There are many people doing it - and for many different reasons.
"This beautiful scooter that my daughter so loved and wanted," explained Monique Williams.
"Just a few things for my parents and for my son," said Suze Rene.
Shoppers are hitting stores as they race against the clock late on Christmas Eve.
"Always last minute shopping," said Williams.
"Work seven days a week, so I try to sneak out the day before Christmas," said Mike Garcia. "It's not the first time."
Some are in search of just a few last-minute items, while others, like Garcia, are tackling a lengthy list.
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But Garcia says he's a seasoned veteran when it comes to Christmas shopping in a crunch, filling an overflowing cart in about five minutes.
"I've just got an instinct, already in my head, of what the kids like - what they want," he said. "Even the cash register lady asked me, 'How do you fit all that in one cart?"
People leaving the Dedham, Massachusetts, Toys "R" Us on Wednesday night say the chaos isn't unexpected.
But despite how frazzled most shoppers seem to be, they are also something else.
"Cheerful," said Nakytha Porter. "It's Christmas."
