For the twelfth dinner of Christmas, Deer Harbor Inn Restaurant gave to the community: great splendid roasted turkeys. Not to mention 12 pans of stuffing, 11 mashed potatoes, 10 tureens of gravy, nine green bean casseroles, eight pots of soup, seven largish salads, eight pans of homemade rolls, seven pumpkin pies … or something like that.

Two hundred people enjoyed the feast last year, and as Christmas number 13 rolls around for the Carpenters, they invite the community to partake in another memorable festive meal.

“It’s our way of getting in the Christmas spirit,” said proprietor Ryan Carpenter. “It’s kind of a family tradition.”

Ryan and his brother Matt bought the restaurant from their parents, Craig and Pam Carpenter in 1997, and that year they re-kindled an old family tradition: hosting a free Christmas dinner for the community, come one, come all.

The dinner will run from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Dec. 25; reservations are recommended. A piano will be available and guests are invited to share their musical talents. Volunteers are invited to help serve the meal, which will be cooked by Matt. Family members will also be helping, including cousins and Matt and Ryan’s sister Jenny. Donations are welcome; this year cash gifts will be passed on to Orcas Family Connections, and non-perishable food items will again be accepted for the food bank.

Ryan and Matt had often helped their parents serve the dinner when they were small. Craig and Pam bought the restaurant in 1982 and Craig cooked for 15 years before handing his chef’s hat to his sons. Now it’s been 13 years, but “it almost feels like it’s starting all new now because we have families,” said Ryan, whose daughter Joselyn will turn two on Dec. 21. His wife Kelly is due with their second child on Dec. 17. Matt and his wife Sabrina have a two-year-old son, Caiden, and another little surprise on the way due in February.

For more information, to volunteer or to reserve a seat, call 376-1040.