When shoppers headed to stores across southwestern Connecticut to snag Black Friday deals, the mood appeared to be calmer than in years past.

Even though the National Retail Federation expected about 99.7 million shoppers to venture to stores across the U.S., the Black Friday rush seemed less stressful because many stores had opened on Thanksgiving night. The retailers were hoping to attract customers who would rather sleep in Friday morning.

Still, one Black Friday shopper started the day early, hoping to get a deal on a 4K TV.

Other retailers opted out of Black Friday. The sporting goods chain REI, which has always closed on Thanksgiving, kept its stores closed for the shopping day. Using the hashtag "optoutside," the retailer urged customers and its employees to spend time with loved ones outdoors. An REI executive said Black Friday has "gotten out of hand."

Overall, the National Retail Federation expected about 30 million people to shop on Thanksgiving, compared with 99.7 million on Black Friday. About 135.8 million people are expected to shop during the full four-day weekend, compared with 133.7 million in 2014.

The group also predicted a 3.7 percent increase in sales this year to $630.5 billion for the season.

But reaching those sales may be difficult, as many shoppers remain tightfisted. While the economy has been improving, consumers are grappling with wages that aren't keeping pace with rising expenses like rent.

Stores are also contending with an increasing shift to researching and buying online.