National Pancake Day...mmmm, pancakes. This is the real Fat Tuesday, in which millions of patrons sign up to get their pancake on. Who decides when these seemingly random holidays take place? Yeah, College News doesn’t know either (*coughHasToDoWithLent*cough). But what we do know is this: National Pancake Day is a great opportunity to get free food. With that in mind, College News offers a few modest places where you can get have your pancakes and eat them to, for a nominal fee of zip.

IHOP gives away buttermilk pancakes for National Pancake Day

According to the Web site for the International House of Pancakes (recognized by the U.N. as its own sovereign, pancake delivery device), the restaurant chain is celebrating National Pancake Day in the most logical way possible: By murdering lots of hobos with dirty shivs giving away free pancakes! Lots of them. From 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., customers can stuff their fat gullets with one free short stack of buttermilk pancakes. (That totals three free pancakes). Ah, but there’s a catch. A wonderful, charity-involved catch.

IHOP is asking patrons to donate to support local children’s hospitals, using Children’s Miracle Network as a go-between. Last year, a reported $1.3 million dollars was raised, and this year, IHOP is asking the people to top it. For the pancakes, people!

Perkins also gives away free pancakes

Not to be outdone, Perkins is giving away pancakes on National Pancake Day as well. When will the pancake-consumption/charitable giving insanity stop? Ah, but alas! This Perkins giveaway is only in New York. So get to it, New Yorkers. There some pancakes to be eaten. Chop, chop!

Our Take

Yay for free pancakes! And for National Pancake Day as well! Enjoy the deliciousness, college students.