PITTSBURGH -- Black Friday has changed, and for a lot of stores, it's no longer a one-day event.

That didn't stop thousands of Pittsburgh-area shoppers from crowding local stores on what is traditionally the biggest shopping day of the year.

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Ross Park Mall opened at 5 a.m. and shoppers were already lined up outside. One woman was so excited to get to the mall, she forgot to wear her shoes.

"I was so excited to get the deals I had my keys, my credit card, checkbook and wallet and coffee, drove to the mall for 5 a.m. and when I got here I realized I didn't have my shoes," said Heidi Fisher.

Heidi, of course, bought a new pair of shoes as soon as she got into the store.

Both the Prime Outlets in Grove City and the Tanger Outlets in Washington, Pa. opened at midnight.

Anyone who showed up to the Prime Outlets in their pajamas got a free gift bag.

The Prime Outlets will be open for 22 hours and said it expects to see about 75,000 shoppers.

Traffic was backed up around the malls but many shoppers said it was more difficult to get home than it was to get to the stores.

This year, major retailers have been offering Black Friday-like sales since Halloween.

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