A Living Guide to Thanksgiving Meals Around the River Valley (2025)

With Thanksgiving just around the corner, many of us are deciding how we’ll celebrate — whether that means dining out, grabbing to-go options, or joining neighbors around a community table.

 

To make things easier, we’re building a Living Thanksgiving Guide for the River Valley:

 

a growing directory of dine-in meals, take-home smoked turkeys, buffet options, and free community gatherings.

 

We’ve rounded up everything we know so far — and we’ll continue adding to this guide as more information is shared.

 

👉 Know a restaurant, church, or group offering Thanksgiving meals?

Comment on our Facebook thread to help us keep this list fresh:

Living Thanksgiving Guide 2025

 

We’ll update this guide each week leading up to Thanksgiving.

 

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🍽️ Dine-In / Buffets

Enjoy the full spread — without the dishes.

 

Prima Italia — Fort Smith

Thursday, Nov 27 • 10 AM–2 PM
$44 adults • $22 kids (5 & under free)
10% military discount
Classic Thanksgiving favorites + Italian twists.
Reserve on OpenTable.

 

Village Inn — Fort Smith

Thanksgiving Day
Regular hours; traditional holiday plates available.

 

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📦 To-Go / Pre-Order Options

If you prefer to relax at home, these spots will help fill the table.

 

Rub ’Em Tender BBQ — Van Buren

Order by Nov 21 • Pickup Nov 27
Smoked ham (9–12 lbs) • Deboned smoked turkey ($10/lb)
Sides $25 (feeds 15–20)
Cookie box available.

 

Art’s BBQ & Grill — Fort Smith

Order by Nov 15 (or until full)
Smoked + fried turkeys & hams
8203 Rogers Ave • (479) 452-2550

 

Blue Ember Smokehouse — Fort Smith

Order by Nov 21
Whole smoked turkeys available.

 

Harps — Fort Smith

Buy your turkey/ham at Harps; they’ll smoke or oven-roast it for +$25
3401 S 74th St • Must prepay.

 

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❤️ Free / Community Meals

Holiday hospitality for anyone who could use a warm meal.

 

Salvation Army — Fort Smith

Thu, Nov 28 • 11 AM–1 PM
301 N 6th St • All welcome

 

East Side Baptist Church — Fort Smith

Thu, Nov 27 • Noon
Reservations required • (479) 452-1481

 

Burger Barn — Muldrow, OK

Thu, Nov 27 • 11 AM–3 PM
903 E Shawntel Smith Blvd • Free meal

 

Gray Rock Community Center

Thu, Nov 27 • 12–4 PM
Free open potluck — all welcome

 

The Bonanza Hangout — Bonanza, AR

Thu, Nov 27 • Time TBA
Free community dinner

 

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📣 Help Us Keep This Guide Updated

 

Know of a Thanksgiving meal we haven’t listed yet?

Hosting a potluck? Smoking turkeys?

We’d love to share it!

 

➡️ Add your tip in the Facebook thread:

Living Thanksgiving Guide 2025

 

We’ll update this Living Guide weekly until Thanksgiving — so check back next week for fresh additions.

 

🎄 Looking ahead:

If you hear about Christmas meals or community tables, share those too and we’ll start a December list.

 

Until then — happy early feasting, River Valley. ❤️
May your turkey be juicy and your table full.