This paper will examine questions of scholarly identity and community in Macrobius' Saturnalia. A Latin dialogue from the mid-fifth century CE, the Saturnalia is preoccupied with questions of social inclusivity, and in particular who can partake in learned conversation. In this paper, I will argue that Macrobius criticizes elitist definitions of scholarly community in his literary models, especially Aulus Gellius and Varro, and instead advocates for expanding access to learned circles along the lines originally envisaged by the dialogues of Cicero. I will conclude with some reflections on our murky understanding of Macrobius' own identity, and how his interest in questions of class might be informed by his possible lived experiences.