Black Friday is traditionally associated with significant discounts, but many U.S. retailers also use the day to distribute free items and gifts to attract shoppers and enhance the holiday shopping experience. The 2025 retail landscape features a variety of freebies, ranging from mystery gift cards and product bundles to exclusive swag bags and high-value appliances. These offers are typically limited to early in-store shoppers and are subject to strict quantities and time windows, making planning essential for consumers seeking to participate.
The available source material outlines specific freebie opportunities from major national chains, including Bass Pro Shops, Cabela’s, Lowe’s, JCPenney, Target, and others. The details provided are based on promotional announcements and deal aggregator reports for the 2025 season. It is important to note that while some offers are confirmed by multiple sources, others are presented as predictions or based on past retailer behavior. Shoppers are advised to verify details directly with the specific retailer before making plans, as terms, quantities, and availability can change.
Confirmed Black Friday 2025 Freebies
The following freebies are explicitly mentioned in the provided source data for Black Friday 2025. Each offer has specific eligibility criteria, typically requiring shoppers to be among the first customers in line on Black Friday morning.
Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s
Both Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s are offering a mystery gift card to their earliest customers. * The Freebie: A mystery gift card with a value ranging from $10 to $500. * How to Qualify: Be one of the first 250 customers at a Bass Pro Shops or Cabela’s store on Black Friday. The stores open at 5 a.m. * Validity: The gift card is valid from December 5 through December 27. * Additional Notes: The offer is described as limited and supplies will run out quickly. For families, the stores are also hosting a Santa’s Wonderland Event where kids can receive a free photo with Santa and gifts.
Lowe’s
Lowe’s has a two-part freebie offering for its rewards members. * The Freebie: The first 50 MyLowe’s Rewards members in line at each store receive a holiday bucket. This bucket includes one Great Stuff Gap Canister, one Valspar Paint Brush, one WD-40 product, a coupon for a free paint sample, and one additional product chosen by the sponsor. * Secondary Chance: One MyLowe’s member per store will have a chance to win an in-stock major appliance priced at $2,000 or less. * How to Qualify: Arrive at the store by 6 a.m. on Black Friday and be a MyLowe’s Rewards member. * Important Limitation: The free bucket is only available to the first 50 members, and the appliance giveaway is a single chance per store.
JCPenney
JCPenney’s strategy involves scheduled giveaways throughout Black Friday morning, offering a chance to win various high-value items. * The Freebies: The retailer offers a schedule of potential wins, including: * A $500 off coupon and a free Snoopy snow globe. * A free Cuisinart Coffee Center Barista Bar 4-in-1 Coffee Maker. * A free pair of 3/4 ct. t.w. diamond stud earrings in 10k gold. * A free SUTRA AERO Styler hair tool. * How to Qualify: Shoppers must be physically present in the JCPenney store at specific times on Black Friday to have a chance to win. The scheduled times are 5:00 a.m., 9:00 a.m., 1:00 p.m., and 5:00 p.m. * Additional Notes: The $500 off coupon is described as very popular and likely to go quickly, encouraging shoppers to arrive early for the 5 a.m. session.
Target
Target offers a combination of gift cards with purchases and a limited swag bag for the earliest arrivals. * The Freebies: 1. Gift Cards: Free Target gift cards are available with select purchases, though the specific qualifying items are not detailed in the provided data. 2. Swag Bag: The first 100 shoppers to arrive at a Target store on Black Friday (doors open at 6 a.m.) receive a free swag bag. The bag contains various goodies, and 10 of these bags include an extra prize valued at $99 or more. * How to Qualify: For the gift cards, a qualifying purchase is required. For the swag bag, being among the first 100 customers at 6 a.m. is necessary. The swag bag offer is limited to one per store and is available while supplies last.
Fleet Farm
Fleet Farm is offering a free toy to its early shoppers. * The Freebie: A free plush moose toy. * How to Qualify: Be among the first 500 customers at a Fleet Farm store on Black Friday.
Predicted and Historical Freebie Opportunities
Some retailers have a history of offering freebies on Black Friday, and deal analysts have made predictions for 2025 based on these patterns. These offers are not explicitly confirmed for 2025 in the provided data but are presented as likely possibilities.
Bealls
- Predicted Freebie: A limited number of free gift cards valued at $50, $75, and $100.
