – Jupiter
Beach clean-up at Coral Cove Park (8:30-9:30 a.m.)
19450 County Hwy 707 – Tequesta
Marine debris recycling and beach clean-up at Juno Beach Pier (9-11 a.m.)
14775 U.S. Hwy 1 – Juno Beach
In-water clean-up in Lake Worth Lagoon (8-9:30 a.m.)
Must register in advance, email [email protected]
Nautical Ventures – North location
139 Shore Court – North Palm Beach
Explore the Wasteland Exhibit
After cleaning up our local waterways and beaches, visit LMC’s campus between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. to check out our Wasteland Interactive Exhibit, which displays fun and creative ways to cut down waste during the holidays. Kids will learn about alternative gift wrapping ideas, and each family will be given a “Blue Friday Gift Wrapping Kit” with all materials needed to make their own sustainable gift box. Don’t forget to take photos when you pledge “No More Wasteland!”
Give back to Others
We are collaborating with the Palm Beach North Chamber of Commerce to collect new, unwrapped gifts for local children through the Toys for Tots program until Dec. 5. Bring your own unwrapped toy, or find one in our Gift Store so you can help Palm Beach County’s kids and coastal wildlife! We are also collecting non-perishable food items for the Palm Beach County Food Bank this holiday season through Dec. 19. Boxes for both causes are located at the Juno Beach Pier and in LMC’s front lobby.
Shop locally
You’ll be way less stressed than standing in long lines. Plus, you’ll be supporting LMC as well as local vendors. On Blue Friday, guests can enjoy special LMC Gift Store deals as well as select lunch specials at our campus Tortuga Café. Between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m., author Susan Beattie will be on-site in the LMC breezeway for a book signing and special readings of “Luke’s Shipwreck Voyage” for guests to enjoy. The book will also be available for purchase.
Learn at LMC
Check out our select free family programming in celebration of Blue Friday, including Dr. Logger, Junior Vet Labs and Turtle Yard Tours. Space is limited and given on a first-come, first-served basis, so make sure to get here early! Times may vary, visit LMC to find out exact times on campus.
For more information about Blue Friday, visit www.marinelife.org/blue-friday or contact Hannah at [email protected]. We can’t wait to see you there!
*Gloves, buckets and grabbers will be provided to participants on a first come first serve basis. Participants are encouraged to bring their own buckets and gloves from home. Breakfast tickets are only for clean-up participants. Discounted kayak rentals available through Nautical Ventures for in-water clean-up. Contact Stephen at (561) 612-7076 for reservations and mention Blue Friday for discount.