Kara and Shane Whittington celebrated “Friendsgiving” this year for what they hope is the inaugural event of many to come.

“It’s just a time to bring all your friends and family together to celebrate before the holidays,” Kara said.

Originally from Houston, Texas, Kara and Shane — a native of Baton Rouge, Louisiana — moved to Brookhaven in the summer of 2021 with the intention of buying a poultry farm. They also purchased Homestead Whittington Farm, a venue on Hwy. 51 South in Brookhaven, formerly the home of Frank Burns and Brookhaven Nurseries.

The Friendsgiving event was the weekend prior to Thanksgiving, a dinner and drinks event to thank the people of Brookhaven.

“This was kind of our ‘thank you’ to the community for being so welcoming to us here in Brookhaven,” Kara said. “It is something we’ll do every year moving forward, and it’s open to everyone.”

About 70 people attended, each bringing a dish for the pot-luck dinner hour, which followed a cocktail hour.

“It’s just a time to fellowship together,” she said. “The whole purpose of it was to show how much I appreciate everyone welcoming us to Brookhaven, and really becoming family over the past year. A lot of people have really gone out of their way to make us feel welcome — really, like a family.”