Every Fourth of July, Duffy Donnelly of Valencia wakes up early, gathers up his family and heads straight for the Santa Clarita Valley Rotary Club’s annual pancake breakfast.

“Every year, they make me a really big pancake,” the 40-year-old resident said as he showed off his plate of pancakes slathered with maple syrup Sunday.

For at least two decades, Donnelly has feasted at the breakfast, which has become an annual Independence Day-kickoff tradition for local residents.

Donnelly says he enjoys the atmosphere, as well as seeing the community come together.

“The Fourth of July is not the Fourth of July without the pancake breakfast from the Rotary Club,” he said.

Donelly and his family were joined by about 800 other hungry residents, many with kids, for the breakfast of blueberry pancakes, sausage, juice and coffee, held on Main Street along the Independence Day parade route.

Afterward, most gathered along the streets of downtown Newhall to watch the annual  parade.

The SCV Rotary Club has been serving up pancakes and sausage on the Fourth of July for more than 40 years.

“We just do it as a tradition to support the community,” said Jim Lentini, the club’s past president.

Mike Berger, who has been a Rotary Club member for 29 years, said the pancake breakfast is a perfect way to start the Independence Day holiday.

He looks forward to seeing families and community leaders celebrate the holiday with a hearty breakfast, he said.

“It’s one day where everybody is rooting for the same thing.”