Bigger stores have slashed prices and extended opening hours to tempt customers looking for Christmas presents and bargains.
And some are putting extra security staff on standby in case of scuffles.
Tesco Cuckoo Bridge 24 hour store closed at midnight last night to allow for staff to prepare an anticipated influx when they reopened at 5 am.
A Tesco spokesman explained participating stores have been individually assessed in order to provide them with the level of support they need, including increasing the number of security guards and providing additional barriers/queuing system.
However, the trend, which came from the USA, has not yet reached the smaller retailers in the town, says Rab Smith of the Dumfries Retailers Association.
Mr Smith said: “Marks and Spencer is doing a Black Friday deal and Debenhams is extending their opening hours, but that is not really for Black Friday.
“It is a funny one, the big stores are mobbed on Black Friday but dead for the next two weeks.
“It is certainly good for the consumer, but it is bad for business.”
James McDonald, store manager at Debenhams Dumfries, explained their stores nationally are expecting to be ten times busier today than a normal Friday.
He said: “Black Friday is now a major date in the diary for our shoppers in Dumfries and our customers have told us that this week really kick starts the Christmas shopping season.”
