When are Walmart Holiday Deals dates this year? Mark your calendars for big saving days.

Walmart has announced its Holiday Deals days for October as consumers have begun shopping earlier.

Walmart will host its Holiday Deals event from Oct. 8-13, the retailer said on Wednesday.

It will coincide with – and last longer – than competitor Amazon's second Prime Day sales, also in October.

Amazon on Tuesday announced its Prime Big Deal Days would be held Oct. 8 and 9. The discounts will be available to Amazon Prime customers in the U.S. and 17 other countries.

People are shopping earlier for holidays and holiday celebrations and Walmart has adapted its approach to serve its shoppers, Latriece Watkins, executive vice president and chief merchandising officer for Walmart U.S., said in a press release.

"Customers are still shopping, especially for seasonal events. They aren't missing moments to celebrate together," Watkins said in a conference call with reporters late Wednesday. She said that value-seeking customers are from "all income levels," highlighting Walmart's recent prices cuts across 7,200 items.

Walmart is also lowering the cost of its Thanksgiving meal and offering it earlier and for a longer period to help shoppers stretch their dollars, Watkins said.

What are Walmart Holiday Deals?

During Walmart's Holiday Deals days, the retailer said it will offer deep savings across departments such as electronics, home, fashion and toys. Some of the deals shoppers will be able to snag include a special buy on a TV, $300 off a refrigerator, a $100 discount on a gaming laptop, $170 off a powered ride-on toy truck and $60 off on a tool set. 

The event begins Oct. 8 at midnight EDT on Walmart.com and the retailer's app. Walmart+ members get exclusive early access to shop the most-wanted deals, 12 hours earlier than other shoppers, the retailer said.

The deals will be available on Oct. 9 at local stores when the locations open, Walmart said.

Watkins said the October sale will serve as a kickoff to holiday savings, including during Walmart's Black Friday and Cyber Monday events.

Holiday shopping:Forget Halloween, it's Christmas already for some American shoppers

Walmart to offer inflation-free Thanksgiving meal earlier and for longer

Walmart on Wednesday also said it was "removing inflation to offer a traditional Thanksgiving meal at an even lower price than last year to help customers set their holiday table without compromise." The Walmart holiday meal this year serves up to 10 people and includes 28 customer favorites, including turkey from under $1 a pound to trimmings and dessert, the retailer said. The value will be less than $7 a person.

Walmart said it was offering its inflation-free holiday meal weeks earlier this year, starting Oct. 14 and running through Dec. 25 in stores and on Walmart.com.

New this year, customers can gift the holiday meal for pickup or delivery to neighbors, friends and family. Customers also have a new option to donate the equivalent of a holiday meal to a local family when purchasing a holiday meal on Walmart.com or round up a purchase on Walmart.com.

Walmart Thanksgiving hours and delivery options

Walmart also said it was offering early morning delivery of goods starting at 6 a.m., express delivery available as soon as 30 minutes and an expansion of its artificial intelligence technology that allows its delivery to reach an additional 12 million households.

The retailer will also be closed again on Thanksgiving Day, it said.

Walmart is also prepared if a potential longshore worker strike, which could affect operations along the East Coast and the Gulf of Mexico occurs on Oct. 1, Watkins said.

"Our teams are closely following the situation and hopeful an agreement will be reached before the end of the month," Watkins said during the call with reporters. "We prepare for these situations and maintain additional sources to supply to ensure that we have the key products available for our customers when and however they want them."

Betty Lin-Fisher is a consumer reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at blinfisher@USATODAY.com or follow her on X, Facebook, or Instagram @blinfisher. Sign up for our free The Daily Money newsletter, which will include consumer news on Fridays, here.