What’s the best part about Thanksgiving? The food (obviously). And what’s the best part about the Moravian dining halls? The annual Thanksgiving dinner, of course! 

This year’s Thanksgiving dinner is on Wednesday, Nov. 19, in both The Star and Clewell dining halls. Many awesome features of this tradition are worth highlighting.

The food is arguably the best and most important part of Moravian’s Thanksgiving dinner. It is a welcome break from the food typically served in the dining halls, especially as we get closer to the end of the semester and get tired of the offerings. I am not just praising the food for the sake of this article; the food served at Thanksgiving is actually delicious. 

You may be skeptical at first because of past experiences with other dining hall foods, but everything served there is beyond yummy. The turkey is never dry, and the mashed potatoes are the perfect consistency. There are dinner rolls cooked to perfection, and multiple pie options for dessert. And of course, President Grigsby and his wife, First Lady Lea Grigsby, will make sure you have plenty of whipped cream.

Another great aspect of Thanksgiving dinner is the emphasis on the Moravian community and on building connections between faculty, staff, and students. Moravian faculty and staff can sign up to serve food to the students in either dining hall. 

It’s a brief yet great event to see professors outside the classroom. It’s also the ultimate expression of gratitude between professors, staff, and students. It reminds me of how incredibly grateful I am to my professors and the university staff for what they have done for me and the larger Moravian community.

Madison Snyder ‘26 has enjoyed Thanksgiving dinner in the dining hall with her friends every fall semester. She praised the event, saying, “I really enjoy having our professors there and talking with President Grigsby. It makes me feel like we are one big family.”

Grigsby has brought his greyhound, Mo, in the past, and now sometimes Benny makes an appearance. I always keep an eye on him to make sure he doesn’t try to steal a piece of turkey off my plate.

Despite the usual crowds of students this event draws, I can always find a table with my friends in The Star. If you are looking for a less crowded, more low-key atmosphere, Clewell on South Campus usually offers that option. My friends and I always clear our schedules so that we can share a Thanksgiving dinner. It’s that important to us. No way are we going to miss each other’s company at a special dinner (and no way are we going to miss this once-a-year meal).

Moravian’s Thanksgiving dinner is also an excellent opportunity for students who may not be able to travel home to celebrate the holiday with their families. The homestyle meal prepared by the dining and catering staff is sure to bring comfort, warmth, and flavor to cold and gray November days. We can all use that as we approach the most stressful part of the semester. The dinner is a sort of last hurrah before we enter finals week and all hell breaks loose. 

At the end of the meal, I always walk out feeling absolutely stuffed, with a stomach full of turkey, mashed potatoes, and pumpkin pie. I don’t always walk out of the dining hall feeling completely satisfied with my meal, but I do after Thanksgiving dinner. It is the perfect recipe for a relaxing evening and a full night’s rest. The food coma always puts me right to sleep.

So, eat up, Moravian! You’re going to need all that extra energy for the last few weeks of the semester. Your first stop can be Thanksgiving dinner in The Star or Clewell!