Annual 4th of July Pancake Breakfast, Race and Concert

This year, 4th of July festivities kick off in Cottonwood Square at 7:30 a.m. with a Pancake Breakfast at the Niwot Market. In addition to pancakes, sausage and eggs, topped with Bert Steele’s famous green chile, will be part of the fare. The annual event is hosted by Niwot Market and the Niwot Community Association (NCA) and typically feeds at least 500 to 600 hungry Niwotians and area residents eager to celebrate the birth of their nation.

Tips will be collected to benefit the Niwot Patriotic Cookie Moms in their efforts to send care packages to U.S. troops serving abroad. Net proceeds from the event will benefit the Monarch Improvement Project for Niwot Youth Sports.

The second annual Niwot Downhill Mile will start at Niwot High School at 8:30 a.m. on July 4th, ending at Niwot Market, just in time for breakfast. The race, organized by Alison Steele of Niwot Market and Henry Guzman of Run Boulder, will benefit the Marshall Fire Fund. Packet pick will be available on July 3rd from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at In Motion Running ( 1880B 30th St Boulder, co 80301). Registration is $25, and $10 for 12 & under.

Race day pick up and race day registration will be in the Niwot Market Parking lot starting at 6:45 a.m. until 8:15 a.m. All participants will receive a race T-shirt, adults and kids sizes, a finisher’s ribbon, and a commemorative goody bag. Over $1,000 in prize money will be awarded to the top three male and female runners, and the top masters male and female runners. Also trophies will be awarded to the top male and female high school athletes.

From 9 a.m. to 10 a.m., those attending the breakfast will hear the Niwot Community Semi-Marching Free Grange Band in concert, under the direction of Debbie Benson, with a program featuring the service songs of each branch of the military service, as well as Stars & Stripes Forever, National Emblem, America, Semper Fidelis, America the Beautiful, the 1812 Overture, Yankee Doodle Boy, You’re a Grand Old Flag, The Washington Post, and many others.

The Pancake Breakfast ends at 10:30 a.m., in time for everyone to enjoy the parade, which starts at 11 a.m. on Meadowdale Drive. All signs point to this year’s parade being bigger and better than ever. Volunteers will be on hand in Cottonwood Square from 8:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. to assist children in decorating their bikes for the parade. Sparky and Classic Fire Engine #10 will also be on display during the breakfast. The Fire House Museum will be open to visitors downtown from 10 a.m. to 12 noon.

Following the parade and continuing until 1 p.m., the NCA will hold a reception at The Niwot Group - Compass real estate offices at 7915 Niwot Road.to allow members of the community to personally thank Sheriff Joe Pelle for his many years of service.

While we wouldn’t mind celebrating each beautiful summer morning with pancakes at the Niwot Market, recreating them (note: this is my grandmother’s recipe, not Bert’s) with ingredients from the Niwot Market can be the next best thing:

Edna Goldberg’s Old Fashioned Pancakes

1 ½ cup flour

3 ½ teaspoons baking powder

1 teaspoon salt

1 tablespoon sugar

1 ¼ cup milk (any kind of your choice-including soy milk or almond milk)

1 egg

3 tablespoons butter (melted)

2 teaspoons vanilla

Whisk together all dry ingredients to combine.

Whisk together all wet ingredients, which includes the milk, egg, melted, butter and vanilla.

Whisk together dry and wet ingredients until mostly smooth.

Use a ¼ cup measuring spoon to pour batter onto a skillet or griddle.

Cook for a minute or two until the edges bubble.

Flip, cook another minute or so and remove from heat.

Serve.

As my grandmother always said, “Enjoy them in the best of health!”