Hundreds fill Turtle Creek Mall for Black Friday Shopping

HATTIESBURG, Miss. - “When Black Friday comes around that’s when you know it’s Christmas time," said 17-year-old Hattiesburg native, Tyson King.

People around the Pinebelt started their day before 6am for some traditional Black Friday shopping. “This is my first time coming without my mother, so I really don’t know what I’m looking for,” shopper, Kalen Megg explained. One Shopper shared how she took advantage of the 'Pre-Black Friday' deals before midnight. “We started last night at 6:30 and now we are in Hattiesburg, we worked our way back up from Gulfport," said Buffy Graves.

Some people said with stores opening earlier on Thanksgiving, they see a change with Black Friday deals and crowds. “Things have changed a lot. It used to be say we got up at midnight, jut to go stand in line most of the wee hours of the morning to get your deals. Now you can do a lot of online shopping. There’s no crowds, we haven’t fought the crowds at all. To me people are just more spread out,” traditional shopper, Laurie Morrow said.

Other people say they're just out to enjoy the atmosphere, “I just enjoy being around people, I just want to come for the crowds. I’m not really looking for anything in particular. I just wanted to socialize and see who I can see,” King explained.

Overall, the people shared they enjoy breaking dawn with friends and family for quality time shopping for the holiday season.