For generations, the Maple Leaf Festival® has brought the Carthage community together for a weekend filled with hometown pride, family traditions and celebration. And before the Maple Leaf Parade rolls through the streets of Carthage, another beloved tradition gets the morning started: the Carthage Fire Department Pancake Feed.
Each year, the fire station opens its doors early on parade morning, welcoming residents and visitors for a hearty breakfast of all you can eat pancakes while supporting the men and women of the Carthage Fire Department.
The Pancake Feed is more than just breakfast. It has become a special part of the Maple Leaf Festival® experience. It is a place where families can gather, friends can visit and the community can spend time with local firefighters before heading downtown to enjoy the parade.
This year's Pancake Feed will be held Saturday, October 17, from 6:00 to 9:30 a.m. at Carthage Fire Station 1, 401 W. Chestnut St. Tickets are $8 per plate, with all you can eat pancakes.
The timing makes it the perfect way to begin Maple Leaf Festival Saturday. Grab breakfast at the fire station, visit with the firefighters and then make your way downtown to find your spot along the parade route.
Most importantly, every pancake served helps support the Carthage Fire Department. The fundraiser gives the community an opportunity to give back to the firefighters who work year round to protect Carthage and the surrounding area.
Whether you are a longtime Carthage resident who has made the Pancake Feed part of your Maple Leaf tradition or you are visiting for the festival for the first time, there is no better way to start parade day than with pancakes, hometown hospitality and a little time at the fire station.