ESCANABA — The Escanaba Kiwanis Club is gearing up for its annual Home and Garden Show, the event that famously includes a pancake breakfast as part of its major fundraiser. The show is bringing together over 40 vendors — hopefully 50 — to the Ruth Butler Building on Friday through Sunday, April 4-6.

Kiwanis, an international service organization, was founded in the mid-1910s in Detroit. Though the first few years were centered on business networking, the group changed its focus in 1919 to service for children, which remains its function today.

All Kiwanis clubs are primarily geared towards serving children; their causes support health and nutrition, education and literacy, and youth leadership development.

The Escanaba branch was formed in 1922. In 1957, Kiwanians in Esky began organizing Pancake Days to raise funds. The first Home and Garden Show came in ’78 — still including Pancake Days.

This year, pancakes, sausage, scrambled eggs, coffee and juice will be served from 5 to 8 p.m. Eastern time on Friday; from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Eastern time on Saturday; and from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Eastern time on Sunday.

Though the show goes until 7 p.m. Saturday, pancakes exit the scene in the afternoon and Wildman’s Munchie Mobile becomes the food provider from 2 to 7 p.m. This allows for another activity to occupy space in the RBB.

This the second year that a “family night” has been added to the show. Between 4 and 7 p.m. on Saturday activities for kids — DJ music, karaoke, dancing, art projects, a talent show — take over a portion of the show.

“Kiwanis is all about kids,” said board member Mike Markwell. “The Home and Garden Show is our big fundraiser for the year. The club distributes funds to help organizations that are partnering with kids. We provide volunteers for organizations that are doing great work to help kids. And so we have included this kid-friendly element of our show the last few years now, and we’re continuing to be excited about that.”

Michigan State University Extension will provide information for gardeners and do a few demonstrations periodically during the show.

Though it’s taking place in the spring with gardening and home improvement as the main theme, the Home and Garden Show isn’t limited to just those subjects. Vendors at the booths that will line the RBB at the fairgrounds the first weekend of April sell and specialize in a variety of goods and services.

As of Monday morning, 39 vendors had confirmed attendance, seven more were in the process, and booth space was still available. People interested in vending at the show may call 906-786-6013 or email esky.homeandgarden@gmail.com for more information.

So far, 10 new vendors who have never participated in the show before have signed up, Markwell reported.

The show is free to attend. The pancake meal is free for children five and under, $5 for kids aged six through 12, and $9 for persons 13 and older.