St. Scholastica's Thanksgiving Day Buffet
The College of St. Scholastica is proud to sponsor our Thanksgiving Day Buffet. Join our community family as we celebrate a region-wide FREE Thanksgiving dinner on Thursday, Nov. 26, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. at the Duluth Entertainment Convention Center (DECC).
A Table Big Enough for a Community
Thanksgiving is about more than a meal. It’s about giving, coming together, sharing kindness, and reminding one another that no one has to be alone.
We invite you to join us for our annual dinner, where hundreds of local volunteers come together to prepare thousands of hot meals for the community. Come and meet neighbors you may never have crossed paths with otherwise, and enjoy the warmth that comes from gathering together. There’s a seat for you.
Or, if you’re unable to leave your house, order a meal to be delivered and shared at home, knowing you have been thought of and cared for by your neighbors. This is a celebration where all are invited and everyone belongs. Whether you’re joining with family, bringing a friend, volunteering, donating, or simply looking for a place to share Thanksgiving, we’d love to have you at our table.
Come for the meal. Stay for the connection. Everyone is welcome.
Join Us for Thanksgiving Dinner
St. Scholastica invites community members from the Twin Ports area, including Superior and the Two Harbors area, to gather at the DECC for a Thanksgiving Day celebration. This year, we will serve a turkey dinner with homemade mashed potatoes and gravy, stuffing, vegetables, dinner roll, and cake for dessert.
- Thursday, Nov. 26
- DECC — Lake Superior Ballroom
- 11 a.m. – 3 p.m.
- Free parking
DTA Transportation
DTA bus transportation in Duluth will be available. For more information, visit duluthtransit.com or call 218-722-7283.
Home Meal Delivery for Homebound Individuals
Home meal delivery will be available to individuals who are unable to leave their homes within these communities (Duluth, Superior, Proctor, Hermantown, Esko, Cloquet, and Two Harbors). We can deliver 1 or 2 meals, one for the homebound individual and one for their caregiver. Meal orders are due Friday, Nov. 20 at 5 p.m., to arrange for delivery.
Volunteers Needed!
Ready to help us serve a delicious feast? Creating our fabulous Thanksgiving Day Buffet takes many people, and we need YOU!
Mark your calendars for October 15 when our volunteer sign-up will go live.
Thanks to our Donors and Major Sponsors!
Generous sponsors, donors, and community partners help make these gatherings possible, ensuring that we can all enjoy a warm Thanksgiving meal. The event wouldn’t be possible without their generous contributions. Each one has contributed toward continuing a tradition that has benefitted our community for nearly forty years. Thank you!
“We joked with others that we were having Thanksgiving with 5,000 of our best friends. But it almost felt like it. The volunteers kept offering greetings and cheer without being overbearing, the people waiting on the tables were just the right amount of helpful without hovering, and we sat with someone new who is now a friend.”
Bringing Our Community Together. Year After Year.
Our Thanksgiving tradition began around 1989, with a free meal for just over 200 guests at The Library, a restaurant in Superior, Wisconsin. In the years since then it has grown into an operation that is capable of feeding thousands.
As the number of guests and meals grew, the event moved to the DECC, which was the only regional facility large enough to accommodate both the massive food preparation and the crowd of guests and volunteers.
Expanding the Celebration
Over the years, the buffet further expanded through home deliveries and satellite programs to serve communities across the Northland. When those communities developed Thanksgiving events of their own, the buffet concentrated its efforts at the DECC while continuing to provide meals for pickup, delivery, and local shelters.
The event has changed many times, but its promise has remained the same: no one should have to spend Thanksgiving without food, warmth, or company. Its enduring history is a testament to what happens when a community keeps choosing to show up for one another.
Thanksgiving Buffet Fun Facts
Here are some other things you may not know about the event!
Made with Fresh Ingredients
Even at this enormous scale, we use fresh ingredients to make the Thanksgiving dinner taste as home-style as possible.
Enough for 7,000 People
We prepare enough food to serve approximately 7,000 people. Food preparation begins on the Monday before the event and is completed by Tuesday.
1,300 Meals Packed in One Day
The day before the event, volunteers assemble at least 1,300 meals for delivery to neighbors who are homebound on Thanksgiving morning.
More Than 800 Volunteers
More than 800 volunteers help prepare, serve, and deliver Thanksgiving meals throughout the region.
1,000 Extra Meals for Later
We prepare approximately 1,000 bag lunches for guests to take with them. Each includes at least a turkey sandwich, fruit, a granola or protein bar, and additional items donated by local businesses.
The Food Keeps Helping After Thanksgiving
Any remaining prepared food is shared with Second Harvest Northland and distributed to shelters throughout Thanksgiving weekend.