Where to Savor the Festive Feast in 2023 without the Fuss
Thanksgiving in Central Oregon is full of camaraderie, crisp air and holiday joy. Soon, the aromas of turkey and pumpkin pie in the oven will fill the air, beckoning us to gather and celebrate the season of gratitude together. If the thought of spending hours in the kitchen doesn’t appeal to you, though, Central Oregon offers a variety of options for a memorable Thanksgiving dinner away from home. Enjoy all the beloved holiday dishes with none of the cleanup.
Dinner is Served
Elk Lake Resort
Thanksgiving dinner lakeside at Elk Lake Resort is surrounded by the serene beauty of the Deschutes National Forest and the towering Cascade Mountain Range. Diners warm up their bellies with starters such as butternut squash bisque and harvest greens salad before diving into a main course featuring roasted turkey with sage gravy and applewood smoked ham—side dishes like traditional homestyle green bean casserole and roasted garlic mashed potatoes round out the Thanksgiving table. Conclude the feast with a choice of peach cobbler à la mode or a double-layer pumpkin pie. Dinner seating opens at 5 p.m. Prices are $50 per person, with a special Kids Plate for $25. For a delightful holiday experience, make your reservations by calling 541-480-7378 or emailing elresort@gmail.com.
Black Butte Ranch
The recently renovated Lodge at Black Butte Ranch hosts a family-style Thanksgiving feast that will produce lifelong memories. To kick things off, enjoy a family-style charcuterie board and pick from an array of appetizers, including butternut squash soup, smoked beet salad, baby kale salad, or burrata and peperonata. The entrée lineup includes Thanksgiving turkey, roast prime rib, northwest salmon, beef short rib or mushroom bourguignon. Indulge your sweet tooth with desserts like classic pumpkin tart, apple cranberry crisp and maple pot de creme. The kid’s menu features Thanksgiving turkey, macaroni and cheese, a cheeseburger and chicken strips. With breathtaking views and a warm, elevated ambiance, the Lodge at Black Butte Ranch provides the perfect setting for a Thanksgiving to remember. Dinner is served from 12 to 4 p.m. with plates priced at $65 per adult and $18 per child. Secure your spot by making reservations online or calling 541-595-1260.
The Lodge in Sunriver
Celebrate Thanksgiving at The Lodge in Sunriver with a four-course plated dinner in their beautiful dining room with meadow and mountain views. The menu promises an elevated feast full of the season’s flavors. Appetizers include a choice of cheese fondue or house milk rolls. For the second course, patrons pick between fall greens and cauliflower bisque. For the heartier dishes, options include dry-aged prime rib, turkey roulade and winter tagliatelle. Sunriver is known as a place known as a place full of family tradition, and this is a place for creating new memories or returning year after year. Thanksgiving dinner is available from 1 p.m. – 8 p.m. Adults dine for $95, kids for $47, and kids under 5 are complimentary with a paying adult. Ensure your place at the table by calling 541-593-3740 for reservations.
McMenamins Old St. Francis School
Want to keep it a bit more casual? The Thanksgiving special at McMenamins Old St. Francis School is a beloved tradition for many. Alongside their regular pub menu, enjoy a curated selection of Thanksgiving specials to enjoy in the cozy pub atmosphere. Specials include a traditional Thanksgiving turkey plate, cider-glazed pork medallions, northern star wild Alaskan cod and a holiday vegan plate. The ambiance of this historic school-turned-pub adds extra charm to the holiday festivities, and with all ages welcome, the whole family can be together. To save your spot, call 541-330-8563 for reservations.
Juniper Preserve
Juniper Preserve is known as a wellness haven, so you can be sure its “Gobble ‘Til You Wobble” Thanksgiving Dinner will offer a nourishing and balanced buffet of festive food. The feast takes place in the beautiful Chanterelle Dining Room with panoramic views of the juniper forest. The main buffet offers all the beloved holiday staples such as butternut squash soup, crispy Brussels sprouts, classic green bean casserole and more as appetizers. The main courses include pork belly macaroni and cheese, garlic-chive mashed potatoes, cedar plank wild king salmon, and a roast turkey and prime rib carving station. The dessert buffet features a lineup of delicious pies, including pecan pie with bourbon glaze, chai-spiced cheesecake, classic pumpkin pie with pepita brittle and more. The kiddos have their own buffet, which includes classics like mashed potatoes, macaroni and cheese, roast turkey, gravy and more. Dining service begins at 12 p.m., with plates priced at $120 for adults and $45 for children. Click here to RSVP.
