With several shops, restaurants and a friendly atmosphere, downtown Kearney is the ideal place for the Nebraska Shrine Bowl Parade before the football game. Known as the historical heartbeat of the community, the downtown area offers a great setting with over 180 businesses.

The history of downtown Kearney spans multiple generations. Many shops and restaurants have been in business for decades. The Museum of Nebraska Art building, constructed originally as the Kearney Post Office in 1911, is just one example of the nostalgic charm of the area, with large columns and vintage architecture. Come and check out the history of downtown at the Shrine Bowl Parade before the big game.

The parade will begin at 10 a.m. June 1 at the corner of Railroad Street and Central Avenue, known as “the bricks” because of the classic brick road that runs through the area. The parade route will continue to First Street from Central Avenue, on to 24th Street, ending back at Railroad Street. Bring your family to enjoy the music of the All-Star Masonic Marching Band, as well as parade units from all three Nebraska Shrine Temples, including Tangier, Tehama and Sesostoris.

The 55th Annual Shrine Bowl Game will be played at 2 p.m. at Ron & Carol Cope Stadium at Foster Field in Kearney. Tickets will be $7 for students, $12 for general admission and can be purchased through the ‘Tickets’ tab.

The big game is just around the corner, and, for the 55th time, the Shrine Bowl will bring together the best athletes that Nebraska has to offer. For the players, however, the hype is just a part of something far bigger. Every day, more and more children are brought to hospitals for any number of cases, and unfortunately, many of these kids are turned away due to a lack of specialized equipment or financial support.

At Shriners it’s different. All 22 Shriners Hospitals across North America were constructed with one mission: to ensure the highest quality care possible to children in a compassionate, family-centered environment. For decades, Shriners has turned heartbreaking stories into heartwarming successes. Thousands of inspirational patients have come through the doors of Shriners and thousands have left with a second chance at a normal childhood, one that before coming to Shriners, didn’t exist.

It’s for these kids that the Shrine Bowl exists, and it’s these kids who turn an all-star football game in Nebraska into a life-changing experience. Each year before the game, our players visit one of the Shriners Hospital locations to meet and play with some of the young patients there and are overwhelmed by the open love and gratitude that they receive. For kids faced with a serious injury or illness, our players are heroes. When they take the field this June, it won’t be glory or winning that will be on their minds. It will be the kids who poured them imaginary tea and introduced them to all of their stuffed animal friends.

“Strong legs run so that the weak may walk.” This motto has guided the Shrine Bowl since before the game was formed, but you don’t have to be on the field to help change a child’s life for the better. Each game ticket helps to support Shriners Hospital for Children in their mission and every donation, no matter how small, is met with the same love and gratitude from all of the young patients who have a better shot at a normal childhood after the care from Shriners.

To support Shriners Hospital and the amazing work that they do, tickets are available on our Tickets page.

For more information on how you can help, go to the Shriner’s Hospital website.

LINCOLN, NEB. – March 26, 2013 – The 70 players who will play in the 55th annual Shrine Bowl Classic were announced at a press conference on Monday, Feb. 25th. Below is the list of players who will participate in the game on June 1, 2:00 p.m. at the Ron and Carol Cope Stadium at University of Nebraska—Kearney’s Foster Field.

North team coach: Mike Johnson from Waverly High School
South team coach: Bill Carlin from Adams Central in Hastings

Assistant coaches:
Chris Nizzi from Omaha Creighton Prep
Joe Benson from Scottsbluff
Steve Gubbels from Arlington
John Bacus from Elkhorn
Seth Styskal from Waverly
Craig Schnitzler from Kenesaw
Dave Colling from Kearney Catholic
Brett Froendt from Omaha Westside
Shawn Mulligan from Adams Central
David Leader from Lincoln Southeast

South team players:
From the Lincoln Area:
Devin Washington from Lincoln Southeast High School
Zach Decker from Beatrice High School
Najee Jackson from Lincoln Southeast High School
Josh Banderas from Lincoln Southwest High School
Jon Pynes from Lincoln Pius X High School
Colton Steer from Crete High School
Terrill Murray from Norris High School

