BLACK FRIDAY FRENZY : Ferguson Protests Move To Stores... Chaos In Britain... Walmart Wo rkers Plan Strikes... TOYS R US MADNESS... Crowd Control... One Of The Biggest Days Of The Year For Gun Sales... More Stores Open On Thanksgiving... Does Little To Boost Sales... Growing Backlash... Best Deals Aren't Actually On Black Friday...

Shoppers head into Target just after thei doors opened at midnight on Black Friday, Nov. 28, 2014, in South Portland, Maine. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty)

NEW YORK (AP) — Black Friday was already well underway before many awoke this morning.

The traditional kickoff to the holiday shopping season has become a two-day affair, with more stores opening before people put down their turkey legs on Thanksgiving. There's good reason for the creep; businesses know shoppers will only spend so much, and they want the first crack at those holiday budgets.

Still, millions of Americans are expected to head out in search of steep discounts today. The National Retail Federation forecasts holiday sales will grow 4.1 percent to $616.9 billion — the biggest jump since 2011.

It's a make-or-break time for many retailers, which on average get 20 percent of their annual sales during the holiday shopping season. Already, retailers have resorted to steep discounting to lure shoppers.Here's a look at what's happening this Black Friday.

Ferguson Protests Hit Stores

Dozens of protesters interrupted holiday shopping to speak out about a grand jury's decision not to indict the white officer who fatally shot Michael Brown, a black teenager.  more