Stampede breakfast season starts with the CBC breakfast on Thursday, July 3 from 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. Share a cup of coffee with CBC personalities at the CBC Broadcast Centre, 1724 Westmount Blvd. NW.

Arguably the biggest free breakfast in the city is at Chinook Centre. This year, Chinook celebrates nearly 50 years of serving pancakes and sausages to the masses. On Saturday, July 5, from 7 a.m. to 11 a.m., the centre aims to serve over 60,000 people in support of the Alberta Children’s Hospital Foundation.

For a healthy breakfast option, one of the best freebies in the city is at Community Natural Foods. The all-day breakfast from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Saturday, July 12 is at the Chinook Station Market (202 61st Ave. S.W., across from the Chinook LRT station). Here you’ll find fresh, organic, preservative-free foods for vegetarians and carnivores alike.

It’s not exactly free, but it’s cheap. The Palomino is hosting two breakfasts on the first weekend of Stampede. On Saturday, July 5, enjoy a $5 breakfast starting at 10 a.m. with all proceeds going to the Alberta Children’s Hospital. There’ll be live music all day and no cover charge before noon. If you’re fed up with country music, on Sunday, July 6, get a dose of punk rock with your pancakes. Tickets include breakfast from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., and five bands (Kilbourne, Stonehocker, Downtown Prophets, 40 Thieves and Seven Story Redhead) will provide entertainment.

For a listing of other free breakfasts around the city, check out http://www.stampedecaravan.com/break_sched.html.