HARTLAND — The October turkey suppers have been a staple at the First Universalist Society of Hartland for at least 40 years, maybe longer.
And even though people will not be able to gather at the society for the three Saturdays in October the suppers are scheduled for, volunteers have changed the sit-down meals to a drive-thru style.
“We were trying to keep the tradition, to keep it going in some way. We worked very hard to even figure out how to approach it,” said Bruce Locke, who is a member of the committee that plans the suppers, which draw around 300 people per meal.
The drive-thru meals will take place from 4:30-6:30 p.m. at 8 Brownsville Road beginning this Saturday and will also be held on Oct. 17 and 24. The cost is $12 and exact change is preferred. Checks will also be accepted. Reservations are not required. For more information, email office@hartlanduu.org or call 802-738-0102.
“I think it’s one of the most difficult meals to do as a carryout,” Locke said. “You’ve got the gravy and the coleslaw and all your pickles and cranberry sauce. There are a lot of different ingredients that go into this for the meal. It’s one thing to take the food and set it on the table as a family-style meal it’s another thing to box it up to go.”
There will be a tent set up where people will be able to drive up and pay for the meal, before driving to another tent where volunteers will place the meal boxes in each vehicle. Each supper includes roast turkey with gravy, stuffing, mashed potatoes, squash, coleslaw, pickles, cranberry sauce and apple crisp.
“They don’t have to get out of the car at all,” Locke said. “It’s very helpful if people don’t come extra early because our parking lot is only so big and we’d like not to fill up the street with traffic.”
While people may not be able to gather in person to share the meals together, the community aspect remains strong. Volunteers cook the turkeys in their own homes before bringing them to the church to be distributed.
“A lot of the ingredients of the supper come from local gardens which I’m very proud of,” Locke said. Having the suppers “means an awful lot to me,” Locke added. “Our whole routine of life has been interrupted, and this is just another way to try to keep some normalcy to it.”
Here’s a look at Upper Valley-based events that are taking place over the next few days.
■Join an online knitting group hosted by the Thetford Libraries from 7-9 p.m. Knitters of all levels welcome. Email librarians@thetfordlibrary.org for Zoom link.
■The Tiny Necessary Theater festival at Northern Stage kicks off with It’s Fine, I’m Fine, a one-woman show written and performed by Stephanie Everett, directed by Carol Dunne and choreographed by Beatrice Capote, from 7:30-9 p.m. Performances also take place on Friday and Saturday from 7:30-9 p.m. and 2-3:30 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. Tickets cost $19-$45 (students $19, EBT Cardholders, $5) and can be purchased at northernstage.org/tnt.
■Culinary Historian Sarah Lohman will give an online talk titled “Pie: A History!” at 7 p.m. as part of the Enfield Shaker Museum’s “All at Home: A Taste of History” lecture and food tasting series. Tickets cost $15 and are available at shakermuseum.org/event/all-at-home-a-taste-of-history.
■Begin streaming A Home Called Nebraska, a documentary about how a Nebraska community stepped up during the refugee crisis, which is available through the Hop’s Film on Demand program. It costs $5-$8 to stream and will be available through Oct. 14. Visit hop.dartmouth.edu for more information.
■Stop by the Norwich Historical Society (277 Main St.) from 3-6 p.m. to view the Norwich Community Circles Project, which includes more than 175 circles created by community members in response to the past six months. Bring a sharpie to add one word to blank circles hanging on fence. Visit norwichhistory.org for more information.
■The Hanover Improvement Society (57 Main St.) will be selling ice cream bars and authentic movie posters for $1 each during a sidewalk sale from 2-6 p.m. Free popcorn will also be available. Email vbaughman@hanoverimprovement.org for more information.
■Twelve young classical performers from around the Twin States will perform from 7:30-9 p.m. 12th annual Next Generation Concert at the Chandler Center for the Arts (71 N. Main St., Randolph). Tickets cost $17. Register for in-person and livestream show at chandler-arts.org.
■Meet at the Hartford Library (1587 Maple St.) at 10 a.m. for Hartford Tree Board’s annual Tree Identification Walk. For two hours, walk around the village identifying many trees and imagining the area decades ago with photographs borrowed from the Historical Society. Masks required. 802-295-6118.
■The Greater Hartford United Church of Christ (1721 Maple St., Hartford Village) will hold a Christmas in October sale from 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Items include Christmas crafts, knickknacks, decorations, knitted items and gifts. Hot coffee, doughnuts and a bake sale with all items individually wrapped will also be available. Masks required. Call 802-738-2832 for more information.
