Charlotte: Ordering Thanksgiving Dinner Early

Even though we are still over a week away from Halloween, believe it or not, it’s not too early to start thinking about your Thanksgiving dinner. Many people don't want to cook all day and instead have started ordering their Thanksgiving dinner to be delivered.

Here in America, we model our Thanksgiving holiday on a 1621 harvest feast shared between the Wampanoag people and the English colonists known as Pilgrims.

We have been celebrating Thanksgiving for more than two centuries. It wasn’t until 1863, in the midst of the Civil War, that President Abraham Lincoln proclaimed a national Thanksgiving Day to be held in November on the same day every year.

In 1939, Franklin D. Roosevelt moved the holiday up a week in an attempt to spur retail sales during the Great Depression. Roosevelt’s plan, known derisively as "Franksgiving," was met with passionate opposition, and in 1941, the president reluctantly signed a bill making Thanksgiving the fourth Thursday in November.

Here are some places in Charlotte where you can order your Thanksgiving meal and in some cases have it delivered to your home or pick it up the day before.

Note: It’s a good idea to order early and beat the rush of people who will be doing the same.

At A La Minute for $18.99, you can get an individual meal with either turkey or ham and your choice of two sides.

For $149.99, you can get a small family meal that feeds 4 to 6 people, and for $289.99, you can get a large family meal that feeds 8 to 12. Each family meal includes Turkey, Ham, a choice of three sides, Gravy, and Cornbread with honey butter.

Orders must be placed by Wednesday, November 20, 2024, at 7 p.m. Delivery will be available Wednesday, November 27, 2024, from 10:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

At Bob Evans they have an "Everyday Thanksgiving Meal" that can be ordered year-round. It costs $159.99, and can serves ten people.

For the season, they will be offering of variety of Thanksgiving meals in different sizes that are packed cold to be warmed at home. These include the Premium Farmhouse Feast, Slow-Roasted Turkey Farmhouse Feast, Hickory-Smoked Ham Farmhouse Feast, Slow-Roasted Pot Roast Farmhouse Feast, and two, smaller, Turkey and Ham Meals.

Cracker Barrel Thanksgiving meal serves 8 to 10 people for $169.99 and the Thanksgiving Family Dinner feeds 4 to 6 people for $109.99.

The Thanksgiving Feast at Cracker Barrel includes Two oven-roasted turkey breasts, Cornbread dressing, Turkey gravy, Cranberry relish, Sweet potato casserole with pecans, Green beans, Mashed potatoes, Sweet yeast rolls, Pumpkin pie, and Pecan pie.

Pre-orders are open now, and pickup is from November 23, 2024, to December 1, 2024. If you pre-order and schedule your pickup date for the 25th or 26th, you will receive a free $10 bonus card.