Five Questions: Flapjack Day brings together history and community
https://citystarbrewing.com/wp-content/themes/osmosis/images/empty/thumbnail.jpg 150 150 City Star Brewing City Star Brewing https://citystarbrewing.com/wp-content/themes/osmosis/images/empty/thumbnail.jpg
Who doesn’t love pancakes?
For the past decade, Berthoud’s City Star Brewing has been cooking up thousands of flapjacks every Labor Day for Flapjack Day — a celebration that connects community members and harkens back to the town’s past.
“Flapjack Day is a day to step back in time with neighbors and friends for a fun celebration of Berthoud’s rich history,” Alex Sage, with City Star, said in an email “Attendees enjoy creative breakfast-themed beers while enjoying free flapjacks. It’s unique, community oriented … and filling!”
Sage answered email questions, drawing some responses directly from the brewery’s website, about the Labor Day tradition, which will continue Monday with a slate of activities. A schedule is at citystarbrewing.com.
1. What is Flapjack Day? How can people participate?
Flapjack Day is a City Star Labor Day tradition of free flapjacks, breakfast beer flights, vintage cars, ’50s dress and Flapjack Queen contest that supports the Berthoud Historical Society. People can participate by visiting our downtown Berthoud taproom (321 Mountain Ave.) starting at 11 a.m. Monday, Sept. 1.
2. What is the history of Flapjack Day? How did it start?
In 1948, the town of Berthoud created Flapjack Day to be celebrated on Labor Day to bring neighbors together and visitors from afar to enjoy one of the simple pleasures in life — flapjacks.
From 1948 to 1958, the local Lions Club and Chamber of Commerce hosted Flapjack Day in Berthoud Town Park, drawing hordes of people to “The Garden Spot.” On the first Flapjack Day (1948) an estimated 1,000 persons descended on Berthoud to devour 5,000 free pancakes. By 1949, The Berthoud Bulletin announced that 3,700 visitors from 21 states downed a whopping 7,400 flapjacks.
Over its 11-year span, Flapjack Day grew to include the crowning of a Flapjack Queen, spike-driving, swimming and diving contests, a baton twirling competition, pet-and-doll parades, a pig catching scramble and a tractor driving challenge. The last Flapjack Day was held in 1959; the Chamber of Commerce decided to cancel the event due to the high cost of hosting such a spectacle.
3. Why did City Star Brewing decide to bring back Flapjack Day?
City Star Brewing beerslinger Ian Phillips (now Flapjack Day emcee) had the idea to bring back Flapjack Day. Our downtown Berthoud brewery brought this annual tradition back to life in 2015, giving away 1,000 flapjacks, raising $1,000 for the Berthoud Historical Society, and crowning the first Flapjack Queen in 50 years — Caitlin Ascher.
4. How many people typically come out? How much pancake batter do you use in a year?
We have upwards of 1,000 people come out each year and make over 2,000 flapjacks. We have local businesses that generously donate to make this happen. Long Shadow Farm (donates) 192 farm fresh eggs and Meadow Gold Dairy donates all our dairy products for the batter.
5. What is the Flapjack Queen contest?
The Flapjack Queen contest on the surface is an eating contest, who can eat her plate of flapjacks the fastest. But a little deeper, this is a coveted title, bragging rights for life, and a crown fiercely fought for. The contest is for women only participants ages 21 and up, and the winner receives donated gifts from local businesses and is crowned Flapjack Day Queen for the year. …
The Flapjack Queen contest is always the most memorable experience of the day. Getting to see groups of ladies on the stage dressed in their best 1950s attire while ferociously eating a plate of flapjacks as fast as they can. It’s a sight to see.











