AREA HOLIDAY EVENTS

COMMUNITY THANKSGIVING MEAL: 2-5 p.m., City of Light Ministries in Grovetown, 5220 Wrightsboro Road; (706) 294-0933.

THANKSGIVING COMMUNITY FELLOWSHIP DAY: 11 a.m. , Word of Faith Christian Fellowship Church, 2517-7 Milledgeville Road; featuring banquet-style meal and clothes giveaway; (706) 729-9990.

COMMUNITY THANKSGIVING MEAL: 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. , Bible Deliverance Temple, 1857 Fenwick St.; (706) 736-1600.

TURKEY MUSEUM

WHAT: The National Wild Turkey Federation in Edgefield, S.C., runs the Winchester Museum, which is dedicated to the restoration, management and hunting of the wild turkey. It is 7,200 square-feet, has about 10,000 visitors annually and features 3-D dioramas.

WHERE: 770 Augusta Road along South Carolina Highway 25

COST: Free

HOURS: Open 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, except national holidays

LEARN MORE: Call (800) THE-NWTF or (803) 637-3106

STILL NEED A TURKEY?

Some area stores said Tuesday they might still have turkeys left for sale today.

- Aaron Whitaker, of the Kroger on Washington Road in Augusta, said the store will be open all day today and that turkeys should be available.

- Rich Kroblak, a manager at Bi-Lo in Martinez, said the store will be open until 7 p.m., and he expects to have turkeys.

- Tim Rushbrook, a manager at Food Lion on South Belair Road, said the store will close at 3 p.m. As for turkey availability, he said, "You can't really predict that."

On a day all about a feathered gobbler, here are some facts and tips to chew the fat over:

DOMESTIC OR WILD?

The turkey you eat today is likely the domesticated sort and not a wild turkey.

The differences?

- Domestic turkeys don't fly or run fast. Wild turkeys survive by being fast.

- Male domestic turkeys are more likely to gobble.

- Domestic turkeys usually are found in pens, eating corn. Wild turkeys live in wooded areas and eat such things as acorns, seeds and small insects.

TURKEY TIDBITS

7 MILLION: The number of wild turkeys estimated to live in the country; in the early 1900s, there were about 30,000.

18: Pounds of turkey consumed by average American in 2008

46 MILLION: The number of turkeys eaten last Thanksgiving (22 million were eaten at Christmas)

3 MILLION: Wild turkey hunters nationwide

HISTORY

Turkey is believed to have been part of the first Thanksgiving meal involving the Pilgrims. The turkey also was suggested as the national bird by Benjamin Franklin, who reportedly was upset at the bald eagle's selection.

KITCHEN TIPS

HOW TO THAW A FROZEN TURKEY: You can thaw a turkey in the refrigerator or in cool water, but the Georgia Department of Agriculture warns against thawing at room temperature. Thawing an 8- to 12-pound turkey in the refrigerator takes a day or two, so you probably should have already started if you're planning to eat it today. But in cold water, which should be changed every 30 minutes, the same-sized bird would take four to six hours, according to the agriculture department.

STORAGE SUGGESTIONS:

- Refrigerated turkey should be used within three to four days, but a frozen turkey can last about a month.

- Stuffing should be stored in a shallow container for faster chilling and shouldn't be eaten after two days.

- Gravy should be used in one to two days and brought to a rolling boil first.

DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF TURKEY

Kevin Bakewell, the senior vice president of AAA Auto Club South, warns motorists to stay off the road late at night, especially if they've just eaten turkey. He adds that the tryptophan in turkey often causes drowsiness.