Shrove Tuesday Pancake Races and Skipping

Scarborough's annual flippin' fantastic Pancake Day Races held in the town centre followed by skipping on the foreshore.

Pancake Day kicks off with the town crier introducing the mayor of Scarborough, who then rings the pancake bell on North Street at 12 noon. Everyone then heads down to Aberdeen Walk for the races, then onto the Foreshore for the tradition of skipping by the seaside.

Teams of two taking part in the races will be competing in fancy dress over an obstacle course race while flipping their pancakes. Who will win the golden frying pan? Judges will assess speed, costumes and the amount of pancake they manage to keep in their frying pans.

A bit of history…

On Shrove Tuesday, South bay Foreshore in Scarborough closes to traffic to allow for locals to skip together with friends and family – as they have done for generations.

A more recent tradition is the Pancake Races held in the town centre which brings teams from local businesses to come out in fancy dress to compete for the prize of a small frying pan (and some pancake flipping glory) before heading down to the seafront for an afternoon of skipping, pancakes and salty sea air!

As long ago as 1853 people gathered to celebrate ‘Bell Day’ annually on Shrove Tuesday. It was one of the few public holidays when people could be sure of having at least half a day free from their duties to enjoy themselves.

It was recorded in 1903 that ‘a few bairns were skipping near the lifeboat’ and by 1927 in a national publicity campaign, it was acclaimed as ‘Scarborough’s Skipping Festival’. So from mid-day onwards on this day there are likely to be local residents of all ages enjoying themselves along the sea front.

The other custom which is still retained at Scarborough is the ringing of the Pancake Bell. On Shrove Tuesday the bell was rung at noon as a signal to housewives to start frying the traditional pancakes. The bell is still rung on Shrove Tuesday by the Mayor or the Deputy Mayor of Scarborough.