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Flipping Fantastic! 🥞🏃‍♀️

Written by Andy Webb

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Posted on March 19 2025

We love our pancakes almost as much as our popcorn, so it only felt right to shine a spotlight on one of the most unique and long-standing traditions in the UK - the Olney Pancake Race! 🍿✨

This historic race dates back to 1445, when legend has it that a local housewife, in a mad dash to get to church on Shrove Tuesday, ran through the streets of Olney (Buckinghamshire) clutching her frying pan, pancake still inside. Fast forward to today, and this quirky tradition lives on with women donning skirts, aprons, and headscarves as they sprint 415 yards through town, flipping their pancakes at the start and finish!

Since 1950, Olney has gone head-to-head with Liberal, Kansas, USA, in an international competition, adding even more fun to this flipping fantastic event. 🏅🌍

This year, our very own Jill took part in the race, representing Popcorn Kitchen with speed, skill, and some seriously impressive pancake flipping! There wasn’t much pancake left after the finish line, but we think that just means she ran extra fast! 🏃‍♀️And to top it all off, Jill was lucky enough to be interviewed on Look East News! 🎥✨Well done, Jill - you did us proud! 👏💛

With pancake breakfasts, stalls, music, and races for school children, the Olney Pancake Race is a celebration of community, tradition, and good old-fashioned fun. Who else is signing up for next year? 🤔😂