Cooking pancakes is a tall order in and of itself.

Try doing it for more than 500 people.

That’s exactly what the Manteca Noon Kiwanis will do today when they host their annual Fourth of July Pancake Breakfast at Angelano’s.

It’ll be the 50th time that the group has hosted the event. It serves as a community gathering point for people looking to get a start of the day prior to the Fourth of July parade and the community event at Big League Dreams. It’ll be the first time, however, that students like East Union’s Cassidy Smith – a member of the school’s Kiwins Club – will get a taste of a huge community fundraiser and the fun that goes in to pulling it off.

“It’s a good way to meet people and you get to help with a fundraiser like this that draws a lot of people from the community,” Smith said. “It’s interesting and it gives you a different perspective and I just love being around these guys – it’s great.”

The $7 ticket – $4 for children 11 and under – will get you a plate with pancakes, ham, eggs and your choice of juice, coffee or milk. It’ll go to the fund that helps promote programs in the community that provide the youth opportunities ranging from after-school programs to college scholarships. The event is just one of a handful of fundraisers that the group holds throughout the year.

“We’re fortunate that we have the support of the community,” said Kiwanis event chairman Jack Cushman. “It’s been something that people have always come out to, and it’s something that I think they’ll always go to.

“We’re hoping that we get more people than we did last year, and being such a big event I think we can do that.”



Parade

The breakfast is by the starting point of the 10 a.m. Independence Day parade at North Main Street and Golden West School. The Sunrise Kiwanis sponsored parade gets underway at 10 a.m. It goes south of Main Street and turns west on Center Street before dispersing at Library Park. Part of the route will be lined with some of the 2,400 flags being placed by the Manteca Chamber of Commerce.



Family fun & aerial fireworks

The family fun runs from 6 to 10:30 p.m. tonight at the Big League Dreams sports complex off Daniels Street at Airport Way.

Admission is $2 for ages 13 and older while those 12 and under are free. The event features children’s activities, vendor booths, contests, family entertainment, and the annual fireworks show. Unlimited use wrist bands for jump houses and children’s rides as well as the teen zone are $2 apiece.

The aerial fireworks will take place shortly after 9 p.m. The best place to view them is inside the BLD complex where the admission is charged.