Staff Photo

Thanksgiving is full of traditions and one that I observe every year is watching the 1973 classic cartoon, “A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving.” It illustrates a lesson that Thanksgiving is not just about eating, it’s about getting together, being thankful for each other and celebrating the blessings of the year.

As a child the lesson may not be completely apparent. Instead, children are probably more interested in the idea of popcorn, toast, pretzels, ice cream and jelly beans as a possible Thanksgiving meal — all served up by a dog in a chef’s hat. Now that’s my kind of chef.

This very meal was the inspiration — from a child’s mind — for the East Texas Food Bank Charlie Brown Thanksgiving Feast that will be held Friday at 6 p.m. at The Market at the Crossing, just past FRESH on Old Jacksonville Highway. 11-year-old Curt Pearson, a sixth-grader at Cumberland Academy, originally had the idea when he was 5 as a way to celebrate Thanksgiving with his school friends.

Since then, it has grown into an annual tradition and will be bigger and better than ever at this year’s new location.

The event is free and everyone is invited to come and watch the Charlie Brown special and enjoy a ‘traditional’ Charlie Brown Thanksgiving meal.

Goody bags will be filled with toast provided by Jason’s Deli, popcorn from Popcorn Junction, ice cream from Dairy Queen, jelly beans from Sweet Gourmet and pretzels with juice from Brookshire’s.

Organized by LT24, the kids gather around the big screen and enjoy their Thanksgiving treats while watching Charlie Brown and the gang work out their Thanksgiving dilemmas.

If you’ve seen the special, the problems arise when Peppermint Patty finds out they will be eating popcorn and toast served by a dog instead of turkey and dressing.

The dilemma that faces several East Texas families is how to feed their families on Thanksgiving Day and other times of the year. Through this event the East Texas Food Bank hopes to raise awareness and collect canned goods for the holidays. Specifically, they are asking people who attend the event to bring a jar or two of peanut butter.

For more information or to make donations go to www.easttexasfood

bank.org/CharlieBrown or call the East Texas Food Bank at 903-597-3663.

Another way to get in the Thanksgiving spirit is to visit Sweet Gourmet in the Tyler French Quarter Nov 14. The store will be holding a daylong celebration to kick off the holidays. Representatives from Wus-thof knives, Le Creuset cookware, Breville appliances, Now Designs and Vitamix will be there. 

There will be giveaways and discounts throughout the day and I will be there to give advice on planning Thanksgiving dinner and other holiday events. You can also register for a cooking class I will be teaching that evening at the store by calling Sweet Gourmet at 903-534-0840.

The store opens at 9 a.m. and the demonstrations and specials will be running throughout the day. I will be there from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. to meet everyone and answer questions. I hope you can stop by and say hello.