MUNROE FALLS, Ohio -- For Andrew Bower, barbecue isn’t just about food—it’s about community.

The man who created 258 videos for “ Anderson’s Smoke Show ” on YouTube has spent the past six years teaching followers the finer points of smoked brisket, ribs, and, most famously this time of year, turkey.

But once a year, he puts the camera down and fires up his grills -- not for his 143,000 subscribers—but for his friends.

Bower, who lives in Munroe Falls, hosts an annual Friendsgiving that’s grown into a full-blown feast.

“This is our third official year,” he said. “It started small, but now we have 25 to 40 people. It’s all friends, no family. Everyone brings a side dish, and I handle the meat.”

Friendsgiving falls in late October or early November—far enough ahead of Thanksgiving that

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