Come turkey time, many University students head home to family feasts of pumpkin pie, mashed potatoes and of course, a heaping helping of that infamous bird.
Some however, gobble down their first helping of Thanksgiving fare before leaving town, and celebrate a pre-Turkey day dinner with their University "families."
"It's good to get everyone together," said fourth-year Education student Sara Smith, one of the growing number of University students who double their holiday fun.
Last Saturday marked the third time Smith hit the kitchen to create a massive meal with the help of her friends and roommates.
The menu included two 20 lb. turkeys, heaping piles of stuffing, gravy, macaroni and cheese and a green bean casserole. Smith's roommates and their dinner guests combined efforts to create a tabletop full of cakes, pies and cookies to add a sweet ending to the feast.
Food was served buffet style, and judging by the line of 60 or so hungry friends that grabbed plates throughout the night, leftovers probably were scarce. Dinner guests found seats throughout the living room, and settled in, plates on laps, to watch college football on T.V., creating a warm scene much like the family dinners many of the guests soon will go home to.
This family atmosphere is just what Smith and her roommates had in mind when they organized their Thanksgiving dinner, she said.
"You never get to spend holidays with people at school, because you go home to your families," Smith said. "We wanted to share a holiday with our U.Va. family."
And the celebrations won't end here.
Smith and her roommates said they already have plans for the rest of the holiday season.
Future festivities will include a gift exchange and another home-cooked meal.
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