Tetherow
Tetherow invites guests to a festive and delicious Thanksgiving celebration. With dine-in and to-go options available, indulge in a menu inspired by Central Oregon ingredients. An abundant lineup of sides includes cornbread stuffing, honey-glazed carrots, candied yams, mashed potatoes, macaroni and cheese, green bean casserole, root vegetable medley and fresh rolls. The salad bar features a beet salad, Caesar salad and Batavia wedge salad. The shining star is the carving station with roasted turkey, honey-glazed ham, house-smoked salmon and a forager’s board. For dessert, choose from brownie bites, Dutch apple pie, pumpkin pie and pecan pie. The dining room will be open from 12 p.m.- 7 p.m. Prices range from $15 for ages 4 and under to $105 for adults, with special pricing for children 5 and up. To reserve your spot, call 541-388-2582.
* Note: Please confirm availability; all Thanksgiving dinners require reservations.
More Thanksgiving Activities in Central Oregon
Get Outside in Central Oregon
Before everyone sits down at the table to focus on the delicious feast at hand, getting outside and moving around is a popular way to start Thanksgiving in Central Oregon. There are plenty of hiking trails in Central Oregon to wander with your family before a day of cooking (and eating).
Top Thanksgiving-Day Runs
The I Like Pie run hosted by Cascades Relay sets up a course in the Old Mill District each year for a race full of family fun, funny hats and plenty of pie. There are two courses for racers to choose from: a 1.5-mile loop and a 5K route. Racers depart from the starting line between 7:30 a.m. and 9:30 a.m. Not only are you doing something good for your body, but race proceeds benefit the Bend Boys and Girls Clubs.
In Redmond, sign up for the annual Redmond Turkey Trot with 5K and 10K courses and a 1K kids race. All racers depart from, and finish at, Sam Johnson Park, with the kid’s race kicking things off at 9 a.m. and the rest of the races starting at 9:15 a.m. in multiple waves. The routes loop through Dry Canyon, with two aid stations along the way. All proceeds from the event go to Bright Eyes Bright Future and Family Access Network.
Black Butte Ranch hosts its own Turkey Trot Fun Run and Walk this year with a short course of 1.2 miles and a longer route of 3.5 miles, both departing from Lakeside Activity Center. Both courses promise beautiful meadow views and breathtaking views of the Cascade Range, weather permitting. The fee is $10, plus a can of food. Proceeds benefit Ten Friend’s Elevate Nepal Initiative.
Ski First Tracks
Opening day at Mt. Bachelor is projected to be Friday, November 24, officially signaling the arrival of ski season in Central Oregon. Just hours after the Thanksgiving dishes are cleared, gear up, express your gratitude for winter’s arrival, and enjoy the start of the ski season.
Holiday Festivities Commence
The weekend following Thanksgiving in Central Oregon doesn’t have to mean a lull in the festivities; Sisterskicks off the rest of the holiday season strong with its Holiday Palooza featuring a parade and tree-lighting ceremony. The lively parade will travel down Main Street toward Fir Street Park, where the annual lighting of the town’s Christmas tree occurs.
Santa Claus makes his pilgrimage from the North Pole to SantaLand in the Old Mill District at 10 a.m. on Friday, Nov. 24. This year SantaLand will be indoors between Sweet Tooth Candy Shoppe and Sunglass Hut at 450 SW Powerhouse Dr. Suite 403.
Meanwhile, Redmond is also getting into the spirit with its annual Starlight Parade, which takes over the streets of downtown on Saturday, November 25th. This year’s theme revolves around Dr. Suess’s Grinch Who Stole Christmas and will feature twinkling lights, merry tunes and beautiful floats.
