AUBURN — Maine wild blueberry barbecue fried turkey was this year’s “experimental flavor” at the Boys & Girls Clubs of Southern Maine, Auburn/Lewiston Clubhouse.  

It was one of nine flavors on tap at the annual Turkey Fry. For as long as anybody can remember, there has always been a Thanksgiving dinner at the club. However, six years ago, when Director Andie Hannon came on board, the dinner began to evolve and has become one of the most popular events of the year. 

“Thanksgiving has always been my favorite holiday,” Hannon said. “It brings families together, and I wanted to include parents as well as the kiddos. So instead of having it just for the club members, we started inviting parents and family. Everyone pitches in and either helps cook, serve or brings in something to eat. We can’t do the frying here, but the kids help prepare them at the club. They inject them with flavoring and rub on the herbs and spices.”

Hannon takes the birds home and fries them up. The menu includes nine turkeys, plus 50 pounds of potatoes and a whole lot of stuffing. The pies, cookies, cakes, mac and cheese, casseroles, veggies and cranberry sauce were all laid out on tables in the gym Wednesday night. Along with some parent volunteers preparing the food in the kitchen, more than a dozen members of the Lewiston-Auburn Rotary Club helped serve.  

Becky Hilligoss of Lewiston, whose son, Austin, is a club member, was busy in the kitchen. “It is wonderful to show support for our kids,” she said. “It’s such a friendly atmosphere and a great opportunity to hang out with the kids and meet other parents and staff from the club.”