Nationwide, jokes about Black Friday are circulating, calling it Gray Friday because it’s no longer the huge event it used to be. Retailers are now advertising bargains weeks before Thanksgiving to get people to shop earlier. And a large segment of society is turning to online shopping for almost everything.

But there are still plenty of people in north Snohomish County who enjoy the tradition of getting up early, sometimes even in their pajamas, to go shopping for bargains.

Few retailers still advertise true Doorbusters that are really great deals on big-ticket items.

But Fred Meyer did. And while there weren’t people camping out overnight for days at the one in Marysville, there were hundreds of shoppers already there braving 20-degree temperatures when the doors opened at 5 a.m.

The big draw was a 40-inch HDTV for only $150.

Cathy Haverman and her daughter Staci and grandaughter Brooklynn quickly got in and out with their prize deal. It was the only thing in their cart.

They said they like to go shopping on Black Friday every year; it’s a tradition.

“For me I like the excitement,” Staci said.

Cathy said online shopping is not for her.

“I hate online. I like to touch it,” she said of things she buys.

They said they thought they might not get a TV because there were only supposed to be 15 at each store, and there were plenty of people getting in before them. But they went straight to electronics, and there were still a half-a-dozen left.

The parking lot was filled with hundreds of cars as they left, as even more people arrived after the opening.

The Big 5 across the street got a rush right at its 5 a.m. opening, but in contrast to Fred Meyer soon cooled off.

Down the street at Marysville mall the Penny’s and Big Lots had a packed parking lot and steady stream of customers.

Other areas expected to be packed Black Friday were the Tulalip mall and all of the stores in the Smokey Point area.