From the Omaha Metro Area:
Tra-Deon Hollins from Omaha Central High School
Spencer Lewis from Papillion LaVista High School
Quentin Williams from Millard South High School
Turner Gaines from Omaha Burke High School
Zach Stovall from Bellvue East High School
Ryan McKeever from Omaha Skutt High School
RJ Jones from Omaha Central High School
Joe Contreras from Omaha Burke High School
Harrison Jordan from Omaha Westside High School
Chad Bertagni from Omaha Gross Catholic High School
Cory Curfman from Omaha Westside High School
Travis Maddux from Plattsmouth High School
Zac Oscila from Bellvue West High School
Mark Nellis from Millard West High School
Ryan Huff from Ralston High School
Bryce Sosnowski from Millard South High School

From the Central Nebraska Area:
Alex Lowe from Kearney Catholic High School
David Squires from Kearney Catholic High School
Luke McNitt from Kearney High School
Jackson Gannon from Kearney High School
Jake Fowler from Adams Central High School
Jesse Ackerman from Adams Central High School
Alex Hunt from Aurora High School
Ehren Schwarz from Aurora High School
Tyler Schnitzler from Kenesaw High School

From the Western Nebraska Area:
Vinney Ross from Perkins County High School
Mitch Collicott from McCook High School

North team players:

From the Lincoln Area:
Maurice Moore from Lincoln North Star High School
Brandon Wallman from Lincoln Northeast High School
Marquis Kirklin from Lincoln High School
Eddie Key from Lincoln North Star High School
Erik Evans from Waverly High School
Tyler Kavan from Wahoo High School

From the Omaha Metro Area:
Isaac Aakre from Millard North High School
Zach Martin from Omaha North High School
Colin Mertlik from Blair High School
Nick Deluca from Millard North High School
Jesse O’Dell from Elkhorn High School
Lee Carhart from Creighton Prep High School
Casey Sayles Omaha North High School
Luke Drazic from Elkhorn South High School
Cal Griencewic from Elkhorn South High School
Sam Stoltenberg from Creighton Prep High School

From the Central Nebraska Area:
Luke Wright from North Platte High School
Jacob Cornelius from Grand Island High School
Riley Shoemaker from Grand Island Central Catholic High School

From the Western Part of Nebraska:
Matt Klein from Scottsbluff High School
Luke Worden from Scottsbluff High School
Trent Osnes from Valentine High School

From the North Central and North Eastern Nebraska areas:
Nathan Thege from Columbus Lakeview High School
Landon Stouffer from Aquinas Catholic High School
Jordan Bellar from Norfolk Catholic High School
Nate Meier from Pierce High School
Tanner Mazour from Boone Central High School
Nate Rogers from South Sioux City High School
Connor Ketter from Norfolk Catholic High School
Max Miriovsky from Aquinas Catholic High School
Nathan Bazata from Howells High School
Kyle Bonk from Columbus Scotus High School
Beau Bremer from Boone Central High School
Devin Hernandez-Cronk from Ord High School
Aaron Hanlin from Pierce High School

In 1870, a group of Masons gathered frequently for lunch at the Knickerbocker Cottage on Sixth Avenue in New York City. The group, including Walter M. Fleming, M.D., talked about starting a new fraternity for Masons – one centered on fun and fellowship more than rituals. Walter Fleming drafted the ritual, designed the emblem and costumes, formulated a salutation, and declared that members would wear the red fez, which has become a recognizable symbol of the organization.

The Shriners International Fraternity values fun, fellowship and the Masonic principles of brotherly love, relief and truth. There are approximately 309,000 members in 195 temples (chapters) in the United States, Canada, Germany, Mexico, the Philippines, Puerto Rico and the Republic of Panama.

Temples hold events throughout the year ranging from large events such as the Shrine Circus to small events such as fish fries, concerts, car shows and fishing tournaments. Shriners promote fun with a purpose – supporting the important mission of Shriners Hospitals for Children.

Shriners Hospitals is a network of 22 non-profit hospitals across North America that treat children with orthopedic conditions, burns, spinal cord injuries and cleft lips and palates. Children receive all services in a family-centered environment, regardless of the patients’ ability to pay. Shriners hospitals also provide world-class research and educational opportunities for medical professionals. Visit Shriners Hospital for Children at www.shrinershospitalsforchildren.org for more information.

Tickets are now available through our Ticket Leap event page, with prices as follows:

$5 – Student Tickets
$10 – General Admission
$25 – Club Balcony
$50 – Platinum Indoor Club