Get ready to strap on your hiking boots and slather on the sunscreen, folks, because the City of Irvine is throwing a bash for the great outdoors that's shaping up to be a breath of fresh air in the ol' social calendar. As reported by the City of Irvine, the open space fiesta is set for Saturday, April 13, kickstarting at 9 a.m. with a hearty, free pancake breakfast at the Quail Hill Trailhead, because let's face it, nothing says 'rise and shine' like syrup-drenched pancakes.

Sure, you might not think of Irvine as the wild heart of California, but the local open spaces have bragging rights as some of the best in the state. The city wants you to see why—so post-breakfast, when the sun's high and the birds are chirping, the trailhead will be bustling with family-friendly fun, booths, and activities. For the cherry on top, a 1.8-mile guided hike around Quail Hill Loop Trail, all starting at 10:30 a.m. just make sure those toes are snug in some comfortably closed shoes, nobody wants a stubbed toe to ruin the party.

According to a recent announcement, this isn't just about today's trot around the trail—it's a teaser of "exciting new outdoor opportunities on the way" for 2024 and beyond, so while you're sipping on your OJ and chowing down breakfast with fellow trailblazers, local leaders will spill the beans with some brief remarks on what's ahead for Irvine's leafy expanses.

Here's the skinny: Quail Hill Trailhead at 34 Shady Canyon Drive is your destination and arriving fashionably late means missing out on pancakes, so set those alarms and pack the kids in the car—this open space celebration is shaping up to be about more than just the chirps and rustling leaves, it's a full-on testament to what's coming up in Irvine's outdoor scene and if you ask me, it's worth lacing up for.