From six to 60, that’s how big or small gathering were this Thanksgiving holiday in Mineral County. Many venues hosted dinners from local churches, to community centers and schools.

On a national level, people baked, smoked, chomped and chewed their way through an estimated 51,150,000 turkeys according to the USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service. With an average of $2,875,000,000 spent on Thanksgiving food, overall.  

Here at home, the Mineral Community Hospital hosted their annual Thanksgiving party for Assisted Living and Long Term Residents and their families on Tuesday afternoon.  Women in Timber thrift shop donated suits and gowns for resident to wear at the gala event. 

The Hospital provided three turkeys, with all the trimmings for the nearly 60 family, friends, and nursing staff.  Many of the MCH employees also brought desserts and dishes to share. 

Meanwhile, a smaller, more intimate, Thanksgiving party was held at Sporty’s (Sportsman) Bar in Alberton. This potluck was a tradition started about four years ago, said bar owner, John Zunski, “I provide the turkey and bar tender, Kris Gregory, cooks it. She’s also the person who coordinates the dinner.”

“We get anywhere from five to 20 people who come in, enjoy a meal with friends, hang out and watch the games said Zunski.

“Usually it’s the regulars who come in, but sometimes there are fringe guests.  People who simply have nowhere else to go for the holiday,” he said, “the ‘regulars’ of the bar are like family and so this is the same as going to someone’s house.  It’s just simplifies things to gather here, it’s turned into a tradition.” 

Thanksgiving traditions are hard to beat.  The Detroit Lions have played football on Thanksgiving since 1934.  This year was no exception with a win over the Eagles, 45-14.  Other Thanksgiving match-ups included the Panthers, who won over the Cowboys, 33-14 and the Bears defeated the Packers, 17-13.

Another holiday tradition is the Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade, where 50 million viewers tuned in on TV. And 3.5 million watched the parade in person, which is almost 3 times the number of people who live in the entire state of Montana (population 1.02 million).

One more popular Thanksgiving past time is to watch the Purina National Dog Show, where 22 million people tuned in on TV.  This year’s winner, a Skye Terrier named “Good Time Charlie”, won Best in Show, beating out 1,700 other dogs.