The aroma of pancakes and sausage on the griddle will greet people going to Keizer Rapids Park on the final day of KeizerFEST.

The Keizer Fire District and Keizer Volunteer Firefighters Association are offering a pancake breakfast from 7 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. on Sunday, May 17 at the main festival tent in the park. 

On the menu are pancakes, sausage, eggs, coffee, milk and orange juice at the main festival tent. 

The all-you-can-eat breakfast costs $9 per adult and $6 for veterans, seniors and children age 5-12. Children under 5 eat for free. 

Maddie Alsum, the district’s community engagement coordinator, said proceeds will go to the Keizer Volunteer Firefighters Association. 

While the firefighters’ May breakfast was traditionally held on Mother’s Day at the fire hall, Alsum said the district decided last year to reschedule. The decision was spurred by inconsistent attendance and a desire to allow the firefighters to spend the holiday with their own mothers and families. 

Alsum said the goal of the event has always been to allow the fire district crew to meet with the community. While the fire district serves the public through its emergency response actions, the breakfast gives firefighters a social setting to meet residents and to “serve the community in a different capacity,” she said. 

The district also holds a breakfast with Santa in December.

This year, Alsum said the district wanted to move the May breakfast to KeizerFEST as that event already draws a crowd. 

“We’re excited to meet people where we already figured they would be,” Alsum said.

NEWS TIP? Contact reporter Krista Kroiss at [email protected].

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