The sprit of Thanksgiving buzzed along Bee Lane and The Alley Thursday as the aroma of rich holiday food, live music and pleasant chatter blended together for a one-of-a-kind autumn celebration.

Often a popular downtown destination with it's brick lined streets and assortment of restaurants, the Alley is rarely quiet -- excect on holidays.

But this Thanksgiving, the heart of downtown was pumping with activity as diners gobbled up turkey, stuffing, corn, mashed potatoes and deserts of all kinds.

It was the first community dinner ever held in Aiken, but volunteers don't expect it will be the last.

The event has been called One Table for one simple reason.

One table, brimming with activity, wrapped from Bee Lane into The Alley.

There was no separate kids table at the celebration, everyone sat together Thursday.

"I think we will have close to the 1,000 people we expected," said One Table volunteer Eddie George. "Everything about it has been a success, not just the music and food, people from all different backgrounds are talking to each other and really getting to know one another."

George said he and other volunteers were standing under a portable light at 3 a.m. Thanksgiving morning preparing to grill, deep fry, smoke and bake and estimated 80 turkeys.

By 4 a.m. he said the birds were already cooking, and they were a big hit with Ridge Spring residents Nancy Flasher and Mary Lou Breadstill.

Neither woman had other plans for Thanksgiving and happily landed in downtown for the celebration.

"What can be better -- good weather, good food and good people," Breadstill said. She said she was taking a box of food back to her mother who is homebound.

By noon, the weather was balmy with temperatures reaching 70 degrees and diners were dipping in to seconds.

"This was so well organized," Flasher added.

But little did most know, the idea of the One Table event went from inception to fruition in as little as four weeks.

"Every bit of it was accomplished because of donations," George said. "Businesses, churches and individuals donated money, food, logistical help and worked together."

By Thursday, 15 different church bands and musicians had signed up to perform.

Angel Goldson, an RSP at Aiken's Tri-Developemnt, said the music was especially wonderful.

"This made it even better," she said tapping her toe to a soloist singing.

Goldson brought five Tri-Developemnt residents in for the celebration.

"Everyone has been really friendly and welcoming," she said.

A tired, but busy George, said it couldn't have been pulled off without the 200-plus volunteers. He said everyone donated knowing they wouldn't get their name or logo attached to the celebration.

"After the decision was made to do this, we kept getting phone calls and volunteers," he said. "It's all fallen into place -- what else could you ask for."

Contact Karen Daily at kdaily@aikenstandard.com.

(Reprinted from the Aiken Standard Newspaper)