News

Kiwanis Club calls off festival-opening pancake breakfast

By Bill Moss, Published: August 20, 2021

Citing concerns about the safety of a large indoor gathering, the Hendersonville Kiwanis Club has called off the annual pancake breakfast fundraiser that traditionally kicks off the N.C. Apple Festival.

The club’s pancake breakfast planning committee and board of directors annoucned the decision Friday, saying it was in the best interest of the community to postpone the event until a time when it is safe to gather indoors in large numbers again. The breakfast, held indoors at First Baptist Church, typically attracts more than 1,000 people and raises money for club initiatives to support children and youth in the community. It was scheduled for Friday, Sept. 3.

"While we are deeply disappointed to miss a second year of our traditional in-person pancake breakfast, we all agreed that now is not the time to hold such an event given the rise in Covid-19 cases and the vulnerability of the children in our community who are not yet able to be vaccinated," the club said in a statement.

The club will continue the spirit of their support for the NC Apple Festival, and the farmers in particular, by delivering hot breakfasts to each of the Apple Grower participants in the street festival that Friday morning.

The club has not announced a new date for the breakfast. Please stay tuned for future announcements on Facebook @HendersonvilleKiwanis for the most up-to-date information on rescheduling and other Club activities.

Special thanks to the gold sponsor for the breakfast; Norm’s Minit Mart. Silver sponsors include AdventHealth, and Van Winkle Law Firm, and bronze sponsors include BGW, Inc., Casons, Community Foundation of Henderson County, Guidon Brewing Company and Worthy Management Association.