On Thursday, families and friends will get together for their Thanksgiving feasts, football games, parades and relaxing. After a day of celebrating the holiday, shoppers will take to the stores on Black Friday to officially begin the countdown to Christmas. For some local women, Black Friday is a time to find deals, but it's more about spending time with family.

When the men in Elkins resident Donna Haddix's family head to the woods for a trophy buck, she and the gals like to have their own time together, she said. Haddix hasn't decided yet if she's partaking in a Black Friday shopping trip with her sisters-in-law. But if she does go, she plans to visit Macy's in Charleston to find Door Buster bargains, particularly comforters.

Don't expect Haddix to be standing in line when the store doors open though -the days of trying to get the early bird bargains are over, she said. Haddix wants to avoid the big crowds and pushy people by leaving Elkins around 6 a.m.

For three or four years now Sarah Bowley of Parsons has gone shopping on Black Friday with her daughter and nieces. The day is about the women spending time together; but in Clarksburg and Fairmont Bowley will be looking for a digital camera, toys for her grandson and clothes at "very good discount prices," she said.

Bowley and her family hope to visit as many stores as they can while avoiding all the "madness" of the early morning crowds. When all the early birds are making a dash for the big bargains, Bowley and her family will still be at home. She said they don't plan to leave until 10 a.m.

"There's nothing I have to have that badly to get up at 3 a.m.," Bowley said.

Chastity McCartney of Philippi doesn't stress about finding merchandise at the best prices, instead she sees Black Friday as family tradition with her mother and sister for the last five years.

McCartney will be leaving for Clarksburg around 6 a.m. to see if any of the early deals spark her interest and have breakfast with her family.

Erin Fincham of Belington has her list of bargain wants ready to go for when she and her mother arrive at Toys R Us in Clarksburg. From Toys R Us, which opens at midnight Friday, Fincham said she plans to visit Old Navy, Kohls, Wal-Mart, Kmart and Target, "if we can get around to all the stores."

During Fincham's early morning excursion she plans to communicate with friends via cell phones to buy or look at the bargains for each other, she said.

The more than 20 years now, the Black Friday shopping tradition and "girls day out" for Miranda Smith, her mother and daughter will continue.

When the sales flyers are released in today's paper, Smith will figure out what she'll be looking for.