Thousands of North Texans are expected to sit down for a free Thanksgiving-style dinner today as H-E-B and Central Market host the 14th annual Feast of Sharing at the lower level of Ariat Arena in Fort Worth, running from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. A second dinner, marking the 20th annual Dallas celebration, follows next Wednesday, Nov. 18, from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Centennial Hall at Fair Park.
Both meals are free and open to the public, according to Fort Worth Weekly. As FOX 4 reports, organizers will serve meals on a first-come, first-served basis at both locations. Fort Worth Weekly identifies 3451 Trail Drive as parking and gives 1911 Montgomery Street as the arena address. Attendees may want to confirm directions before heading out.
The spread at both dinners is designed to feel like a classic holiday table. In Fort Worth, the planned menu includes sliced turkey, gravy, mashed potatoes, green beans, rolls and pumpkin pie, according to the Fort Worth Report. Beyond food, the events pair live music with a kids' zone and visits from Santa and Mrs. Claus, per The Shelby Report.
Social Services Woven Into the Celebration
More than 40 social service agencies are expected to set up at the dinners, offering information, resources and health screenings alongside the meal, the Shelby Report's account notes. H-E-B frames the gatherings as both a holiday thank-you to customers and part of its year-round Hunger Relief Program, which the Shelby Report says has donated food and resources across the state for decades.
Mabrie Jackson, managing director of public affairs for H-E-B/Central Market, said the Feast of Sharing brings the community together in service during the holiday season, according to FOX 4's reporting. Jackson added that volunteers from families, friends, businesses, churches and schools help create a welcoming experience for guests. H-E-B, Central Market, Joe V's Smart Shop and Favor all contribute partners to the volunteer effort, per the same reporting.
A Tradition Nearing Its Fourth Decade
H-E-B has held Feast of Sharing celebrations since 1989, now spanning more than 34 cities across Texas and Mexico and regularly serving more than 250,000 meals a year, the Shelby Report's article states. Cumulative totals over that span are described differently depending on the source — the Shelby Report cites more than 375,000 volunteers helping serve nearly five million meals, while the Fort Worth Report describes volunteers helping serve more than five million meals over close to four decades.
The broader Hunger Relief Program, founded in 1982, has donated more than one billion pounds of food to 5,500 nonprofit organizations in Texas and Mexico, according to the Shelby Report, which also notes the program donated 34 million pounds of food last year alone.
Growing Turnout and a Changing of the Guard
Central Market General Manager Austin Jourde told CBS Texas that the first two Feast of Sharing events in the Valley and border region were up 25% to 30% compared with prior years. Jourde also said in 2025 that Fort Worth's event had served 7,500 meals the previous year, while organizers planned for 9,000 at the 2025 event and expected the total to climb north of 10,000. The Fort Worth Report similarly reported that Central Market expected up to 10,000 guests at this year's four-hour event, backed by more than 1,000 community volunteers.
This year's Fort Worth dinner also carries a bittersweet note: Jourde is expected to retire in 2026, making the Feast of Sharing his final year chairing the event, according to the Fort Worth Report. Central Market's own event page states it is no longer accepting volunteer registrations for the Fort Worth dinner, though the public is still welcome to attend both the Fort Worth and Dallas meals as planned.
