White House Turkey Pardon, 'Friendsgiving' Start Holidays: Photos

WASHINGTON, D.C. — It's officially Turkey time! President Joe Biden opened the White House doors yesterday for the annual turkey pardon ahead of the Thanksgiving holiday. Peach and Blossom, this year's lucky chosen birds, were pardoned on the South Lawn in front of 2,500 guests and now get to live our their lives in southern Minnesota at Farmamerica.

Biden introduced Peach as a bird who “lives by the motto, ‘Keep calm and gobble on,’” while Blossom goes by a different motto: “No fowl play. Just Minnesota nice.”

In addition to pardoning turkeys, the White House also welcomed the arrival of the official White House Christmas tree that will be decorated and put on display in the Blue Room. The 18.5 foot (5.64 meter) Fraser fir came from a farm in an area of western North Carolina that recently was devastated by Hurricane Helene.

Later that day, the president and First Lady Jill Biden headed to New York City to host their "Friendsgiving" for U.S. Coast Guard member and their families.

“Simply put, we owe you. We owe your families,” President Biden said at U.S. Coast Guard Sector New York on Staten Island. “Thank you, thank you, thank you.”

The meal was part of the first lady's Joining Forces initiative to support military families. Both Bidens tied on aprons with the presidential seal around their dress clothes and joined the chow line, where they served a side dish of roasted Brussels sprouts. Celebrity chef Robert Irvine helped with the menu of turkey, ham, side dishes and desserts.

Check out photos from the holiday festivities at the White House below.

The Associated Press contributed to this post.