Staff Favorites: Thanksgiving Traditions

Thanksgiving is just around the corner, and our full-time staff can’t wait to break out their favorite foods, traditions, and cozy fall activities! We asked our full-time team to share what makes this season special for them—everything from classic dishes to quirky family customs—and they delivered. Whether you’re all about the turkey or the togetherness, we hope their answers spark some inspiration (and maybe even a new tradition or two) for your own Thanksgiving celebration this year.

“The girls in my family always spend the week trying new crafts like cookie decorating, making cake balls, needlepointing and activities like that! And then the day after Thanksgiving, we start decorating for Christmas!” — Kate “Bones” Swanner, Outback Women’s Director

“One of my favorite Thanksgiving traditions is going over to our Nana + Papa’s house for Thanksgiving dinner! It’s really sweet because my parents are from China, so they’ll add in some fun Chinese food to our normal American Thanksgiving meal. We’ll usually watch the football games and enjoy food and fellowship with some of our family and friends!” — Bright “Baker Slayfield” Qiu, Towers Women’s Director

“It isn’t Thanksgiving at the Garner house without a fall puzzle going on the puzzle board!” — Jesse “Schmoe” Garner, Senior Director of Brand Engagement

“I have started my own tradition that I hope to keep up when I have a family. For the past few years, I have run a 5K Turkey Trot in my hometown. It is honestly such a fun atmosphere to be there with friends and families (some dressed in theme night-worthy costumes) walking and running together to start off the day of thankfulness. It reminds me to be grateful that the Lord has given me the ability to move and to have a body that can run. Yes, even running can be a thing to be grateful for!” — Eli “Peter Porker” Creasy, Digital Operations and Media Manager

“The best part of Thanksgiving is definitely breaking out the Christmas tree right after we’re done eating! We put on a Christmas movie (typically “Home Alone”… duh) and begin making the house festive. It’s awesome.” — Ethan “Runny” Hebert, IT Operations Support Tech

“I really love making cranberry sauce with my mom and Grandma! My grandma does an amazing job of getting all the fresh ingredients, like the cranberries, the oranges and lemon juice, and it is one of my favorite things to eat at Thanksgiving!” — Chloe “Risk-It” McGrath, HR Training and Engagement Manager

“Thanksgiving is by far my favorite holiday! It is always so fun being all together with no agenda and then kicking off the Christmas season the next day! Thanksgiving is the one time a year my mom makes her infamous Chocolate Cobbler. This is basically just a big gooey brownie with a lava cake-equse base. We top it with Blue Bell ice cream and there are no complaints from any of us!” — Annelise “Smilin’” Morrison, Silverado Camp Director

“Something the Davis family does every year is we run a Turkey Trot on Thanksgiving day, and then eat and sleep! THEN the next day we go pick out a real Christmas tree—very fun times!” — Avery “Chicken Joe” Davis, Ridge Women’s Director

“Our Thanksgiving traditions always include a big Thanksgiving meal featuring special family recipes of those no longer with us, and we break out the good dishes and go all out on decorating the table! Our afternoons usually include a puzzle of some sort and playing board games as a family, and we try to get outside and play a little football or go on a long walk to stave off the afternoon nap!” — Susan “Teddy Gram” Andreone, Chief Communication Officer

“Thanksgiving is when we watch the first Christmas MOVIE of the year (usually “Christmas Vacation”). Though it is important to note that Christmas MUSIC doesn’t start until December 1. You have to bring the chaos into order. You can only listen to Mariah Carey and Michael Buble so many times.” — Conor “Flow” Barry, Ridge Camp Director

“My family gets together every year at my aunt’s house with a big feast for Thanksgiving and it’s always so sweet to be with everyone! Typically after dinner we start playing games together, and it’s so fun that our stomachs hurt—not only from all the amazing food, but also because of the belly laughs that happen during the games. We love Uzzle, UNO Flip, our own version of Spicy UNO, and I’m sure this year will bring Mah Jongg into the mix!” — Bri “Moon Boots” Reed, Registration Coordinator

“My entire extended family (around 25 people) spends either Thanksgiving or Christmas together each year! In the years that we spend Thanksgiving together, we are each given a name a few weeks in advance for a Christmas ornament exchange! One person starts by giving their ornament to the person they were given, then the person who received the ornament gives one to the name they drew, and so on! The hope is to give someone an ornament that highlights a big part of their year! I received a microphone one year, because I had given the best man speech at my brother’s wedding a few months prior. It’s a really fun way to think back on memories from the previous year and provide some really intentional or hilarious moments.” — Colin “Sneaky Pete” Post, Ridge Associate Director

As we gather around our tables this season, we hope these traditions spark a little warmth, laughter, and maybe even a new tradition or two of your own! Whether your day is filled with family recipes, football, or a good long nap after pie, may it be a reminder of all there is to be thankful for, and especially the people who make life so sweet.