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A very Grateful Thanksgiving: Music with a purpose on Kauai

Some Thanksgiving weekends call for a different kind of gathering. A favorite song played a little longer. New friends dancing beside old ones. A chance to give back to the place bringing everyone together.

This November, Grateful Dead founding drummer Bill Kreutzmann is bringing that spirit to Kauai with A Very Grateful Thanksgiving, a three-day celebration of music and community scheduled for November 27 to 29, 2026, at Porter Pavilion at Anaina Hou Community Park in Kīlauea. Pair the experience with an oceanfront stay at OUTRIGGER Kauaʻi Beach Resort & Spa for a holiday weekend with plenty to feel grateful for.

Familiar songs, fresh possibilities

Curated by Kreutzmann, the weekend brings together musicians from different genres to explore the Grateful Dead songbook.

The announced lineup includes Gillian Welch, David Rawlings, Holly Bowling and Sam Grisman, alongside Alphonso Johnson, Mark Karan, Aron Magner and Reed Mathis. Musicians from Eggy, the String Cheese Incident and Punch Brothers round out a gathering built for musical discovery. Organizers promise unexpected collaborations, surprise appearances and plenty of room for improvisation.

For longtime Deadheads, it’s an opportunity to reconnect with the songs and community they love. For newcomers, it’s an invitation to listen, settle into the groove and see where the music goes.

Giving thanks by giving back

The celebration also supports the community Kreutzmann calls home.

Following Hurricane Lowell, Anaina Hou served as the Kilauea Resilience Hub, helping neighbors with meals, essential supplies and access to power. The benefit supports the venue and helps replenish resources used during its emergency response, strengthening its ability to serve Kauai’s North Shore.

That purpose gives the weekend a deeper meaning. Along with celebrating a musical legacy, guests can support a gathering place that shows up for its neighbors when they need it most.

Make OUTRIGGER your home between shows

Let the music set the pace for your weekend, with time to recharge by the ocean between performances.

Set on 25 acres along Nukolii Beach in Lihue, OUTRIGGER Kauaʻi Beach Resort & Spa offers a welcoming place to begin and end each concert day. Ease into the morning with an ocean breeze, spend some downtime by the pools or make time for island-inspired dining at Ocean House by Roy Yamaguchi.

The event’s listed OUTRIGGER lodging package combines a resort stay with standard three-day general admission tickets and daily round-trip shuttle transportation to the venue. With transportation included, you can spend more time enjoying the weekend and less time planning the drive.

It’s a chance to bring two good rhythms together: live music on the North Shore and unhurried moments back at the resort.

Plan your Grateful Thanksgiving

Whether you’ve followed the music for decades or are discovering it for the first time, this Thanksgiving gathering offers a meaningful reason to make the journey: great songs, shared experiences and support for the Kauaʻi community.

Explore event details and check OUTRIGGER lodging package availability.