Video – Photo Gallery – 15th Annual Queenies Thanksgiving Meal Brings Community Together in Port Hope
The music was playing, the line was growing and the smell of a traditional Thanksgiving dinner filled the air as Queenies celebrated its 15th annual free Thanksgiving meal for the community on Sunday, October 11, 2026.
By the time the noon giveaway approached, people were already lined up along Walton Street, eager to take home a freshly prepared holiday meal.
But this was about more than turkey and all the trimmings. Outside Queenies, a group of local musicians got together for an impromptu jam session, turning the annual giveaway into a lively street-side celebration filled with music, laughter and community spirit.
For Queenies owner Adam Pearson, the event has become a Thanksgiving tradition — one that gives him an opportunity to show his appreciation for the people who support his business throughout the year.
“This is my 15th annual Queenies free Thanksgiving meal for the community,” Pearson said as preparations continued Sunday morning.
The menu included turkey, stuffing, corn, potatoes, vegetables and gravy — a traditional Thanksgiving dinner prepared and offered at no cost to those who came by.
Putting together a meal on that scale takes considerable work.
Pearson said preparations begin days before the event, with four days of work going into getting everything ready.
On Saturday, he cooked 11 turkeys. On Sunday, he was back at Queenies between 4:30 and 5 a.m., working to get everything into the ovens and ready for the noon start.
With the food still cooking and people already lining up outside, Pearson was looking forward to another successful year.
“Looking forward to a lot of fun,” he said.
The effort is made possible with help from Queenies staff, who volunteer their time each year to help make the Thanksgiving meal happen.
For Pearson, however, the long hours and extensive preparation are worth it.
“I love this community. I love being given that opportunity to give back to this community, too,” he said.
“It’s always worth it because we’re getting back to the community and people are getting a chance to have a nice fresh cooked meal for Thanksgiving.”
Pearson said the annual meal is his way of acknowledging the support he receives from the community throughout the year.
“This community is always incredible to me,” he said. “They give back to me every single day of the year and this is my opportunity to say thank you on Thanksgiving.”
Although the Thanksgiving dinner was free, people who wished to make a donation could contribute to Tammie’s Jammies, allowing the generosity surrounding the event to extend beyond the meal itself.
Now in its 15th year, Queenies’ Thanksgiving giveaway has become a familiar gathering for people in Port Hope — an occasion built around a simple idea: sharing a meal, enjoying one another’s company and giving something back.
On Sunday, as residents lined Walton Street and musicians provided the soundtrack outside Queenies, Pearson’s message was clear.
Thanksgiving is a time to give thanks, and for 15 years, he has done so by putting a hot meal on the table for his community.
Author: Pete Fisher
Has been a photojournalist for over 30-years and have been honoured to win numerous awards for photography and writing over the years. Best selling author for the book Highway of Heroes - True Patriot Love