CANCELLED – Rotary Club of Sarnia’s 44th annual pancake breakfast returns for Mackinac Race weekend

The July 18 breakfast will again feed thousands under the Bluewater Bridges as sailboats depart for the world’s longest freshwater race.

Editors Note: The Rotary Club of Sarnia Mackinac Pancake Breakfast has been cancelled due to poor air quality caused by smoke from forest fires.

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The Rotary Club of Sarnia will hold its 44th annual pancake breakfast on Saturday, July 18, 2026, timed to coincide with the start of the historic Mackinac sailboat race.

The event runs outdoors on the north side under the Bluewater Bridges from 7 a.m. to 11 a.m. Cost is $10 for adults and $5 for children.

"It's a tremendous event," said Rotary Club president Joe Cebulski, noting some 100 volunteers serve more than 2,000 breakfasts each year, raising between $10,000 and $15,000. "It's been a tradition in our community for 44 years, and that's something to celebrate."

The breakfast coincides with the running of the Mackinac Race, the longest running freshwater sailboat race in the world. Sailboats leave from the Black River in Port Huron, Michigan, and sail north to Mackinac.

The full breakfast includes freshly made pancakes and sausages, with gluten free options available upon request, along with a choice of coffee, tea or juice. Coffee and tea are donated by McDonald's, and Bluewater Power is a contributing sponsor.

This year's event continues Rotary's tradition of caring for the environment. Attendees are invited to bring their own bottled water or drink vessels, and the Club is encouraging people to bring their own plates and cutlery, with rinse stations available on site. New this year is a supervised bike corral near the breakfast area. A large tent with tables and chairs will also be set up in the park for those wishing to sit down.

Advance tickets are available at DeGroot's Nursery, Pathways, Great Lakes Refill at 454 Christina St. N., and Manley's in Point Edward, as well as online at the Rotary Club website. Advance purchase allows for speedy entry into the breakfast.