Hundreds braved the chilly bite in the Black Friday air to get some cool deals at Vicksburg major. Every year it seems as though more people participate in Black Friday than the year before. This year, stores in Vicksburg were no expectation.

“This is my first and last time to go Black Friday shopping. I wouldn’t be doing this but my daughter wants a purse,” said Judy Patrick as she stood outside the mass waiting to get in. Patrick was one of more than 300 people standing on the

sidewalk. The line wrapped around more than two thirds of the building.

Once the doors opened, people rushed to get inside the store. Girlfriends and wives were sending husbands and boyfriends across the store while loudly calling out commands, “get the brown Michael Kors purse,” and “you know what my shoe size is.”

“We’re buying a birthday present for my mom,” said Frankie, who was braving the shopping madness with his girlfriend Morgan.

Jesse McGruder stood outside the store with a Red Salvation Army bucket and bell.

“Eight years and running I’ve been going this. I love it,” McGruder said. He volunteers every Thanksgiving hoping to make a difference with if service to the community.

At WalMart, shoppers parked vehicles on the hill in front of the store.

“We stood in line for two and a half hours to get a TV,” said Brittany Jackson, wearing a blue bracelet she purchased at Walmart that entitled her to purchase a 30-inch flat screen television for less than $100.

“This is my favorite day of the year,” said one smiling worker.

The Outlet of Vicksburg was busy with people scurrying from one store to the next, trying to benefit from deals offered in the stores.

Chariti Lockridge, a shopper at the Outlets of Vicksburg said her Black Friday shopping experience had been fun.

“I’m going to Walmart next, but not for a TV. I bought one last year and it still works just fine,” Lockridge said.

“We drove 13 hours just to shop,” said Cylest Noris with her three daughters. The four women are from Michigan and are in the Vicksburg area for the holidays.

Stores were pack with people buying, exploring and simply having fun. No arguments could be seen or heard as people politely excused themselves and offered help to the strangers around them.

“I’m just out with the crowd. I started shopping at six this morning. I found some deals at Rue 21,” said Vera Wells as she approached walked up to Dillard’s.

There were about 200 people standing outside of Dillard’s this morning waiting to get in.

“Today I came to Dillard’s for the deals. I have a husband and four kids, so with 50 percent off clearance and other deals today is a good day to shop,” said Tina Ashley.