Best Places To Buy A Thanksgiving Turkey In Denver

(credit: Long Shadow Farm)

Most people purchase just one full turkey a year. Why not make it something really special? Instead of just picking up another frozen bird at your local grocery store, try shopping for a free-range, local turkey from one of the many smaller operations in town. These local turkeys are free-range and fed vegetarian diets, so you'll get the best flavor from each bite. Plus, they're ethically raised, so you'll also feel good about your annual Thanksgiving purchase. Here are five great spots to find local birds in the Denver area. Plan early, however, as these spots almost always run out of turkeys as the date gets closer.

Oliver's Meat Market has been family owned for an impressive five generations. Here, you can pick up the freshest meats available, all with that special attention to detail only a true butcher provides. You'll find Oliver's to be a great place to go year-round for all your meats, but when it comes to picking up the most important bird of the year, you'll want to buy it at a shop like Oliver's. Fresh poultry, special orders, custom cutting and so much more is available here. In fact, just one stop and this may become your new neighborhood butcher. And when it comes to the cooking, be sure to ask one of the friendly professionals here for a few tips and tricks.

Edwards Meats is another fantastic local butcher shop where the tradition of butchery is still going strong. You can get lots of whole birds here, including Red Bird All Natural Turkeys. However, if you're thinking about an alternative bird for the big day, you can find those here as well. Try quail, duck, goose or pheasant for your Thanksgiving dinner. You can even get capons, Cornish game hens and, yes, even a turducken (a turkey stuffed with a duck, stuffed with a chicken with stuffing in between.) Or just stick with the tried and true fresh, all-natural turkey. Whatever you pick, you'll love shopping at this convenient and comfortable traditional butcher shop.

Related: Top Spots For Take-Out Thanksgiving Dinner In Denver

A very limited number of special Long Shadow Farms turkeys are already available for order, so if you act fast you may be lucky enough to secure one of these prize birds. Long Shadow Farms is a local, family-owned farm located in the foothills. You'll find the friendly farmers here raising their own animals in addition to fruits and vegetables and you can buy everything here from lamb to chicken, eggs, ducks and, of course, fresh turkeys. Most turkeys here are known as Heritage Turkeys, a breed that is most close to a wild turkey. But you can also get a Broad-Breasted Turkey here, for a larger, big round meal that looks perfect on your dining room table.

When it comes to small butchers and meat markets the name Tony is one of the biggest and most well-known in Denver. This local-owned meat market has several Colorado locations where you can get all the Thanksgiving trimmings in addition to fresh turkeys. The Thanksgiving options include options like an already brined and roasted turkey, Cajun brined and deep fried turkey and even a boneless turkey. While you're there, stock up on all the side dishes you can think of – from spinach to cranberries to sage stuffing, whipped potatoes, sweet potatoes, brioche rolls and more. One visit to Tony's Market and you'll never set foot in a traditional grocery store again.

Related: Top Tips And Recipes From Denver Chefs For Thanksgiving Meals & Leftovers

Another wonderful, locally-owned butcher and fine foods shop, Marczyk is always a popular place for specialty items and the freshest cuts of meat in town. Since 2002 this high trafficked shop has been one of the best places in town to get fine foods, aged beef, sustainable seafood and more. And when it comes to Thanksgiving, you'll find only Willie Birds – free-range, cage-free turkeys with that big broad-breasted shape that looks so great on your table. These heritage birds are exclusive to Marczyk and they're raised in Bennet, Colorado, so you know you're getting the freshest turkey possible for the big holiday.