It’s not just about football anymore.

While the “star” attraction at Pittsburg on July 31st will be the 37th Annual All-Star football game featuring many of the state’s top players, the Kansas Shrine Bowl will offer several activities on game day, designed to entertain thousands of fans and local Pittsburg residents.

Chief among these will be the annual Shrine Bowl parade, which will begin at 10 am through downtown Pittsburg. It’s the largest annual Shrine parade in Kansas, featuring Shine parade units from across the Sunflower State. The parade will also include members of Shrine clown units, Shrine dignitaries, and the players, coaches, managers, trainers, and cheerleaders participating in this year’s game, along with 60 high school cross-country runners who will compete prior to the game.

Mike Cook is a Pittsburg area Shriner who is coordinating two of the Shrine Bowl’s major events—the annual Shine Bowl banquet, traditionally held on the Friday night before the game, and the Shrine Bowl Parade. He says the biggest job is getting everyone organized before the 10 a.m. event begins. “The main thing is to get them parked in the right place so we can get them in line”, he says. “The City of Pittsburg Police Department will coordinate with us as to what time they’ll block off the streets, and we’ll have help from volunteers from Pittsburg. Once the parade starts, it flows pretty smoothly.”

Shrine parade units are well-known for their entertaining entries, which include miniature motorcycles, tiny cars, keystone cops, and even small combines. Each of the 5 Kansas Shrine Temples will be represented in the parade.

One of the unknowns is the number of Shrine Units that will come. Cook says the Mirza Temple, located in Pittsburg, will have the most, simply because the units are located there. “But units from Topeka, Kansas City, Wichita, and Salina will also bring quite a few”, he says. “You never know how many will come and exactly what they’re going to be, but we’re hoping for a 100 units or more for this year’s parade.”

After the parade, fans attending the Shrine Bowl can enjoy many of the attractions in and around Pittsburg and Crawford County, including Crawford State Park, several military memorials, a classic car museum, and Big Brutus, the largest electric shovel ever manufactured in the U.S. There will also be a fashion show, to be held Saturday at Pittsburg’s Meadowbrook Mall at 1:30. The day will conclude with the “main event”, the Shrine Bowl football game, featuring 68 of the state’s best graduated players, selected from 68 high schools in an East vs. West matchup. Cook says the parking lot at the stadium will open at 3pm for those who wish to tailgate prior to kickoff. Fans can bring their own food, or purchase it outside the stadium. “Our Mirza chefs will be there cooking hamburgers and hot dogs”, says Cook. “Pittsburg State has a wonderful place to tailgate. It will be quite a festive place.”

Fans attending the game will also be treated to the final moments of the All-Star Cross Country meet, which will end on the stadium track, music by the 200-piece All-State Masonic Band, and parachutists from SKYDIVE Kansas in Osage City. A military flyover is planned, and there will be a postgame fireworks show.

The Kansas Shrine Bowl All-Star Football Game is an annual event featuring two football teams composed of 68 of the best graduated high school players from the East and West. Kickoff for this year's game at Carnie Smith Stadium in Pittsburg is scheduled for 7 PM on Saturday, July 31. Proceeds from all Shrine Bowl events support the Shriners Hospitals for Children, a network of 22 hospitals that provide expert, no-cost orthopedic, burn, and spinal care to children under 18. Children are admitted free to Shriners Hospitals for Children without regard for race, religion, nationality, creed, or relationship to a Shriner.

Advance reserved chair back tickets for the game are $20.00. Adult general admission tickets are $12.00 in advance. Student tickets (K-12) are $6.00 in advance. Game day tickets, if available, are $1 more at the gate. Additional information and tickets can be purchased through the Shrine Bowl office by calling 1-800-530-5524. The Shrine Bowl web site address is ksshrine.com and the e-mail address is ksshrine@kansas.com. Online ticket orders are located at http://www.pittstate.edu/office/tickets/athletics/index.dot