At Bucknell, the month of November means many things: looming thoughts of upcoming final assignments, slow days leading up to Thanksgiving break, early sunsets and crisp campus nights. Most importantly, November marks the occurrence of one of Bucknell’s most well-known traditions: Cafsgiving.
For many students, Cafsgiving marked the unofficial start of the holiday season: An opportunity to sit down and enjoy a comforting meal with friends before heading home for break. While first-year students eagerly awaited their first Cafsgiving experience, seniors attended knowing it would be their last chance to participate in this long-practiced Bucknell tradition.
Cafsgiving is held annually at Bostwick Social House, informally known on campus as “the Caf.” Each year, the Caf serves a large assortment of traditional American Thanksgiving foods. Countless crowds of students line up outside the Caf’s doors, awaiting a meal of turkey or ham, mashed potatoes, stuffing, green beans, corn, cranberry sauce and a variety of desserts, including the classic apple and pumpkin pies. Inside the Caf during Cafsgiving, sounds of laughter and conversation between friends are heard, mirroring a bustling family gathering that provides students with a comforting sense of home away from home.
The popularity of Cafsgiving continues to grow each school year. In fact, the demand at Cafsgiving is so high that it is the only day of the school year when the Caf closes in the afternoon to prepare for the event. When the doors open, students line up outside awaiting their entrance. And inside, finding a table could be a challenge, so much so that late-arriving students patiently wait for an opening to sit.
To add to the event, Bucknell Dining uses Cafsgiving as a way to interact with the campus community. In the weeks leading up to Cafsgiving, reserved tables in the Caf are offered as prizes and incentives for completing campus surveys or participating in events. Bucknell Dining Services even hosted a Golden Turkey hunt, a competition where students searched around campus for a hidden golden turkey statue. The winners of the hunt won a decorated, reserved table to share with their friends at Cafsgiving.
Behind the scenes, Cafsgiving was a hefty process. Bucknell’s Campus Executive Chef Joseph Wiles described the extensive process of preparing for the event: Two-thousand pounds of turkey were ordered four months in advance, followed by several weeks of planning and five full days of cooking and food production. Early in the process, four chefs began food production, but by Cafsgiving Day, thirty employees were hard at work preparing the meal in the Bostwick kitchen.
For many Bucknell students, Cafsgiving is a staple part of their college memories. Roommates Mya Klaiber ’27 and Juliana Ciuryk ’27 have made attending Cafsgiving together a yearly tradition since their first semester at Bucknell. “My freshman year, it was so packed that Juliana and I had to sit with random people,” Klaiber recalled, “Now, those people are some of my closest friends at Bucknell!” Ciuryk added that Cafsgiving is “a nice taste of home during such a stressful time of the semester for students academically”. Senior Kathryn Wrynn ’26 reflected on how Cafsgiving has come full circle during her time at Bucknell. “I remember as a freshman being super excited for my first Cafsgiving and to sit with all of my new friends. And now as a senior, I get to make this one last memory with some of my closest friends from my first year.”
Phoebe Compton ’28 shared how Cafsgiving strengthens the Bucknell campus community: “Cafsgiving is the perfect way to get everyone in the holiday spirit. It brings people together from all grades, such as students who might not normally see each other in the Caf.”
Chef Wiles, alongside the dining staff, also sees Cafsgiving as a highlight of the school year. “For Dining, Cafsgiving is a great opportunity to feed people who do not normally come to the Caf to create a good first impression. Everyone is familiar with American Thanksgiving, even across cultures. With everything made from scratch, Cafsgiving reminds us chefs of the families we cook for at home during the holidays”.
In the end, Cafsgiving is more than just a weeknight dinner, it is an opportunity for relaxation, togetherness, and memories shared within the Bucknell community. It is a way for students, even thousands of miles away from their families, to have a taste of home on campus. Cafsgiving serves as a much-needed pause in the everyday lives of Bucknell students, offering them a moment to enjoy each other’s company in welcoming the holiday season. For one night each school year, the Caf becomes more than just a campus dining hall, it becomes a place where connection and community are brought to life at Bucknell.
