2024 Worlds Largest Pancake Breakfast – Pancake Party in the Middle of Main
Springfield, Massachusetts—The World’s Largest Pancake Breakfast is a morning filled with flapjacks and fun in honor of Springfield’s 388th birthday. It has been an annual tradition since 1986 and sponsored by MGM Springfield since 2013.
On Saturday, May 18, 2024, with the American Flag flying high over Main Street, the Spirit of Springfield will present the World’s Largest Pancake Breakfast with John Doleva, President, of Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, as the Honorary Chair. There will be lots to do and see, and eat! There will be pancakes, bacon, coffee, milk, juice, and water. Breakfast starts at 8am and will continue until 11am, or until everyone in line has been served a plate of pancakes.
While patrons dine, they will be entertained by the Sci-Tech Band, Libertas Academy Charter School, Springfield Prep Charter School, Mary Anne’s Studio of Dance, Red Grass Ministries, Martin Luther King Charter School, Malik James, and Master Lee Taekwondo. During the speaking program at 9:30am, the St. Michael’s Academy, under the direction of Vanessa Ford, will serenade John Doleva with Springfield’s “Pancake Song.”
“I, representing the Basketball Hall of Fame, am honored and humbled to be chosen as the Honorary Chairman of the 2024 World’s Largest Pancake Breakfast. This event is a bedrock event in the city that brings together and unites all in our community to enjoy a fun and very tasty day as well as the company of each other,” said John Doleva. “The annual pancake breakfast is yet another event and happening that puts Springfield on the national map showcasing the city where the game of basketball was invented among so many other firsts. The coordination and support of this event by Judy Matt and the Spirit of Springfield staff is beyond outstanding and the cadre of businesses and organizations supporting the event is remarkable—this is a winning team!! I hope everyone puts Saturday, May 18th on the calendar and all should plan to arrive hungry!!”
Court Street will be filled with activities and displays including Monson Savings Bank, Springfield Police and Fire Departments. MGM Springfield and WWLP-22News will have prize wheels. TD Bank, Western Mass News, and several others will have giveaways.
Before the first pancake is served, a lot will have already been done behind the scenes with the support of so many. It starts when bacon from Smithfield Packaged meats arrives and the Hampden County Sheriff’s Department starts it sizzling. Mercy Medical Center will have already mixed more than 500 gallons of batter donated by Performance Foodservice. Michael’s Party Rentals will have setup three cooking tents, more than 200 tables and thousands of chairs, and American Medical Response (AMR) will have delivered 67,000 free tickets to area schools. Springfield Department of Public Works will have picked up paper supplies donated by Baystate Health and Mansfield Paper Company.
On Saturday morning, before the sun comes up, H. P. Hood will have delivered hundreds of gallons of milk, juice, and cream that Gleason Johndrow Landscaping will have transferred to awaiting refrigerated trucks provided by Quality Beverage, Performance Foodservice, and Home Grown Springfield – Sodexo. Soon after, Sheraton Springfield will be brewing hundreds of gallons of coffee, and MGM Springfield will start warming the bacon.
Then, it is time for the volunteers to arrive. Cookers, servers, ticket sellers, and cleaners. They will arrive fresh and ready to work, and leave with a sense of community pride. They are represented by Armoury Quadrangle Civic Association, Audacy Springfield – 94.7 WMAS, Baystate Charter Academy, Bethel Child Care Services, Central High School Key Club, iHeart Media, Jack and Jill of Western Massachusetts, MacDuffie School, Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, SATCO (PVTA), Springfield Code Enforcement/Building Division, Springfield Department of Health and Human Services, Springfield Thunderbirds, Springfield UNICO, The Q 99.7FM, U. S. Postal Service, UMass Five Federal Credit Union, United Way of Pioneer Valley, Western Mass. Square Round Dance Association, and Zeta Phi Beta Sorority.
When it is time to serve up the pancakes, they will be topped with 200 pounds of butter donated by Cabot Creamery. When everyone has gone home, the Springfield Business Improvement District will be sure Main Street is clean and ready to reopen for traffic.
Additional support for the World’s Largest Pancake Breakfast is being provided by Costco, Elegant Affairs, MassMutual Center, and the Springfield Parking Authority.
Area community service organizations and businesses will be taking advantage of the large crowd attending the event. Many will distribute promotional materials including All Energy Solar, Behavioral Health Network, Center for School Crisis Intervention & Assessment, Center of Social Justice – Western New England University, City of Springfield – Human Resources Department, Department Of Children and Families-FOSTER MA, Greater Springfield Habitat for Humanity, Hampden County Bar Association, HCS Head Start, Libertas Academy Charter School, Martin Luther King, Jr. Charter School, Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office, Massachusetts MENTOR Foster Care, Master Lee’s Taekwondo, Home Grown Springfield-Sodexo, Springfield Armory National Historical Site, Springfield City Library, Springfield Museums, Springfield Public Schools Family & Community Engagement, Springfield School Volunteers, Springfield Water and Sewer Commission, Square One, The Farmers Market at Forest Park, Way Finders, and Western Mass MOMS Partnership.
Admission and beverages are free. Tickets for pancakes with bacon are $3 and $1 for children under 12. For more information about the World’s Largest Pancake Breakfast, visit spiritofspringfield.org.
PHOTOS AVAILABLE AT https://www.flickr.com/photos/spiritofspringfield/albums/72177720308288331/