Waking Up Early For The Grateful Gobbler

Chattanooga (WDEF) – About 4,000 people turned out for the Grateful Gobbler.

The annual 5-K run, walk and stroll raises money for the Maclellan Shelter for Families.

Our own videographer Ashley Henderson takes us toThe North Shore to share some of the fun.

"Okay, I came just for one pair of boots. So I’ve got two pair of boots, and two purses, and four necklaces. So yea, haha."

"We’re doing some Christmas shopping, we are trying to find some good deals."

"I got me a shirt and I got me a necklace. So that’s pretty good, I needed like some jewelry to like make this dress pop, haha."

"We’ve been open since 6 and I probably have about 20 people working throughout the day. I mean, it’s very busy."

"It’s a huge weekend for all of retail, certainly for us and you know if you’re in retail you have to like this weekend."

I mean I don’t consider this Black Friday shopping cause it’s not Friday of course, but pretty much Thursday-black Thursday shopping, haha."

Why wait until Friday morning, when Grey Thursday offers shoppers just as many savings?

"We start everything on thanksgiving day. So we’ve seen that shift to that evening business on Thursday and then we’ve seen a lot of people go run through the midnight hour and then close and then re-open again, where the traditional Black Friday was just shifted that business earlier."

"I think a lot of people wanna get out walk some of the food off that they’ve eaten. You see a lot of mothers, daughters, the whole family they’ll get out and come shop with us."

"It’s gotten a lot earlier and a lot better I think. Better deals, more time to go out and you’re not cramped in a little bit of time."

"Actually I have checked out three different times, three different lines, and I’ve not waited at all. It’s been amazing."

And for those of you who still prefer the traditional Black Friday….

"We actually have an additional add, so a separate add that will bring people in for the Friday business too. So we actually open up at 5 a.m. with some door busters.