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2021 holiday shopping guide for central Iowa

Preparing for Black Friday can be intense. Here's a guide to planning your holiday shopping season.

DES MOINES, Iowa — Black Friday is one of the biggest shopping days of the year, and with ongoing global supply chain issues, it could be hard to get those popular items many have been waiting for all year. 

Local 5 is compiling all the information you need to know about shopping for the holidays, whether that's at a physical store or online.

What is Black Friday?

With major retailers offering deals and discounts on popular items like electronics, toys and other gifts before the Christmas season, Black Friday is symbolically seen as the start of the holiday shopping season. 

When is Black Friday? 

Black Friday falls on the Friday after Thanksgiving each year. This year, it falls on Nov. 26.

While all of your favorite stores may not have dropped their deals early, below is a guide to help you get the most out of your Black Friday at central Iowa shopping centers.

Jordan Creek Mall

Jordan Creek Town Center will be closed on Thanksgiving Day, but will open on Black Friday at 9 a.m.

Friday, Nov. 26 hours are 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. to kick off the holiday shopping season. 

Additionally, extended hours will begin Dec. 10 and run through Christmas Eve. 

To view select retailers offering curbside pickup for Black Friday, click here

North Grand Mall

The North Grand Mall in Ames will be open from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Black Friday this year. Some store hours may vary.

To view the list of North Grand Mall stores, click here. You can also find a map by clicking here

Get ready to Shop North Grand for everything on your gift lists this Holiday season! 💥While you're here, be sure to...

Posted by North Grand Mall, IA on Monday, November 22, 2021

Southridge Mall

Southridge Mall will be closed on Thanksgiving Day but open with extended hours on Black Friday from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m.

To view a list of other Southridge Mall holiday hours, click here. For a list of stores, click here.

Valley West Mall

Valley West Mall is closed on Thanksgiving Day. Stores will be open on Black Friday from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.

For a complete mall directory, click here.

The Outlets of Des Moines 

The Outlets of Des Moines are closed on Thanksgiving Day and will be open Black Friday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. 

You can view the full holiday calendar below.

For additional information, click here.

Local 5 is awaiting a response from Merle Hay Mall on their holiday shopping hours.

National Retailers

Major retailers like Target, Walmart and Best Buy have already started dropping deals for this upcoming holiday shopping season. 

Target has brought back the "Deal Days" in October and an extended "Holiday Price Match Guarantee" program. From Oct. 10 to Dec. 25, shoppers can request a price adjustment on any Target purchase if the company lowers the price later in the shopping season. 

Walmart will also stick to its same plans from last year, offering three separate Black Friday events throughout November, with each sale highlighting deals on a different group of products. 

Best Buy decided to kick off their Black Friday prices early, to give shoppers a chance to order their must-have items early. Deals started Oct. 18 and will end on Oct. 31.

RELATED: Best Buy releases Black Friday plans, early deals this month

RELATED: CDC issues holiday safety recommendations

Kohls also announced its Black Friday sales earlier than usual this year. 

Starting Oct. 20, customers can take advantage of Kohl’s holiday sales on items such as clothes and luggage. Kohl’s stores will be closed on Thanksgiving Day this year.

Mega online retailer Amazon has also released a long list of promotions for anything from toys to home goods and electronics. This year, the company announced you can send gifts via its mobile app by simply using an email or a phone number, without needing to know the recipient's address.

TEGNA's Douglas Jones and Joe Calabrese contributed to this report

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