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Two men change the top of a yardage marker Saturday, Dec. 28, 2024, to display the Military Bowl logo before kickoff of the matchup between East Carolina and North Carolina State at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium in Annapolis, Md. (Eric Kayne/Stars and Stripes)
(Tribune News Service) — The Military Bowl returns to Annapolis, Md., on Saturday along with a city parade Friday, featuring Budweiser Clydesdale horses, Medal of Honor recipients, college marching bands and more.
The game is set for 11 a.m. Saturday. This year, the East Carolina University Pirates will be the home team, and the University of Pittsburgh Panthers will be the away team.
“From the excitement of kickoff to the beloved Clydesdales, we’re proud to welcome visitors and residents to celebrate together in Maryland’s historic capital city,” Mayor Jared Littmann said in a news release.
The annual postseason college football game began in 2008 and was hosted at Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium in Washington, D.C. When the venue fell into disrepair, organizers moved the event to the 34,000-seat Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium in Annapolis starting in 2013.
Tickets are still available starting at $38 for general admission at tixr.com/groups/militarybowl.
The Military Bowl Official Tailgate Festival is free and takes place in the parking lot outside Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium from 8 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. before the game.
Additionally, Armadillos, Buddy’s Crabs & Ribs, Middleton Tavern and Stan & Joe’s will offer beer specials the night before the game.
The Go Bowling Military Bowl Parade is free and begins at 2:30 p.m. Friday. The route starts at Amos Garrett Boulevard on West Street, continues toward Church Circle, then Northwest Street and Calvert Street, and concludes on St. John’s Street.
The parade features Medal of Honor recipients, college marching bands, civic organizations, military-themed groups, color guards, youth clubs and the Budweiser Clydesdales, a group of horses used for promotions and commercials by the Anheuser-Busch Brewing Co. The horses are all at least 6 feet tall and weigh between 1,800 and 2,300 pounds.
Annapolis Police will conduct rolling road closures as the parade moves through downtown, and there will be parking restrictions along the route.
The Budweiser Clydesdales will make an additional loop to provide extra opportunities to see the horses up close.
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