Get Ready, Get Set For Midnight Madness

Midnight Madness is nothing new at .

The center, located at Route 47 and Interstate 90, has been hosting Midnight Madness for five years on Black Friday.

This year, it will have more competition as mainstream stores like Walmart and Target open earlier than ever before to lure Black Friday shoppers.

Local Walmart stores, including those in Huntley and Algonquin, will be open on Thanksgiving Day but will start Black Friday sales at 10 p.m., spokeswoman Cydnee Cochran said.

“Our customers told us they would rather stay up late to shop than get up early, so we’re going to hold special events on Thanksgiving and Black Friday,” said Duncan Mac Naughton, chief merchandising officer, Walmart U.S., in a release.

“We’ll have this season’s hottest gifts at prices only Walmart can provide,” he said. “And by sharing our Black Friday specials earlier than ever, we hope to make buying decisions easier for parents working hard to give their families the Christmas they deserve.”

Kohl’s, Macy’s and Best Buy are among the other stores joining in Midnight Madness.

actually has stores that open at 10 p.m. on Thanksgiving, including Aeropostale, Ann Taylor Factory Store, Bass, BCBG Max Azria, OshKosh B'Gosh, Van Heusen and Wilsons Leather.

“This event has become a tradition with our shoppers and it continues to grow each year,” said Nora Kellam, spokeswoman for the center. “We have a constant flow beginning Thursday night and it lasts throughout the weekend.”

Midnight Madness is an event at the center with prizes, deals, and music.

“Each year, shoppers show up earlier and earlier, so we will have over a third of our stores opening at 10 p.m. Thursday night to serve the shoppers who always come extra early and want to be the first to take advantage of the deals,” she said.

Shoppers often begin Black Friday shopping at the center, she said. In previous years, Target and Walmart opened later, about 4 a.m.

But shoppers will have more choices to start their day this year.

For lots more information on Black Friday, Midnight Madness and to preview sales ads, check out this website.