Kansas hosts International Pancake Race

It's not every day that you see Kansas ladies running through the streets with a skillet and pancake in their hand. But one day each year, on Fat Tuesday before the start of Lent, the ladies of Liberal, Kansas (pop. 17,486) participate in the International Pancake Race that pits residents of this southwest Kansas town against their fellow racers in Olney, England.

The international race on Tuesday, February 20, 2007 is the culmination of a pancake festival that starts the weekend before in Liberal. Events open to the public include pancake flipping and eating contests, parade, songfest, high tea, Miss Liberal Scholarship Pageant, Shriving Service, and more. All events are free except for the $3 all-you-can-eat pancake breakfast. In this age of equality, Liberal pancake festival organizers offer separate races for men and children to join in the fun.

The only international pancake race of its kind, the Liberal vs. Olney event started in 1950 and has continued each year since. Before becoming an international competition, the race in Olney traces its roots back to 1445 when legend tells of a woman who was still making pancakes as the church bells tolled for Shriving service. With skillet and half-baked pancake in hand, she raced through the streets of Olney to get to church on time.

Liberal's downtown racecourse is the same 415-yard length as Olney's, which begins at Olney's town pump and ends at the church steps. The women racers in Liberal don skirts, aprons, and scarves and must flip the pancake twice - once at the start and again at the end. The fastest racer must cross the finish line at the Pancake Race Monument with both skillet and pancake in hand. The Liberal winner then gets to make a trans-Atlantic phone call to Olney to determine the international winner. Liberal has a skillet up on Olney, winning the competition 27 times to Olney's 24 wins. In 1980 it was a no contest race when a BBC truck accidentally blocked the course. The lady who wins the Liberal race receives a "Kiss of Peace" from a visiting dignitary, roses, a trophy and other prizes from the community.

For more information on additional Kansas events and attractions go to travelKS.com.