AUGUSTA (AP) – Mainers gathered with their families and friends to watch parades and football games as they celebrated the nation’s bounty on Thursday, but many also remembered the “give” in Thanksgiving.

Public dinners were offered in Portland, South Portland and elsewhere. In Auburn, Tammy Hewison planned to continue a four-year tradition and give free dinners to anyone who wandered in to her restaurant, The Slamma. Hewison does the same on Christmas.

“God has a way of sending us the people who need food,” Hewison said. “It’s a delight to see all the people come in. Nobody wants to be alone on the holiday.”

A similar offer stood at the Route 112 Variety Store in Buxton, where Mike and Karen Marsh offered turkey dinners to anyone who walked in.

In Augusta, Gov. John Baldacci was to visit the Augusta Mental Health Institute and serve holiday dinners to patients and staff before gathering with his family for a traditional dinner at the Blaine House.

King still in the hospital

One of Maine’s other best-known citizens, Stephen King, was forced to miss a dinner at home as he spent the holiday in the Bangor hospital where’s recuperating from pneumonia.

Much of Maine was treated to sunny skies on Thanksgiving, but some changes were in store, the National Weather Service said.

Snow flurries predicted

An inch or two of snow and sleet were expected to accumulate in far northern areas Thursday night, with a couple of more inches Friday before rain arrives.

In central and southern Maine, the weather service predicted rain after midnight Thursday and showers Friday.

Partly sunny skies are expected Saturday, and it will be cloudy but dry when travelers return home from their holiday weekend.

No major traffic problems were reported on Maine highways.