National Pancake Day

February 20, 2007 is Pancake Day, the day of the International Pancake Race held in Liberal, Kansas and Olney, England. The date changes every year because it is held on Shrove Tuesday, the day before the beginning of Lent. Mardi Gras, Fat Tuesday, Shrove Tuesday, Pancake Day all refer to the same day.

The Liberal, Kansas Pancake Race started in 1950 after a resident saw a magazine picture of the Olney, England race. The Olney race had been held there for over 500 years. Since 1950 there has been a friendly competition between Liberal, Kansas and Olney, England. Women race down the street with a pancake in a pan. Racers wear a head scarf and apron. They must flip their pancakes at the starting signal, and again after crossing the finish line, to prove they still have their pancakes.

Liberal, Kansas is also home to The Land of OZ animated entertainment and Dorothy's House, a 1907 farmhouse that has been restored and furnished to replicate the house shown in the movie The Wizard of Oz.

Links:
City of Liberal
Pancakeday.net
International Pancake Day