Fort Worth residents are invited to gather for a free Thanksgiving dinner at the 14th annual Feast of Sharing, hosted by Central Market at Dickies Arena on Wednesday, Nov. 11, from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. The event, a long‑standing H‑E‑B tradition, will welcome up to 10,000 guests and feature more than 1,000 volunteers.

Celebrating a Community Tradition

Feast of Sharing began in 1989 as part of H‑E‑B’s year‑round commitment to hunger relief. In Fort Worth, the celebration was first organized in 2012 by Central Market General Manager Austin Jourde, who has served the store for over 25 years. This year marks Jourde’s final season as chair of the event before his retirement, adding a personal milestone to the holiday gathering.

What Attendees Can Expect

Guests will be served a traditional Thanksgiving spread, including sliced turkey, gravy, mashed potatoes, green beans, rolls and pumpkin pie. Volunteers provide table service while live music plays, creating a warm, hosted atmosphere. Musical groups scheduled for the afternoon include Suzy & the Sissies, PALADIN, Tejas Classics Band, Legacy 4, and Michael Hix & the Classix.

The Kid’s Zone offers activities for children such as a bounce house, obstacle courses, cookie decorating, face painting and a live petting zoo. Santa will make an appearance, and local organizations will provide additional services: Streetside Showers will offer free showers, CleanUp USA will give free haircuts, and free flu and COVID‑19 vaccines will be available on site.

Volunteer and Community Support

More than 1,000 volunteers from Central Market, partner organizations and the broader community help make the event possible. Their efforts ensure that anyone facing a difficult season can enjoy a nourishing meal, companionship and a sense of belonging.

How to Participate

The celebration is free and open to the public. For updates, volunteer opportunities or additional information, visitors can go to centralmarket.com/feastofsharing. The event will be held at Dickies Arena, 1911 Montgomery St., Fort Worth, TX.

Looking Ahead

While this will be Jourde’s last year as chair, Central Market plans to continue the Feast of Sharing tradition for years to come, building on nearly four decades of service that has delivered more than five million meals nationwide. The event underscores the importance of local businesses partnering with volunteers and nonprofit groups to address hunger and foster community spirit during the holiday season.

Original reporting: Fort Worth Report — read the source article.