Follow this simple advice to avoid getting beat up, trampled or shot while buying an X-Box One or PlayStation 4 on Black Friday: Avoid stores like the plague. Yes, it’s possible to go out the day or weekend after Thanksgiving , avoid the mall, avoid big box stores, and still get all your holiday shopping done—and have some fun while doing it. 

For starters, the State Indian Museum State Historic Park (2618 K Street) is hosting the Indian Arts & Crafts Fair on Friday, November 28 and Saturday, November 29. Happening from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day, it’s free with museum admission ($3 for adults, $2 for kids ages 6-17, free for kids younger than that), and features stuff like jewerly, pottery, basketry and other handmade items. For more information, call (916) 324-0971 or visit www.parks.ca.gov/indianmuseum.

String that together with a visit to the Scottish Rite Center (6151 H Street), where the Crocker Art Museum and the Creative Arts League of Sacramento are teaming up to throw an event called the Crocker Holiday Artisan Market 2014 . It offers 100 artists showing off original works, a Victorian Santa (whatever that means), and food from Ambrosia Cafe. Admission is $6 ($3 for students and seniors) and happens at various times from Friday, November 28 through Sunday, November 30. To apply to sell your art, or for more information, visit http://www.creativeartsleague.com/crocker-holiday-artisan-market.

In a similar vein, Nevada City has its own 2014 Artisans Festival (http://minersfoundry.org/artisans-festival-3) on Friday, November 28 and Saturday, November 29 at the Miner’s Foundry (325 Spring Street). It happens from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day and features installation art, performance art, wine and children’s activities. Admission costs $3 (free for children age 12 and under).

If you still feel like you have some shopping to do, at least buy stuff from shops selling local goods and wares. New Helvetia Brewing Company (1730 Broadway, http://newhelvetiabrew.com), the East Sac Mercantile (3257 Folsom Boulevard, http://eastsacmercantile.com) and Little Relics Boutique & Galleria (908 21st Street, www.littlerelics.com) will all have Black Friday specials, for example. New Helvetia even has a party—featuring special brews, a food truck and music by Guero—starting at noon. And on Saturday, Midtown Business Association is running a campaign called Small Business Saturday.