Academy, Ltd. revealed its plans for the upcoming holiday shopping season, which include remaining closed on Thanksgiving Day, opening Black Friday at 5 a.m., and offering hundreds of hot deals throughout November.

“We are staying true to Academy's tradition of closing on Thanksgiving so our associates and customers can enjoy the holiday with their family and friends,” says J.K. Symancyk, Academy Sports + Outdoors' president and CEO. “We're confident our customers will be able to find fun gifts for everyone on their shopping list as we're well-positioned from a price and selection standpoint to make this a memorable holiday season.”

Academy Sports + Outdoors will provide customers early access to select Black Friday hot deals beginning Nov. 8 with the first of three major sales events, “Black Friday Kickoff.” That week, Academy's ad will contain select hot deals customers can conveniently shop all that week (while supplies last) instead of having to wait until Black Friday. The following Sunday, Nov. 15, a new list of deals will be announced, which again will be good through the entire week, or while supplies last.

The second event, “Black Friday Starts Now,” begins Sunday, Nov. 22, and will have additional doorbuster hot deals customers can shop for prior to the final event, Black Friday itself.

Although stores will be closed Thanksgiving Day, academy.com will provide customers the opportunity to shop the full list of Black Friday doorbuster deals beginning Wednesday evening, Nov. 25, through Thanksgiving Day. For those that plan to shop in-store the next morning, stores open at 5 a.m. Customers will find our official Black Friday ad will feature two days' worth of doorbuster hot deals valid that Friday and Saturday.

Hottest Gifts

This year's hottest gifts at Academy Sports + Outdoors are everything YETI; drones; FitBit fitness trackers; GoPro action cameras; bikes for the family; motorized ride-ons; branded athletic footwear, apparel and fleece from Nike and Under Armour; Columbia and Magellan Outdoors sportswear and outerwear, hunting gear, boots and camo apparel; fitness equipment; game tables; trampolines; basketball goals; sports equipment; and anything Star Wars, Frozen, Minions, and more.

A hot item ahead of Thanksgiving will be turkey fryers, electric smokers, propane grills, smokers and all the accessories families will need to fry or smoke their turkey.

Find our full holiday gift guide at www.academy.com/holiday.

Holiday Store Hours

To accommodate customers' busy holiday schedules, all stores will offer extended shopping hours beginning Dec. 11. See below for the full schedule of holiday shopping hours:

  • Dec. 11 – 17, open 8 a.m. to 11 p.m.
  • Dec. 18 – 20, open 8 a.m. to 12 a.m.
  • Dec. 21 – 23, open 7 a.m. to 12 a.m.
  • Open Christmas Eve 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.
  • Closed Christmas Day
  • Dec. 26-30, normal hours resume
  • New Year's Eve 12/31, open 8:30 a.m. to 8 p.m.
  • New Year's Day 1/1, open 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Visit academy.com for Academy's annual holiday gift guide and top gifts for all types.