- Basis: This prediction is based on the retailer’s past behavior, where they have given away similar gift cards during previous Black Friday events.
Other Retailers with Confirmed or Predicted Incentives
While not all are traditional "freebies," several other major retailers are confirmed or predicted to offer incentives that provide added value: * Kohl’s: The first 200 customers in stores on Black Friday will instantly win up to $100 in Kohl’s Cash, while supplies last. There is also a chance to win $10,000 in cash. * Macy’s: On November 28 and 29, shoppers can receive a free reusable tote bag with any $100+ in-store purchase. The offer is limited to one per customer and is available while supplies last. * Home Depot: Shoppers can expect to see multiple free items with purchase offers, typically available on select power tools. * GameStop: Five Golden Tickets are scattered across GameStop stores nationwide. Finding one rewards the finder with a year of free Pokémon drops. * BIGGBY Coffee: When a customer spends $20, they receive a Black Friday scratch-and-win card. Prizes can include a buy-one-get-one (BOGO) offer, $1 off any drink, 50% off any item, 25% off the entire order, or a free beverage. * Meijer: The retailer is bringing back its Black Friday Register Coupons. When customers purchase select items, a free coupon reward (with a chance of up to $80 off) will print at the register for a future purchase. There may also be a free mPerks Rewards points offer for purchasing gift cards. * Ulta Beauty: While not a Black Friday-specific giveaway, Ulta is known for multiple free gifts with purchase offers during the season. These can include items like a free blanket or robe with select fragrance purchases or a free Ulta Beauty Collection item with a certain spending threshold.
Key Strategies for Securing Black Friday Freebies
Based on the details in the source material, several common themes and strategies emerge for consumers hoping to score these free items.
Early Arrival is Non-Negotiable The vast majority of the confirmed freebies are available only to the very first shoppers in line. Store openings for these promotions are typically between 5 a.m. and 6 a.m. on Black Friday. Shoppers interested in specific freebies should plan to arrive well before the store opens, as lines can form hours in advance, especially for high-value items like JCPenney’s diamond earrings or Kohl’s Cash.
Membership and Loyalty Programs Can Be Required Some freebies are exclusive to loyalty program members. For example, Lowe’s free bucket is only for MyLowe’s Rewards members. Consumers should ensure they are registered for these programs ahead of time. Signing up is usually free and can be done online or in-store.
Understanding the "Chance" vs. Guaranteed Offer Some promotions are not guaranteed freebies but rather a chance to win. At JCPenney, shoppers are present for a chance to win specific items at scheduled times. Similarly, one Lowe’s member per store has a chance to win an appliance. It is important to manage expectations and understand that these are drawings or lotteries, not guaranteed gifts for all early shoppers.
Supplies Are Extremely Limited The language used in the source data consistently emphasizes scarcity. Phrases like "limited quantities, while supplies last," "these go quick," and "first 50 members" highlight that the freebies will be distributed to a very small number of shoppers. For offers like the Target swag bag (first 100 per store) or the Bass Pro Shops mystery gift cards (first 250 per store), competition will be fierce.
Combining Freebies with Purchases While some freebies are given with no purchase required (e.g., the first 50 at Lowe’s, the first 250 at Bass Pro Shops), others are tied to a purchase. Target’s gift cards require a qualifying purchase, and Macy’s free tote bag requires a $100+ purchase. Shoppers should plan their purchases to align with these offers if they wish to maximize value.
Additional Perks and Events Beyond the core freebies, some retailers offer complementary events. Bass Pro Shops/Cabela’s, for instance, includes a Santa’s Wonderland Event with free photos and gifts for children. These can add to the overall experience but are separate from the primary gift card offer.
Conclusion
The 2025 Black Friday landscape offers a diverse array of freebies for in-store shoppers, from mystery gift cards and product bundles to high-value appliances and exclusive swag. The most reliable opportunities are from major retailers like Bass Pro Shops, Cabela’s, Lowe’s, JCPenney, and Target, each with specific early-morning deadlines and strict quantity limits. Success hinges on early arrival, understanding retailer-specific requirements such as loyalty membership, and recognizing the difference between guaranteed gifts and chance-based giveaways. While some offers are confirmed for 2025, others are based on historical patterns, so consumers should verify all details directly with retailers before making plans. For those willing to shop in-store on Black Friday morning, these freebies can provide significant additional value alongside traditional discounts.