Pancake Day events around the UK

Olney Pancake Day race, Buckinghamshire, Tuesday 21 February
Over 500 years since the first Olney Pancake Day race in 1445, the tradition is still going strong. Racers will don headscarves and aprons and, frying pan in hand, race from the market place to the church at 11.55 am. Flipping the pancake at the start line and finish line, the winner will be greeted by the verger with a kiss of peace. Since 1950 the city of Liberal, Kansas, has run an identical race and the two compete for an international title.
www.visitbuckinghamshire.org

Littlehampton charity pancake Olympics, Sussex, Saturday 18 February
Celebrating its fifth year, the pancake Olympics lined up in this town will test participants’ pancake sporting skills to the limit. Sprinting, relay races, obstacle courses and even pancake curling will see winners presented will awards of gold silver and bronze frying pans.
www.littlehampton-tc.gov.uk

Swadlincote pancake race and crafts, Derbyshire, Tuesday 21 February
Racers in Swadlincote will be raising money for Sport Relief in a race across The Delph Marketplace. With company mascots taking part and a prize on offer for the best Olympic themed fancy dress, you can expect extravagant outfits and sporty competitors. Nearby Sharpe’s Pottery Museum will also be hosting pancake themed craft events.
www.sharpespotterymuseum.org.uk www.south-derbys.gov.uk

Scarborough Pancake Day celebrations, Yorkshire, Tuesday 21 February
The town’s traditional Pancake Day activities return for another year and, with many children in the area enjoying an afternoon off school, there will be a skipping event in the South Bay. Upon the ringing of the Pancake bell at noon, the Strictly Pancakes races will begin and competitors will sprint down the street, flipping as they go.
www.discoveryorkshirecoast.com/scarborough

Blists Hill Victorian Town pancake flipping competition, Telford, Saturday 18 – Tuesday 21 February
The ladies of this recreated Victorian town at the Ironbridge Gorge Museum will be competing in a pancake-tossing contest of their own. The fully-costumed staff will battle against each other at noon each day in a one minute pancake toss challenge. The town’s schoolteacher will be on hand to award certificates to the winners, and afterwards the tossing is open to everyone.
www.ironbridge.org.uk

Ashbourne Shrovetide football, Tuesday 21 and Wednesday 22 February, Derbyshire
Since the 12th Century, Ashbourne has marked Shrove Tuesday and Ash Wednesday with a football game. The annual game, which is played for eight hours on each day, has only ever been cancelled twice. The two teams, the Up’ards and the Down’ards, compete to push a hand painted ball to the goals that are three miles apart. Spectators are welcome to follow the ball through the streets and over fields, but be warned – there are masses of players and very few rules! The game starts at 2pm, after a chorus of the national anthem.
www.shrovetide.net