Take a hike -- and happy Hmong New Year!: Your weekend planning guide

A dance group performs on stage.
A girls dance group performed on stage at the Hmong New Year at the St. Paul RiverCentre in November 2014. This year's celebration begins Friday.
Yi-Chin Lee | MPR News 2014

Celebrate 40 years of the Hmong in Minnesota and hit the park — not the mall — on Black Friday.

From free events to family fun to adults-only, here's a roundup of events to get you out of the house — or not.

Free: Holidazzle ditches the entry fee

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Holidazzle Market
The 2014 Holidazzle Market in downtown Minneapolis. This year's Holidazzle will be held at Loring Park.
Jenni Konrad | Creative Commons via Flickr 2014

Big changes are again in store for the Holidazzle festival this year: Expect more fireworks and free admission, after complaints last year about the entrance fee.

Holidazzle 2015, opening Friday, will be held at Loring Park in Minneapolis instead of Nicollet Mall because of the remodeling project downtown. It will run Thursdays through Sundays, concluding Dec. 20.

This year's events include a skating rink, weekly movies featuring holiday classics, vendors selling food and craft items and musical performances.

For families: Santa drops the sleigh for a streetcar

The Como-Harriet Streetcar Line
Santa will be on board the Como-Harriet Streetcar Line this weekend.
Cathy Wurzer | MPR News

Santa Claus is comin' to town via the Como-Harriet Streetcar Line in Minneapolis this weekend.

For $4 per person, you can take a streetcar ride with Santa. The historic car will be decked out for the holidays.

The ride lasts about 15 minutes. No advance tickets or reservations are required. The Como-Harriet's Holly Trolley returns next weekend as well.

For adults: Let the kids hang out with giraffes and gorillas

Checking out new space
Como Park Zoo & Conservatory's "Drop and Shop" program is available this Saturday.
Jeffrey Thompson | MPR News 2013

Parents who need to cross off a few items on their to-do lists should take note of the Como Park Zoo & Conservatory's "Drop and Shop."

Parents can drop off their children — between the ages of 4 and 12 — for four hours on Saturday. During that time, kids will tackle a scavenger hunt through the zoo and conservatory, meet special animal visitors and participate in games, crafts and other zoo-themed activities.

Cost is $35 per child. Pre-registration is required: Call 651-487-8272. A family discount is available.

Parents may pack a lunch for their child or order a box lunch for $7.

Indoors: Happy Hmong New Year

Hmong pageant contestant Padee Yang.
Hmong pageant contestant Padee Yang received flowers from her supporters at the Hmong New Year celebration at the St. Paul RiverCentre in November 2014.
Yi-Chin Lee | MPR News

It's been 40 years since the first Hmong family arrived in Minnesota.

Today, the state has the second-largest Hmong population in the country (California is first). And the Twin Cities is home to the largest urban concentration of Hmong in the United States.

Celebrate the milestone, along with the coming year, at the Hmong New Year festivities, happening Friday through Sunday at the St. Paul RiverCentre and Roy Wilkins Auditorium.

The program includes singers, dancers and a pageant. Vendors selling crafts and food will also be hand.

Outdoors: Walk off that turkey dinner

Lake Vermilion State Park
Hit the parks -- not the mall -- on Black Friday. State officials say entrance fees to all 76 Minnesota state parks -- including Lake Vermilion State Park, above -- and recreation areas will be waived on Friday.
Brian Bakst | AP 2013

Burn off that third helping of turkey and pumpkin pie by hitting the great outdoors — not the mall.

Minnesota officials say entrance fees to all 76 Minnesota state parks and recreation areas will be waived on Friday.

A daily state parks parking generally costs $5.

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources says almost every Minnesotan lives within 30 miles of a state park.