"Black Thursday Night" at Target in Walnut Creek

If you want to burn off some calories after your hefty Thanksgiving dinner, you might want to head over to the Target store in Walnut Creek.

That's because the store at Main Street and Ygnacio Valley Road is opening its doors to holiday shoppers at 9 p.m. Thursday.

There is bound to be some running, grabbing and maybe even a little light shoving as the crowds are let in.

The store will be open for 26 straight hours until 11 p.m. Friday.

Target is advertising discounts on dozens of items in hopes of luring shoppers for the traditional start of the holiday shopping season a few hours before Black Friday officially chimes on the clock.

Target and other stores have come under criticism for opening on Thanksgiving night. Critics say the stores are diluting the meaning of Thanksgiving and forcing employees to work on a holiday geared around the family. An online petition by a Target employee went viral last week.

Target officials say they were responding to consumers' desires to shop on Thanksgiving evening instead of getting up early on Black Friday.

Target officials did not return calls from Patch seeking information on the number of employees who will be on hand or how much merchandise they expect to sell.

The store was packed on Wednesday afternoon and the parking lot was nearly full.

If that's any indication, it could be a busy 26 hours there.

Patch will be there and will be you video of the action late Thursday night.