So the information in my post on How To Run A Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper was used by my wonderful parents to, well, Run A Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper at St Andrews. Here are the pictures they took. Here are the notes from how that went:
While it is still fresh in my mind, here are some notes on the first annual St. Andrew’s Saratoga Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper and Races. About 80 people attended. We made $485 ($585 before expenses) in donations to the Youth Group mission trip fund.
1) Division of labor worked well:
- Youth group handled shopping, cooking, cleanup
(and volunteer forms) - Katy & John & Laura handled announcements, decorations, and the race
- St. Andrew’s Saratoga facilities support set up tables and chairs – event attendees put them away
2) 5 – 7:30 pm was a good event time span: 5-6:30 pm for supper, 6:30-7:30 pm for racing. Most people arrived around 4 pm to help set up and cook.
3) Twelve long rectangular tables were set up herringbone. Tablecloth and place setting colors alternated between purple, dark green, and yellow. Lots of kinds/sizes of sugarbeads were the main table decorations. Rev. Jim Thomas donated several bags of old beads he had collected over many years. We bought more at Diddam’s party store.
4) John marked the race course in blue painter’s tape on the floor – where to Start/Stop, where to Flip, where to turn. Racers ran between the lines of tables. Little kids ran a short race.
5) We ran about 20 races – some little kids, some teens, some parents/kids, other mixed races. Two runners per race with John and Laura at each end to help and advise. Every racer got a special sugar bead neacklace from Katy. Run off races at the end for 3 fancy bottles of maple syrup. Rev. Jim Thomas ran a race against the teen winner (J.R.) and Rev. Kate Atkinson ran a race against her young daughter, Georgia. Grudge matches were encouraged!
6) Only salt/pepper, napkins, flatware, decorations on tables. Plates were filled from kitchen window hot food stands, condiments (syrup, apple sauce, butter, sprinkles, M&Ms, gummy bears, whipped cream, etc.) on a big table near the serving window.
7) Advertising: John had made announcements in church for the 3 prior Sundays. There were also written announcements in “The Weekly E” (St. Andrew’s Email update). Sample:
Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper with Pancake Racing
Tuesday, February 5th from 5:00 to 7:30 pm
5-6:30 pm pancake supper &
6:30-7:30 pm all-age racing in the Hall.
Lent is right around the corner, so plan to come! We will have stacks of pancakes, bacon, and sausage for all. A basket will be available at the supper for your donation to cover the cost of the supper. After filling up on delicious food there will be pancake races so wear your running shoes! We will have races for different age levels. See who is the fastest racer and best pancake flipper. Contact Katie Machemer or Katy Dickinson if you have any questions. (The Shrove Tuesday Pancake Race custom was started in Olney, UK, in the 15th Century. You can Google “pancake race” on the internet to find funny photos of pancake races from around the world.)
8) Teens staffed the welcome/money table – 2 to 4 at a time.
To do better next time –
– get coffee ready in advance
– get better room decorations and figure out how to attach them to walls without tape or pins
Inspirational Quote:
“In Heaven all the interesting people are missing.” Friedrich Nietzsche
