A highly anticipated annual tradition: The Team Turkey kitchen volunteers carved up over 450 pounds of turkey for last year’s Community Thanksgiving Potluck; this year they’re expecting to not have any leftovers! PHOTO BY CHRISTOPHER KELLEY[/caption]

The 2023 Community Thanksgiving Potluck is right around the corner, and this year’s communal gathering event promises to be even bigger than previous years. Local sponsors have already donated pounds of food, volunteers are beginning to sign up, and hopefully those residents in the know are already deciding which of their favorite family recipes to bring.

“Sure, everyone likes turkey, and stuffing, and potatoes, and all those will be there,” kitchen coordinator Nate James told The Mountain-Ear. “But the potluck table is my favorite part; that’s where the community gets a chance to show off.”

On Sunday, November 12, 2023, from noon to 3 p.m. at the Nederland Community Center, residents can expect to find more than enough of their Thanksgiving favorites. But even as local businesses like Ace Hardware, B&F Mountain Market, and Mountain People’s Co-op help to source over 40 turkeys and over 40 pounds of potatoes, the truly unique feature of the event is that it is a community experience open to everyone in the Peak to Peak region to come and bring their own dishes.

When asked what dish he hopes returns to the potluck table this year, James answered quickly and excitedly, “The spanakopita!”

James also remarked that kitchen volunteers often hold an unsanctioned competition in the back while working.

“There’s always so many choices for green bean casserole, and we will try every single one.”

As in previous years, the Community Thanksgiving Potluck is a “zero waste” event where attendees are asked to bring their own dishes. The event is free and open to all, with a suggested donation of $5 per person to help towards the cost of running the event, which this year is organized, led, and run by event coordinator Danielle Knollenburg, volunteer coordinator Michelle LaPointe, and kitchen coordinator James.

Together these organizers, who refer to themselves as Team Turkey, are primed to deliver this amazing event that celebrates the love and support of our mountain communities, which in addition to all the comfort food, will also feature Otis Lande emceeing and introducing many musicians to play in an open mic format, and Wild Bear Nature Center will be providing planned activities for kids.

For any musicians or music students interested in being a part of the event and performing, a sign-up sheet is currently available at Brightwood Music, 20 East Lakeview Drive, Suite 109 in the Caribou Village Shopping Center.

This year’s event is sponsored by local businesses Ace Hardware, B&F Mountain Market, and Mountain Peoples Co-op, among many more, and turkeys were sourced with the assistance of B&F Mountain Market, Peak Wine and Spirits, Zack Scott of Homestead Realty, and community member Mark Stringfellow, among others.

The 2023 Nederland Thanksgiving Potluck has been a tradition since before 1994, and returned last year after a two-year hiatus. This year the event will continue the tradition of serving a meal “provided by the community for the community”, and will be held at the Nederland Community Center at 750 North Highway 72 on Sunday, November 12, 2023, from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m.

For more information go to: https:// nedthanksgiving.wixsite.com/community. If you would like to sign up to volunteer for this event please go to: https:// nedthanksgiving.wixsite.com/community/ volunteer-1