5,000 pancakes dished up as CBC Calgary hosts last Stampede breakfast at Memorial Drive building

Thousands of people lined up around the block Thursday morning to scarf down more than 5,000 pancakes at the last CBC Sobeys Stampede Breakfast at the broadcaster's current location on Memorial Drivebefore a move later this year.

It has been more thanthree decades since CBC Calgary first hosted a Stampede breakfast in its parking lot off Memorial Drive at 1724 Westmount Blvd. N.W. In the fall, it will be moving about four kilometres west to anew leased location at the Cambrian Wellness Centre at 2000 Veteran's Place N.W.

At the breakfast that unofficially kicks off the the Calgary Stampede, The Calgary Eyeopener was on the air with live music from Tim Hus, and the CBC Kids mascot Daniel Tiger roamed through the crowds to entertain the little ones as the lineup snaked right around the broadcast centre.

• Saddle up with CBC Calgary for the last time on Memorial Drive

The Calgary Food Bank raised a total of $5,027 in donations, inlcuding a matching donation bySobeys.

There were pancakes, in case that wasn't clear. And coffee. Lots of coffee.

Check out the photos from the event below and in our blog at the bottom:

TheHomestretch host Doug Dirks, left, and The Calgary EyeopenerhostDavid Gray get ready to greet thousands of Calgarians at the breakfast.

It was a hungry crowd more than 5,000 pancakes were served up.

CBC Kids mascotDaniel the Tiger got lots of hugs.

This youngster enjoyed the colouring table.

Pancake artists made sure no one forgot where they were.

About 2,800 people dropped by to join the celebrations.

If you weren't able to make it, check thelive updates posted through the morning by our CBC team.

You can see more photos and video from the breakfast, including a pancake protrait of Calgary Mayor Naheed Nenshi, lasso tricks, cowboy songs and more (including, perhaps a photo of you if you were there), by scrolling through our blog below. On mobile? Review the blog here.

• Check out this video from one of our early CBC Calgary Stampede breakfasts, back in 1985.

CBC Calgary Stampede Breakfast

7 years ago

Duration 0:30

For nearly 30 years, the CBC pancake breakfast has unofficially kicked off the Calgary Stampede. This year's CBC Sobeys Stampede Breakfast on Thursday, July 6, from 7-9 a.m. will be our last before we move from our Memorial drive location, and we're going out with a bang!