Sandwiched between back-to-school fall activities and the frenetic pace of year-end holidays, Thanksgiving is a perfect time for Oklahomans to pause and practice their attitude of gratitude. Community events mark the event, while home gatherings incorporate individualized traditions among family and friends. Many are marked by an entire weekend watching football games, turkey drumstick in hand. Pass the pecan pie, please.
The Rise of Friendsgiving
Years before Twitter posts began mentioning the phrase in 2007, gathering your ‘found family’ at Thanksgiving was a tradition among friends. Today, it continues to gain popularity. John R. Andrews, Ph.D., a teaching assistant professor with OSU, harbors a love for this emerging holiday.
“As a gay graduate student in Texas and Oklahoma, I spent much of my 20’s and 30’s far from home in Arkansas. Between grading and finals, the trip home for Thanksgiving rarely made sense,” he says. “Friendsgiving gave me people to celebrate with when I might otherwise have felt alone. For some of my gay friends, it also offered a break from strained family relationships. I think Friendsgiving has become popular because so many of us live far from home or find belonging in chosen family. It gives us a way to make community wherever we are.”
Volunteerism Opportunities
This Thanksgiving, food drives lead the charge in volunteerism opportunities.
“At the Food Bank of Eastern Oklahoma, we see the power of community every day,” says Jeff Marlow, the organization’s president and CEO. “Across 24 counties, we work alongside more than 700 food pantries, schools, shelters and other community partners to provide nutritious food to neighbors facing hunger. Last year alone, we distributed nearly 34 million pounds of food, including more than 10 million pounds of fresh produce. Behind every one of those numbers is a person, a family and a story. You can donate, become a monthly donor, volunteer your time, host a food drive or advocate for neighbors facing hunger. Every act of generosity matters.”
In 2025, more than 12,000 volunteers donated nearly 60,000 hours of service, an estimated labor value of $1.8 million.
“Thanksgiving means more when every neighbor has a place at the table,” says Marlow. “Visit OKFoodBank.org today to help feed our neighbors this Thanksgiving and throughout the year.”
Get Active
Holiday 5Ks and fun runs take place around the state this Thanksgiving. OKC’s Turkey Trot happens on Thanksgiving Day (Nov. 26), while Tulsa’s Turkey Trot happens on Black Friday, so participants can run off Thanksgiving calories. Costumes are optional, but always welcomed!
You can also take a hike – literally. Mid-morning on Nov. 26, Sequoyah State Park’s “Turkey Strut 5K + 1” features free group, guided, untimed hikes – from a family-friendly, gentle walk (.75 miles) to a longer moderate trek with a faster pace.
Other Community Events
Tally’s Good Food Café in Tulsa serves up classic holiday comfort food from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day, open to all. In Norman, Sooner Bowling Center is open for day-of-holiday bowling from 5 p.m. to midnight with food and festive drinks available. Reservations are strongly recommended.
Or, relax and let others do the planning, cooking and clean-up. Guests at OKANA Resort in Oklahoma City, for example, can enjoy a traditional holiday buffet and participate in crafts, a Thankful Tree,
family activities, turkey bowling and a flag football game.