■An apple pie contest, pumpkin decorating, raffle, live music and tours of the new Cornerstone Community Center are all part of the Apple Harvest Festival and Apple Pie Bake Off, which takes place from 10:30 a.m.-2 p.m. at the Cornerstone Community Center (14 Elk St., Hartford Village). Includes fresh apple cider, maple doughnuts, homemade soups, and other treats. Visit cccvt.org for more information.
■The Enfield Shaker Museum (447 Route 4A) will be offering sweet and savory homemade pies for sale beginning at 10 a.m., until sold out. Pies cost $10-$20. Visit shakermuseum.org/event/fall-pie-sale for more information.
■Stop by Huse Memorial Park (Route 4) for the Enfield Halloween & Holiday Market. Items include produce, paintings, jewelry, pumpkins, home decor, tie dye and honey. Food vendors will also be there. Facebook: “Enfield Halloween & Holiday Market” for more information.
■The Strafford Foliage Craft Fair and Open Studio Tour will take place from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. at the Strafford Athletic Field (next to the “Red Barn” and tennis courts on Route 132). The fair features more than 20 Vermont crafts people and includes pottery, jewelry, wood bowls, paintings and split ash baskets. Email kurmacdavid@gmail.com for more information.
■Stop by Baxter Memorial Library (5114 Route 14, Sharon) from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. for a homemade apple pie, cake or crisp. Costs vary and proceeds benefit the library. Email sharonbaxterlibrary@gmail.com for more information.
■The Orford Congregational Church (Route 10) will host a Fall Craft and Vendor Fair from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Offerings include knitted and crocheted items, jewelry and wooden bowls, among many other items. There will also be a book and white elephant sale. Food available for purchase. Call 802-757-3220 for more information.
■VINS staff will visit Cedar Circle Farm and Education Center (225 Pavillion Road, East Thetford) for an “Owls & their Calls” program, which features three live owls. Programs take place from 11-11:30 a.m. and 11:45 a.m.-12:15 p.m. Group size is limited to 30 participants. Register at cedarcirclefarm.org.
■Windsor residents Cliff Pollard and James Haaf will perform from 1-2:30 p.m. outside the Windsor Public Library (43 State St.) as part of a Music in the Backyard concert. Registration required by calling 802-674-2556. Rain date: Oct. 17.
■VINE Sanctuary will hold a virtual gala to celebrate its 20th anniversary from 4-6 p.m. During the party, the cows will walk the red carpet and the animals will eat food baked earlier during a cooking demonstration. Prior to the gala, people can visit the Springfield, Vt.-based nonprofit organization’s Facebook page for virtual activities, including a tour. Tickets range from $5-$60. Ten raffle tickets can be purchased for $8. Facebook: “VINE Sanctuary.”
■Potatoes, squash, coleslaw, applesauce, dessert and a roll will all be part of a curbside Pork Roast Supper at Blow-Me-Down Grange (1107 Route 12A, Plainfield). Meals cost $12 each and pickup is from 4-6 p.m. Call 1-603-448-0773 for more information.
■The White River Junction United Methodist Church (106 Gates St.) will hold a takeout turkey supper. The cost is $10 per meal and will come with a choice of apple or pumpkin pie. Call 802-295-7091 after 1 p.m. to place order for curbside pick up from 4-5:30 p.m.
■The Enfield United Methodist Church (Route 4) will hold a Take Out Only Roast Turkey Supper from 5-6 p.m. Meals — which include roast turkey, mashed potatoes, gravy, squash, stuffing, green beans, cranberry sauce, homemade pies and beverages — must be pre-ordered by calling 603-632-7118. Adults are $12, children ages 5-10 are $5 and under 5 are free.
■Join area naturalists Micki Colbeck and Tii McLane for a walk from 9-11 a.m. to explore the ferns, mosses, flowering plants, and birds during a hike in the Ashley Community Forest located on the boundary of Sharon and Strafford. Registration required by emailing mfsacca@gmail.com or calling 802-889-3210.
■The Strafford Foliage Craft Fair and Open Studio Tour will take place from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. at the Strafford Athletic Field (next to the “Red Barn” and tennis courts on Route 132). The fair features more than 20 Vermont crafts people and includes pottery, jewelry, wood bowls, paintings and split ash baskets. Email kurmacdavid@gmail.com for more information.
■Kimberly Doreen Burns (Ragtime, My Fair Lady) and Richard Koons (Cats, Phantom of the Opera: Love Never Dies) will perform Broadway hits at 3 p.m. during an in-person and livestreamed concert at ArtisTree Community Arts Center (2095 Pomfret Road, South Pomfret). Tickets for the in-person show cost $35 for individuals and $60 per couple. Livestream tickets cost $10. For more information, visit artistreevt.org.
Editor’s note: Submit Upper Valley-based events to the Valley News at calendar.vnews.com.
Liz Sauchelli can be reached at esauchelli@vnews.com or 603-727-3221.
