Bet you thought today was just Mardi Gras. Well, as much as that may seem like the dominant celebration, you’d be missing out if you limited yourself to Fat Tuesday festivities. That’s because today is also International Pancake Day. King’s Cakes are all well and good, but for students on a budget, bring on the short stacks.

Take a break from the booze and the beads and drag yourself to an International House of Pancakes in the area. In honor of this special day, IHOP offers up free short stacks, with just the request for a small donation to the Children’s Miracle Network in return.

While the ideal time for IHOPing is in the post-midnight hours, you’ll have to try and make an appearance a little early if you want the free goods. Don’t worry, though, there are 15 hours of pancake giveaways, so stop by the IHOP nearest you any time between 7 a.m. and 10 p.m.

The best part is that you get to feel good about yourself for helping the cause while you get to feast on free pancakes. The little bit of money you give could make a big difference. Since 2006, IHOP has raised almost $2 million for children’s charities. That’s a pretty impressive return on griddle cakes and syrup.

I do offer one word of warning: Beware of the riff raff at these IHOPs. Nicky Hilton, little sister of Paris, had herself an altercation at the pancake purveyor this weekend. At around 4:50 a.m. outside an IHOP in West Hollywood some man pushed the hotel princess in the back. Nicky took a stand and slapped the dude with a citizen’s arrest. A cop was dining inside and came out when he heard the commotion. (On a side note, I’m not sure I really understand citizen’s arrests, but they sound really cool.)

Back to the pancake festivities, free short stacks aren’t the only things served up on International Pancake Day. There’s also a pancake race in Olney England and Liberal, Kansas of all places. Participants run through the streets flipping pancakes. Sorry guys, the race is only for women (women wearing head scarves and aprons, to be exact), but it could be pretty interesting to watch. That is, if you find yourself in Liberal, Kansas or Olney, England on this very special day.

If you can’t make it to one of these locales, just indulge yourself with the free pancakes. Then get back to the boozing and beads already.