COEUR d'ALENE - The city sidewalks were busy sidewalks and The Coeur d'Alene Resort Plaza Shops were dressed in holiday style Saturday during the Black Friday Warmup Sale event.

Shoppers rushed home with their presents, but not before stopping at several stores downtown and enjoying a free snack or beverage or spending $10 for the chance to win $100 gift certificates.

In the Plaza Shops, visitors received complimentary, on-site back massages from The Resort Spa and free gift wrapping.

Dog owners had opportunities to bring in their favorite furry friends for a portrait at the photo area following the Howlidays Dogs on Parade costume contest, where many a canine looked festive and fancy. Christmas music played from the speakers and spirits were jolly.

"I'm making a lemon drop martini basket and putting a Christmas ornament in it," said Teree Taylor of Coeur d'Alene, who was working on buying gifts for her sister.

While the Black Friday Warmup took place 32 days before Christmas and six days before the actual Black Friday occurs. Taylor said she will not be participating in Black Friday because she will be traveling.

"I've done that in the years past," she said. "It's kind of fun, but I'm not going to do it this year."

When it comes to stores extending their hours to be open on Thanksgiving, local residents have mixed feelings.

"I think it's not so good for the employees that work there," Taylor said. "The day of Thanksgiving, I think stores should close at 4 in the afternoon if they're going to be open at all and then not open up again until 10 o'clock on Black Friday, or 9 o'clock."

Emma Kendrick of Coeur d'Alene had wrapped a handful of gifts by early afternoon as she and a colleague worked to raise money for the food drive at Gonzaga Prep. She said shoppers seemed pretty excited about discounts in the stores and "the (raffle) tickets are going insane." This will be her first year braving the madness on Black Friday and she agrees with the shopping extending into Thanksgiving.

"I think it's a good idea," she said. "Just to get stuff going quicker. We had friends last year that got up at midnight and were at stores."

Mary Peak of Coeur d'Alene is the owner of Christmas at the Lake, which saw many interested holiday shoppers during the warmup event.

'We've been busy most of the day; it's been good," she said.

Peak said Christmas at the Lake will not be open on Thanksgiving and when she has been open early on Black Friday, there has been nary a customer.

"I've been in retail forever," she said. "It depends on the store. Do I think I need to be open on Thanksgiving? No. A lot of times with the small businesses, it's hard for us, it's our one day off. It's important to me that my staff has time with their family and there's time for me with my family."

The Black Friday Warmup Sale event was a combined effort of The Resort Plaza Shops and the Coeur d'Alene Downtown Association.