“The ladies of the Catholic Church served a fine turkey dinner in the Opera House yesterday and were liberally patronized.”
- Excerpt from church history book

With a documented history of nearly 120 years, the Sts. Peter and Paul turkey dinner has become an annual event kicking off the holiday season in Kingfisher.

This year’s dinner, scheduled 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 3, will continue the traditional Thanksgiving meal.

This year, 80 turkeys are being prepared, along with 100 pounds of bread and 60 pounds of cornbread for the dinner that feeds approximately 1,500 people.

However, the tradition continues to evolve and after a meeting with the carry-out team, new changes were approved.

The usual buffet line in Ross Hall will continue where patrons may go through the buffet line, fill their own plates and dine in Ross Hall with the youth group waiting the tables.

In the past, those wanting carry-out meals have been given a menu and were allowed to select their choices, which were then filled by the staff according to those selections.

Due to the exponential growth of those choosing the carry-out option, this is no longer possible.

In 2018, the carry-out staff filled over 750 meals in the two-hour time frame. This caused some customers a wait of nearly an hour.

This year the group will not take specific orders, but will instead serve the traditional Thanksgiving meal with choice of apple or pumpkin pie in carry-out. Only adult meals will be served in carry-out.

Those getting carry-out meals will not even need to leave their car as meals will be delivered from the new Parish Hall to the car under the south portico.

Patrons will follow signs and enter the Parish campus from 6th Street onto Don Blanding.

Increased numbers of parking staff will be available to direct customers as they choose the dine-in or carry-out options.

It is hoped this plan can expedite the wait for those who choose to take their meals home to eat.

It will also be more convenient in the case of inclement weather.