Make sure to come out and celebrate Thanksgiving in an event hosted by Kentucky Fried Chicken. As one of Kentucky’s most famous restaurants, KFC has decided to sponsor Lexington’s first every Thanksgiving extravaganza. My family hails from Corbin, Kentucky, home to KFC, our generous event sponsor. KFC represents our Appalachian community because of how intertwined the restaurant is with our hometown. Thanksgiving is a very special holiday for my family and many others in Kentucky. Below there is information about the Kentucky Fried Turkey event. Learn more about the traditions and foods of one Kentucky Appalachian family in this exploration of Thanksgiving and Kentucky heritage!
Animals such as turkey are very important to the Appalachian region, but a person’s health may inhibit them from cooking the perfect Thanksgiving meal. My family has a traditional big homecooked meal combined with a fast-food tradition! The Kentucky Fried Turkey event will show you how these meals convey our Kentucky Appalachian values as Corbin Natives! My grandparents always buy KFC for Thanksgiving. This always helps relieve the stress of cooking a big meal! There is nothing wrong with substituting a homemade meal with some delicious KFC! Whenever my grandparents became weaker in their old age, they started to buy KFC for Thanksgiving and my family loved it. A Thanksgiving meal is only as good as the sides too. Without the fresh vegetables provided by the farmers of Kentucky, how would we all obtain fresh produce?
According to Lundy (2016: 296), “The value of being able to produce our own food is something I believe Appalachians really want to hang on to.” We should all be proud to live in a state where this is all possible. We should also take time this year to celebrate the values of Appalachia that make fresh produce possible. While living in cities, we are detached from the production of foods of all sorts. Grocery markets and restaurants are all readily available to purchase food from. According to Herman (2019: 297), “Everyone goes for what is easiest, people are buying more processed foods. It is something that is ending.” This quote is discussing how regional dishes that take much time to prepare are becoming rarer. The event below will celebrate the farmers and regional dishes of Kentucky that make this region so special!
Why should you celebrate Thanksgiving?
Thanksgiving is the perfect holiday to share thankfulness. According to Santino (1994: 13), “Different holidays focus on different components – Thanksgiving has the meal as its center.” This is the perfect holiday to celebrate the food of Kentucky. According to Jones (1988: 236), “A type of food, the presence of food, or the preparation of food by someone may symbolize care, concern, and contentment.” The foods of this holiday reflect the care and contentment of the people who prepare the meals and originally collect the food. Celebrating Thanksgiving will allow the Lexington community to say thanks to the farmers that allow our community to eat fresh produce and meats.
Kentucky Fried Turkey Festival on November 20th
On November 20th, the celebration of Thanksgiving, community, and thankfulness will commence. To learn the history of Thanksgiving and the symbolism behind the Thanksgiving foods you love attend the Thankful for history booth between 4:00 and 7:00 pm. There will be live entertainment and music throughout the event that celebrates Appalachian country. The great Martin Family Jam cake cooking demonstration will occur from 5:00-9:00 pm so make sure to come learn how to cook our favorite Thanksgiving Day dessert!
- The KFC Booth (4:00 – 10:00 pm)
- Thankful for history (4:00 – 7:00 pm)
- A Thanks to the Farmers Market (4:00 – 9:00 pm)
- Live music and Entertainment (4:00 – 10:00 pm)
- The Martin Family Jam Cake cooking Demonstration (5:00 – 9:00 pm)
The KFC Booth
Starting on November 20th at 4:00 pm come on out to enjoy Thanksgiving with some classic KFC! My family loves it, and I know yours will too. Thank our sponsor for allowing us all to have such an amazing event by enjoying some chicken and turkey.
Thankful for History
On November 20th from 4:00 to 7:00 pm be sure to stop by and learn the meaning behind Thanksgiving and the symbolism behind foods you love. How the foods are collected and raised will be discussed to spread awareness of environmental degradation and the importance of taking care of the land around us. According to Santino (1994: 14) “Each of these components is symbolic; that is, each has a meaning greater than itself. A turkey dinner on Thanksgiving is more than just another dinner, we do not eat it simply because we are hungry.” The true history of this American holiday will be taught during this demonstration as well! This includes a lecture that details the complicated and fraught relationship between Native Americans and settlers.
A Thanks to the Farmers
On November 20th from 4:00 to 9:00 pm, the farmers of Kentucky will be thanked through an open farmers market. This is a perfect time to celebrate the Appalachian values of Kentucky. In my family, our Thanksgiving meal has always relied on what could be farmed. According to my grandmother Jo-Ann, “We always just fixed what we raised and could eat. We were restricted to what we could grow and hunt. I think it’s just because those are the foods people can grow.” In this section of the event, the farmers and fresh produce will be the center of attention. As we all know, a Thanksgiving meal is only as good as the sides. It is time to acknowledge the fresh vegetables provided by our farmers. According to Lundy (2016: 138), “The long summer sojourns I spent with my family in Corbin, Kentucky, were a lesson in beans.” It is time for the Lexington community to receive their own Appalachian lessons about produce. You may not have family in Eastern Kentucky, but do not worry about that because we will bring the region to you. All farmers are welcome, but spaces are limited. Come to collect fresh produce and meats directly from the sources that raise them! Be vocal and give these amazing farmers thanks for being part of the Kentucky community and allowing us all to eat well.
Live music and Entertainment
On November 20th from 4:00 to 7:00 pm live entertainment and music will fill the streets of Lexington to celebrate Thanksgiving in a different way. If you have a family member busy at the cooking demonstration, make sure you have fun listening to local artists at our venue. In the Martin Family, we love some old-fashioned country music to celebrate our heritage. We hope that the sounds of Appalachia make you all feel welcome!
The Martin Family Jam Cake Cooking Demonstration
On November 20th at 5:00 pm you and your families better prepare to learn how to cook your new favorite dessert. The Martin Family Jam Cake is a staple of Corbin. In the South, Jam Cake is a very beautiful regional dish that everyone should enjoy! Allow us to share some of the love of our home with our dish. Families and chefs from all regions of Kentucky are welcome to attend! Bring home a new kind of dessert this Thanksgiving! Each attendee will not need to prepare or bring any ingredients. All spare ingredients and cakes will be donated to the homeless shelter. In case of allergen concerns, the ingredients may be observed below.
Ingredients Used:
- Homemade butter from the Martin family
- Buttermilk
- Eggs
- All-purpose flour
- Blackberry Jam from the Martin Family farm
- Cinnamon
- Nutmeg
Sources:
Jones, Michael Owen. 1988. “Afterword: Discovering the Symbolism of Food Customs and Events.” We Gather Together: Food and Festivals in American Life, Theodore and Lin C. Humphrey, eds., 235-245. Ann Arbor, MI: U. of Michigan Press.
Santino, Jack. 1994. “Introduction,” “Holidays in America: Ritual, Festival, and Celebration,” and “Homemade Holidays: Making Symbols, Making Meaning.” All Around the Year, xiii-46. Urbana, IL: U. of Illinois Press.
Herman, Bernard L.. 2019. A South You Never Ate. Chapel Hill, NC: U. of North Carolina Press.
Lundy, Ronni. 2016. Victuals: An Appalachian Journey with Recipes. New York: Clarkson Potter.
