Asphalt Cowboys Pancake Breakfast: A Community Tradition.

On May 18th, 2024, I attended the Asphalt Cowboys Pancake Breakfast, the largest outdoor community breakfast in the United States. The event started in 1954 during Rodeo Week in Redding, California. It began small, serving about 700 people, and then grew to over 1,000 participants by the late 1950s.

The Cowboys, who organized the breakfast, initially used borrowed equipment from different sources, including the Sheriff's Department, local churches, and residents of Redding. Attendees enjoyed pancakes and sausage on makeshift tables made from doors and sawhorses "borrowed" from local lumber yards.

As the breakfast became more popular, the Cowboys realized they needed more equipment. They started buying or making their own, beginning with tables. They were lucky to purchase old McDonald's grills as the restaurants in northern California phased them out.

Over time, the Cowboys accumulated many grills, chairs, and tables. Today, the Asphalt Cowboys Pancake Breakfast is the most extensive outdoor community breakfast in the United States, with over 10,000 people gathering to share breakfast, regardless of the weather.

It's an honor for me to share my experience at this event with all of you!

Hey, podcast fans! I've been away for a while, but I'm working hard to bring you some amazing conversations. I've been thinking about the direction of the podcast and want to ensure that each episode is meaningful and engaging. To bridge the gap, I'm excited to introduce a summer series called "My Summer of 2024." Stay tuned for the first episode coming soon! Thanks for listening!