FARMINGTON – For Renys employee Gail Watt, Saturday will be “the best day of our year.”

“We (the employees) are all excited,” she said, even if it means going in to work super early dressed in pajamas, facing hundreds of customers and long lines. “Customers are always happy,” she said.

Saturday’s annual Early Bird celebration begins at 6 a.m. and store manager Carol Robbins predicts this year will be the best one ever.

“People need some fun . . . especially this year. Times are hard but our pricing is good,” she said.

The Farmington Downtown Business and Professional Association’s annual Early Bird sales grew from a Renys promotion for wives of hunters. The store owner figured the wives would be up anyway on the first day of hunting season so he began a tradition of opening the store for early shoppers on the first Saturday of November, Robbins said.

The association kicks off the holiday season in downtown Farmington with most stores opening earlier than usual and offering specials, some that last all day.

SugarWood Gallery owners Dan and Janice Maxham decided the Saturday special would be a good time to show off changes made to the artisan cooperative since they purchased it earlier this year.

“Our look has changed yet a lot of folks haven’t been in to see yet,” he said. To entice them into the shop on Broadway, the owners will offer a daylong special and an extra special price on Christmas ornaments.

Between 50 and 60 artists and craftsmen show their work at the gallery, about 80 percent from Franklin County, he said. The gallery offers items handmade by local artisans.

“There’s a resurgence in handmade items. People are beginning to appreciate quality again,” he added.

Most stores will open at 6 a.m. Each store’s specials are listed on the Downtown Business and Professional Association’s Web site, www.downtownfarmington.com