The Coffee Pot Restaurant on State Route 89A is known for its abundance of omelette variations — 101 to be exact. But if the Daher family and their restaurant staff put that much time and effort into eggs, it can be said that they put double that energy into serving the community of Sedona, evidenced by their 10th year straight hosting a free Thanksgiving dinner.

On Tuesday, Nov. 20, from 4 to 7 p.m., anyone in Sedona is welcome to come in and enjoy a free plate of classic Thanksgiving grub.

“We want to encourage and open this up to everyone, from all kinds of different backgrounds,” said Damien Daher, son of Coffee Pot owner Emile Daher.

The dinner originally started in 2008 when Emile, a grateful Lebanese immigrant looking for ways to give back, sought to help Sedona’s needy and bring warmth to those who have no close or living relatives with whom to share the holidays. However, over time, Damien Daher said that the Daher family began to see value in opening up the event to all community members, regardless of need, so that the close-knit, neighborly ties of Sedona could be proudly displayed and further bolstered.

According to the Dahers’ estimate, between 700 and 800 people showed up for last year’s meal, with lines forming outside the restaurant close to opening time at 4 p.m. Damien Daher said that every year the number of attendees has grown, as the restaurant has begun encouraging their regulars and, more recently, even tourists to join in on the festivity.  

“A lot of the times, we have visitors who eat here multiple times during their stay in Sedona and we get to know them, and we say ‘hey, by the way, you’re welcome to come to this Thanksgiving dinner of ours, too.’” Daher said.

Daher said that an event like this is a way for outsiders to witness the sense of community that pervades Sedona, which can often be missed in quick trips through the red rocks and city shopping outlets. Attendees will receive a classic Thanksgiving meal: Savory turkey, gravy, cranberry sauce, veggies, stuffing, mashed potatoes and a dinner roll, topped off by pumpkin pie for dessert.

There will not be a menu available and all attendees will receive the same plate unless dietary restrictions are voiced, most of which Daher said the staff is able to accommodate.

“What you see in the restaurant on a day to day basis is not how the set up will be for the dinner,” Daher said.

“We will have community table seating, with long tables, so that, if you came in and there were two people who came behind you, you’d be sat next to them despite being strangers. That way, you can share a meal and get to know each other.”

Daher said that contributions, while not required, are encouraged. All contributions given on Nov. 20 will be sent directly to the Sedona Community Food Bank. “Nothing goes to our staff that day; we are all here voluntarily. It’s great because we’ve been able to make sizable contributions to the Food Bank every year,” Daher said.