VALLEY — For the better part of six decades, the Kiwanis Club of Valley had an event known as Pancake Day as one of its key fundraisers. It always took place inside Langdale Gym, and usually drew big crowds of attendees. From 1960 through 2018, it was held at least once each year and sometimes two times in a year.

The tradition of Pancake Day is being reborn by The Valley Local. It will be taking place on Saturday, February 28th at Valley Community Center.

The Valley Local director, Sara Crutchfield, talked about the big day at Wednesday’s noon hour meeting of the Kiwanis Club. She thanked members of the club for their willingness to resume what had been a long-time tradition and for he help they have offered in making a Pancake Day to go off without a hitch.

“Pancake Day is a favorite childhood memory of mine,” she said. “I looked forward to going to it every year it was at Langdale Gym. It was a fun thing, and I’m excited to be bringing it back. I can’t thank you enough for your cooperation with it. You past experience with Pancake Days will help us make it a successful event.”

Crutchfield said she has gotten much response on social media on The Valley Local’s efforts to bring back Pancake Day. “A friend I went to high school with contacted me to tell me it was a great idea,” she said. “She today lives in Florida but told me she wanted to come back home just to be at Pancake Day again.”

Serving will start at 6 a.m. EST and will go on until around two o’clock in the afternoon. The cooking of the pancakes and sausage will start at 5 a.m. at the latest.

Tickets are $10 each for adults and $5 for children. Proceed will go to this year’s ValleyFest, which will be taking place the weekend of May 24th and 25th.

“Our goal is to have 1,200 people on Pancake Day,” Crutchfield said. “People have started ordering online. Those who do that can get served more quickly. Lanett Elementary will be allowing some of their students to come. We appreciate that. The cooking will be taking place outside the Community Center, but we will have the entire gym that day. We are really excited to be doing this and we are very thankful to have Kiwanis Club members helping us that day. Your experience in having done this will make a big difference.”

Adult plates will have four pancakes and two sausage patties. Children’s plates will have one sausage and two pancakes. Drinks that will be available include milk, bottled water, orange juice and chocolate milk.

Valley Fest 2025 looks to be an even bigger event than what took place last year. It will be taking place on two days this time. More than 90 vendors and food trucks have signed up to take part. There will be live music throughout each day along with bingo, inflatables for the kids and much more. A shuttle will be there to transport guests throughout the event.

“It should be fun for the whole family,” Crutchfield said.

The Saturday music will have a classic rock format. A local band, Poison Whiskey, will be the main act in the evening. On Sunday, Corey Smith will be the main performer. Others to appear during the weekend include Junior Cardiel, Kris Dewberry and the Lower Todd, Wicked Dixie, Nick Mayfield, Mack Ray Keaton, The Grey Caylee Fucci, 2 Dogs and Friends and the Sally Brown Band.

Crutchfield is inviting everyone from the local area to join Valley Local’s Mission: “Together, we can make a lasting impact,” it holds. “Help us create a better future for our community by making a donation to The Valley Local today.”