SPRINGFIELD, MA (WGGB/WSHM) -- Crews set up tables and equipment near the MassMutual Center on Friday as the city prepared for the World’s Largest Pancake Breakfast.

Main Street, between Bridge and State Streets, was blocked off to clear the way for thousands of people to eat, mingle, and celebrate the city. Organizers expect at least 15,000 people to show up, topping last year’s crowd by a few thousand.

Local and state officials spent Friday morning cooking bacon that will be served Saturday. “The sheriff’s office here does it. The women’s jail does it. It’s a lot of work around the clock to make a thousand pounds of bacon,” said Judy Matt, president of Spirit of Springfield.

During the week, at least 100 trays were prepared. State Representative Carlos Gonzalez, the event committee’s honorary chair, joined MGM Springfield’s Beth Ward and Hampden County Sheriff Nick Cocchi to grill the final batch Friday. “Best bacon I have ever had in my life. There you go. Full stop,” Ward said.

Once prepared, crews moved all the trays to MGM Springfield, where they’ll stay refrigerated overnight before being moved to outdoor stoves. “In today’s day and age, people can be very stand-off-ish or cynical when it comes to government and I think this is a way that us as elected officials and as community folks can support our community in trying to put on events that bring people together,” Cocchi said.

Matt said the event offers a chance for connection. “There’s so much going on in the world today that I think people want to sit down with each other and have a conversation in a nice environment. We’re just looking forward to a great day,” she explained.

The World’s Largest Pancake Breakfast begins at 8 a.m. Saturday.

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