A Place at the Table: Community Thanksgiving Dinner

Building a Community of Neighbors through shared food and gratitude.

Welcoming Falls Church is delighted to partner with the Falls Church City Public Schools (FCCPS) to host an early community Thanksgiving celebration. What began in the City of Falls Church Community Center has blossomed into a major annual event, bringing people of many nations and cultures together, to celebrate the spirit of community and share in giving thanks.

Our History: A Growing Tradition

This event was launched in the wake of the Ukrainian and Afghan refugee crises to ensure that every neighbor—especially newcomer and Literacy Center families as well as several dozen Ukrainian and Afghan neighbors—had a place to give thanks and build friendships.

Early Years: In 2021 and 2022, the dinner was held at the Falls Church Community Center.
Growth & Partnership with FCCPS: As the event grew in popularity, we partnered with FCCPS and moved to the Mary Ellen Henderson Middle School Cafeteria to accommodate our expanding neighborhood family.
2025 Milestone: Last year, we welcomed approximately 150 neighbors, our largest gathering to date, for an evening of cross-cultural conversation and connection.

Community Thanksgiving in the Falls Church News Press

Why We Show Up: Celebrating Unity in Diversity

Thanksgiving is a quintessentially American holiday. At Welcoming Falls Church, we celebrate it with a global twist. While we provide a traditional dinner courtesy of members of the community and with the support of the FCCPS Food Service team, we also invite neighbors to bring a dish from their home country and the food is fantastic.

A "global potluck" with a common theme of Thanksgiving turns a school cafeteria into a hub of community. What a tangible way to celebrate the diversity of Falls Church, while neighbors young and old share stories over food from around the world.

Get Involved: Joining the Celebration

This event takes place on the Monday before Thanksgiving. It is designed to be family-friendly, with dedicated activities to keep children engaged while adults enjoy conversation.

Attend with Your Family: We extend a special invitation to newcomer families and those involved in our literacy programs.
Share a Dish: Contributions of food from your own heritage are always welcome, though never required.
Volunteer to Serve: We look for neighbors to help with the "behind-the-scenes" logistics—from greeting guests at the door to helping with children's activities.

This is a big event, so visit our Activity Calendar for information about how to register to join us or volunteer to serve.

New in 2026: Deepening Community Partnerships

As we look toward the 2026 dinner, we hope to work not only with FCCPS but with other community partners, to bring together. Our hope is to continue growing this "big tent" event as a true reflection of the welcoming spirit of Falls Church.