ALEXANDRIA, Va. (DC News Now) -- Attention Black Friday shoppers: Old Town has another option for you as you pick up your holiday gifts. It's called Plaid Friday. So, what is it? Plaid Friday is something that's become a tradition in Alexandria, offering people a chance to avoid big box stores and malls on Black Friday, encouraging them to find discounts and items in small businesses, many of which take a curated approach to stocking merchandise in their shops. DC holiday markets open for the season in Penn Quarter, Dupont Circle Alexandria Stylebook explains: "The name Plaid Friday comes from the idea of weaving the individual threads of small businesses together to create a unique fabric that highlights the diversity and creativity of independent shops." It goes on to say that the event was created in Oakland, Calif. You'll find a map and full list of business participating in Plaid Friday in Alexandria here. The list also includes discounts offered at each shop, with some hitting the 30% off mark.