Volunteers Getting Ready for 2025 Christmas Eve Dinner in Tuolumne County

More than 200 pies, including pecan, apple, and pumpkin, have already been lined up for the 2025 Tuolumne County Christmas Eve Day Dinner. The event is set to take place from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Wednesday inside the Sierra Building at Mother Lode Fairgrounds.

Tripp Jenkins, a Sonora resident and the lead chef guiding the kitchen operations for the dinner, estimates that he and a group of volunteers are gearing up to prepare a feast for about 2,300 people. That includes 500 pounds of turkey, 500 pounds of mashed potatoes, 500 pounds of stuffing, and 20 gallons of gravy. Get ready for a big celebration filled with delicious food!

The star of the show on Wednesday will be the deboned turkey breasts, featuring honey roasted, smoked, and peppered varieties from Diestel Family Turkey Ranch. Tripp Jenkins shares that volunteers will be working with 100 cases of deboned turkey breasts, each weighing in at five pounds, for a grand total of 500 pounds of mouth-watering turkey. It’s going to be a fantastic event filled with food and joy for all who attend.