Community Thanksgiving Dinner, a La Crosse tradition for 35 years

Doors open at 10 a.m. 

One of the biggest meals served throughout the year in La Crosse will be prepared over the next 24 hours.

Doors open at 10 a.m. Thursday for the 34th Annual La Crosse Community Thanksgiving Dinner at the La Crosse Center. Dinner should be served between 11 a.m. – 3 p.m.

The event is expected to feed about 3,000 people, as usual – many of the dinners, delivered to homes. 

Putting on the event is dependent upon a large number of volunteers, who prepare and serve food.

Last year, however, the event was briefly cancelled because of a shortage of people willing to serve on the planning committee.

“The initial outpouring was wonderful but when it actually came down to the final weeks leading up to it, some of them kind of tapered off,” Organizer Ruth McQuiston Keil said.

McQuiston Keil says in order to get more volunteers for the planning committee, the group might start the preparations earlier. She emphasizes that the community dinner is financed by donations from the public and does not get funding from La Crosse’s city hall.

This year’s event will feature a magician and, of course, people are encouraged to come and watch the NFL games.

The phone number for ordering deliveries of turkey dinners is working again, after some problems this week. Call: 608.782.8726.