By Kathy Chouteau
A swell of howdies, hoots and a-hollerings will emanate from the Red Oak Victory Sunday, July 13 from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in Richmond, when the historic ship hosts its “Western Swing Pancake Breakfast.”
The Pancake Breakfast is one of the best deals in town, with freshly made pancakes, sausage, bacon, scrambled eggs, and apple slices with coffee and orange juice from the ship’s galley for $20 for adults and $5 for children 8 and under (plus minor ticketing fees). Adults can also order mimosas for an extra fee—all while taking in beautiful bay views from the ship’s spot on the Richmond waterfront.
Providing the day’s entertainment will be a fitting taste of the past, courtesy of The Aaron Burnham Trio and their Western Swing music, a musical style popular during the Red Oak Victory’s service lifetime. Visitors are encouraged to get into the vintage spirit of the day by donning their best 1940s-50s cowboy outfits and showing them off for the ship’s Western Swing Costume Contest.
“We’ve always been partial to swing because it represents the era in which our ship was built and served,” said the Red Oak Victory’s Director of Marketing Frederick Klink, who has been volunteering his services for the ship for nine years. He added that “Western music was popular throughout that time and many classic American tunes come from that genre.”
Offering an enthusiastic “Yippee-ay-oh,” Klink noted that Western style is making a comeback—a trend the ship’s crew members picked up from their involvement in the swing dancing community.
Also adding to the experience that Sunday will be a limited number of ship tours that can be purchased at a discount. Docent-led and self-paced tours with audio narration are available, treating visitors to a singular view of the last remaining WWII-era ship built in the Kaiser-Richmond shipyards during World War II by Rosie the Riveters and their fellow Home Front workers.
When asked what makes the ship’s Pancake Breakfasts a can’t-miss experience, Klink said that “The breakfasts represent so many things rolled into one,” ranging from the ship’s historical atmosphere to the great views, to the live Bay Area musicians and the great food cooked in and served from a real WWII ship’s galley and enjoyed on the deck. “Oh, and let’s not forget that these events are fundraisers for the maintenance and restoration of the Red Oak Victory. So you can have a fun time while also supporting a good cause.”
The Western Swing Pancake Breakfast is one of six breakfasts the Red Oak Victory is hosting during the summer and fall of 2025. While the breakfasts end at 12:30 p.m., the ship remains open for visitors until 4 p.m.
Find the Red Oak Victory at 1337 Canal Blvd., Berth 5, in Richmond. Purchase tickets to the “Western Swing Pancake Breakfast” here.