Pancakes, Pancakes, Pancakes (and we're not talking IHOP)

It's "batter up" for the Athens Kiwanis Club Pancake Day — now in its 65th year.

The meal returns to the First United Methodist Church fellowship hall on Tuesday, which was the location of the event last year because of the Cain Center not being available.

Organizers say the church turned out to be a good spot to serve the hundreds who come out for the pancakes, sausage and hot coffee each year.

The event is set for 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tickets are $6 at the door and $3 for children under 8. There's also a raffle, so visitors should bring a few extra dollars.

Ticket sales are not the only source of revenue generated by the pancake day. Ads in the program and PowerPoint ads screened throughout the day also bring in money that can be used for Kiwanis Club projects through the year.

The event began as a pancake supper, and the evening is still the most popular time for members of the community to get together for the meal. Kiwanis members, volunteers and helpers began setting up the heavy grills and equipment on Monday to be ready to fire up at 5:30 a.m. on pancake day.

Club members do the cooking, with many years of experience accumulated by those at the grill. Other members will serve coffee and juice or keeping customers supplied with syrup.

Club members will don special T-shirts this year so diners can easily spot them on the day of the event.

It has traditionally been on the first Tuesday in March and in recent years has coincided with the Texas primary election, giving voters a chance to have a quick meal before or after their trips to the polls.