Bowling becomes new Thanksgiving tradition for some

Watch football on Thanksgiving? Not for the Irelands and their extended brood.

After the clan of nine load their bellies with heaps of holiday food, they'd rather hit the lanes for a few hours of 10-pin.

"We stuff our faces and head here," said Charlie Ireland of Jackson, who is among three generations who have bowled at Main Street Lanes in Jackson for the past three years. "It beats just sitting around the living room with full bellies watching football."

Bowling is as much a part of Thanksgiving for the Irelands and others as turkey, mashed potatoes and pumpkin pie. It's becoming a tradition for some families locally and across the country. While it may be a stretch to say bowling may one day surpass the afternoon nap in Thanksgiving popularity, Main Street Lanes owner Jim Maevers said he sees 80 to 100 customers on Thanksgiving each year.

"People like to come here because it's something different," Maevers said. "They've already eaten and they want to get out and do something. Why not bowl?"

Four years ago, bowling was something Maevers and his family did without opening the bowling alley's doors to the public. But while they were there, he noticed the phone was ringing quite a bit. So the next year he decided to open up.

Maevers admits bowling is not the first thing that comes to mind when thinking about Thanksgiving.

"I guess not," he said, laughing. "But family is. For me, this is about family. People can come, spend some time together and do something that they enjoy."

He runs the alley alone that day and doesn't ask any employees to come in. He looks forward to it every year.

"I've already bowled one game," he said at 4 p.m., before the place filled up. "I'll bowl some more."

Maevers even throws in an appropriate incentive. Anyone who bowls a turkey -- get it? -- receives a free pizza. In bowling, a turkey is three strikes in a row.

"It's a challenge," he said. "It gives the families something to compete for."

The Irelands seemed to be enjoying themselves Thursday. Charlie and his wife, Alice, came with their son, Sean, and his wife, Michele, and her parents, Bill and Sue Newman of Millersville.

The two who had the most fun were Sean and Michele's daughters, Erin, 6, and Emily, 3.

"It's fun," said Erin in between frames. "Last year, I beat my dad."

Charlie Ireland said they intended get back to more traditional Thanksgiving activities.

"After we finish, we're going to go home and eat some more pie," he said.

smoyers@semissourian.com

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