Why potluck parties are making a big comeback in America

The first arrivals at Hiltonia's neighbourhood potluck bring food, folding chairs and a willingness to help. In the summer heat of Trenton, New Jersey, long tables covered with American-flag cloths wait beside a canal while red, white and blue balloons move overhead.

Rich Green and Julie Kroon arrive with a bowl of corn and bean salad. Neighbours greet one another, admire the festive clothes and ask what everyone has brought. When some residents struggle with their folding chairs, others step in to help. Thomas Emerick, who has lived in Hiltonia for 26 years, points to his Thai black bean salad, flavoured with garlic, ginger, cilantro and lime juice.

“You know what? You can have a social event without food, and you know how many people are going to come?” Emerick asks. “Exactly. Now, if you feed them, they will come.”

The gathering formed part of America’s Potluck, a nationwide initiative led by the America250 Utah Commission to mark the United States' 250th anniversary through shared meals. It also reflected a wider attempt by communities, nonprofits and governments to rebuild social connections as loneliness and divisions grow. The July 5 event drew participation from every state, with more than 1,700 potlucks held across the country.

Organisers initially planned the initiative as a one-off, but some hosts are already preparing to repeat it next year. The meals can bring neighbours to the same table, experts say, but enduring relationships depend on what happens after the dishes have been cleared.

“

You know what? You can have a social event without food, and you know how many people are going to come? Exactly. Now, if you feed them, they will come.