Falling on Nov. 22, Thanksgiving hasn't come this early in the year since 2007, but the national retailers are more than ready for the day after.
"We have plans in place, we have back up plans in place and back up plans for our back ups," said Target team leader Melissa Cottrell.
At Target in Weston, store managers have been preparing for Black Friday months in advance, "How we're going to handle the lines, making sure that our neighbors next door are OK with all of the people that show up," Cottrell said.
All 150 hands will be on deck for the kickoff to the holiday shopping season. Up to 147 million people are expected to brave the mobs and visit stores, or go online to shop over the weekend.
"I just like the crowds and the whole Christmas thing," said Target shopper Sally Gorski.
There are also millions of others who will choose to stay home and wait for a less rushed experience.
"I always say, I wish you well, but not for me," said Target shopper Carole Gregerson. "When you're in such a big group and there's such long lines for you to handle it, look at it, maybe try it, put it back on the shelf, there's so much going on around you that I can't concentrate well enough. I don't feel like I'm doing a good job. It takes away from the fun, it takes away from the spirit of getting that perfect gift."
Target's doors will open earlier than ever before for Black Friday deals--9 p.m. on Thanksgiving. That's three hours earlier than other big box stores like Best Buy and Kohl's, but not quite as early as Walmart, which will open at 8 p.m. on Thanksgiving.
"It's a lot of fun," Cottrell said. "You know everybody's in a great mood, every body's out, the holiday spirit is in the air ."
But even fans of the extended hours say Thanksgiving should be about appreciating what you have instead of search for what you don't.
"They go crazy with it," Gorski said. "They gotta put a limit on something sometime."
