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Date: 4/25/2023
SPRINGFIELD — For the 37th year, the World’s Largest Pancake Breakfast will return to downtown Springfield on Saturday, May 13.
From 8-11 a.m., the community can gather on Main Street to enjoy freshly cooked pancakes, bacon, coffee, juice and milk, along with classic entertainment and exhibitors to visit.
The event, which is put on by the Spirit of Springfield, has been sponsored by MGM Springfield since 2013.
As the city of Springfield had COVID-19 restrictions up until February 2022, MGM President Chris Kelley said the pancake breakfast was a way for the community to connect again in ways they were not able to for a few years prior.
“It’s an opportunity for families to come together again and celebrate what makes us great,” he added.
On April 20, over 50 people gathered at MGM for the announcement of this year’s honorary chair, for which Springfield Police Superintendent Cheryl Clapprood was selected.
Clapprood has served the city of Springfield for more than 40 years and is the first female police superintendent in the city’s history.
Kelley, also the 2022 honorary chair, introduced Clapprood by sharing her extensive resume. This includes serving in the United States Air Force, and as an undercover narcotics officer, Special Victims Unit supervisor, street supervisor and watch commander, among other roles in the Police Department.
“This is a resume of a hero and one that I am very proud to support as the next honorary chair of the World’s Largest Pancake Breakfast. Cheryl, it is an honor to pass the spatula to you,” Kelley said.
To commemorate her role, Clapprood was presented with a jacket that was lined with four stars on the shoulder, matching her police uniform. Clapprood said she has always loved every event that the Spirit of Springfield has put on. “I think it’s because police officers enjoy those events most of all where we’re not actively fighting crime, we’re not actively engaged with any arguments or combatants – we’re having fun with the community.”
She went on to say, “The Police Department is nothing without the community it serves … It is my privilege to serve [as the honorary chair].”
Clapprood said she is hoping for good weather and record-breaking attendance at this year’s breakfast.
Spirit of Springfield Chair John Sjoberg emceed the announcement and told Clapprood that her first act as chair was to present the “Golden Spatula Award.” While many individuals might be deserving of the award such as U.S. Rep. Richard Neal (D-Springfield) going to Washington D.C. and bringing back revenue, Sjoberg said, “Only one person can say that they brought home more bacon than they have.”
The recipient of the golden spatula was MGM Executive Chef Omar Echeverria Santos. Clapprood said it was an honor to present the award, as long as he assists with her cooking pancakes on the day of the event.
Also in attendance at the April 20 announcement was Springfield Mayor Domenic Sarno, Spirit of Springfield President Judith Matt and former state Rep. and long-time volunteer of the pancake breakfast Peter Lappin.
According to the Spirit of Springfield’s website, the city was celebrating the country’s bicentennial in 1976 and decided to host a breakfast on Main Street. In 1986, Springfield celebrated its 350th anniversary and hosted another breakfast, which later led to a friendly competition with Battle Creek, Michigan, “the self-proclaimed Cereal Capital.”
Battling it out for the “World’s Largest Breakfast” by expanding the table length and number of servings each year, Springfield eventually decided to shorten the table length and instead focus on the people it was serving.
While the location of the pancake breakfast moved to the Eastfield Mall parking lot in 2005 and 2006, it returned to its birthplace in downtown Springfield in 2007. The event takes place on Main Street from State Street to Bridge Street.
Admission is free, however breakfast tickets cost $3 per person for adults and $1 for children.
For additional information on the World’s Largest Pancake Breakfast, visit spiritofspringfield.org/events/worlds-largest-pancake-breakfast.