The IHOP location in Lethbridge is among the restaurants participating in National Pancake Day on Mar. 3, 2026. (Image Credit: IHOP)

By David Opinko

IHOP giving away free pancakes Tuesday & raising money for food banks

Mar 2, 2026 | 2:48 PM

Free pancakes and the chance to help out a worthwhile cause?

IHOP has announced the return of its National Pancake Day on Tuesday, Mar. 3, 2026.

At all locations in Alberta, including Lethbridge and Medicine Hat, guests can get a free short stack of Buttermilk Pancakes.

In exchange, customers in Lethbridge will be encouraged to make a donation to the Lethbridge Food Bank. Those who attend the restaurant in Medicine Hat can leave donations for the Root Cellar Food & Wellness Hub.

For every five dollars that are donated, IHOP will provide a five-dollar gift certificate.

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Chase Wilson, Marketing Manager for IHOP Prairies, says food banks are an important cause that they want to support, especially as demand for those services is “through the roof.”

“As an organization that is organized in the food service sector, we look at this and say, ‘Well, hey, pancakes are currency in our world,’ so let’s figure out a way to be able to raise some funds, raise some awareness, and give back to the communities we’re directly involved with,” says Wilson.

National Pancake Day takes place from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. at all IHOP locations in Alberta on Tuesday, Mar. 3.