Carson City Nugget Thanksgiving meal tradition continues

Free turkey for all at the Carson Nugget on Thanksgiving Day is a Carson City tradition tied to the feast that began in colonial New England 393 years ago.

This Thursday the turkey and trimmings will be served by local celebrity officials like Robert and Susan Crowell, the mayor and his bride of more than four decades, and other top Carson City elected officials or staff. So said Jim Peckham, executive director of FISH (Friends in Service Helping), the charitable organization providing 100 turkeys.

“We are providing a bunch of turkeys for it,” Peckham said Tuesday, noting his organization is cooperating with the Hop & Mae Adams Foundation and the Carson Nugget to put on the Thanksgiving Day feed for anyone who shows up. The event is scheduled in the Nugget upstairs banquet rooms from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m. The Nugget is located at 507 N. Carson St.

“Last year, 800 people from Carson City and surrounding areas were served a free Thanksgiving meal at this event, with more than 1,000 expected this year,” said Nugget officials. “All community members and visitors are encouraged to attend this no-cost dinner.”

The menu includes turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, gravy, yams and mashmallow glaze, green bean casserole, cranberry sauce, dinner rolls, assorted pies, and beverages, according to the casino’s advance notice. This marks 60 years of the Nugget providing a Thanksgiving meal.

This is a special day for FISH to be involved with the long standing Nugget event, as well as the even longer Thanksgiving celebratory festivities that tradition says date back to 1621 in Plymouth, Mass., according to Peckham.

“We shut down our dining room “ he said, which gives those usually enjoying fare there on other days a chance to do so with everyone from the city and surrounding areas at the Nugget. He said the FISH dining room closes only twice yearly, once for this event and on Nevada Day.

Along with Mayor Crowell and his spouse, Peckham said, City Manager Nick Marano, Sheriff Ken Furlong, Fire Chief Stacey Giomi, Supervisor Karen Abowd and her husband, Charlie, and Supervisor John McKenna are expected to help serve those who partake of the mid-day meal. Peckham said servers will wear aprons bearing the logo “iServe,” which denotes a new program to promote volunteer service in the community.