The state's best high school football players are in Casper this week for Saturday night's 35th annual Shrine Bowl All-Star Football Game. There are plenty of activities before kickoff that Casper families can enjoy.

On Friday, the South team will have team pictures taken at 9 a.m., at NCHS Stadium, followed by the North team pictures at 10 a.m. Families and fans are welcome on the field.

A free mini football camp for boys and girls who will be fifth- or sixth-graders in the fall will be offered by the Shrine players at 10:45 a.m., with free lunch provided at noon. The lunch is provided by Shrine Bowl supporters Mark and Tami Munsell of Casper.

On Saturday morning, Casper's City Park, sandwiched between Center and Wolcott streets and Seventh and Ninth streets, becomes the temporary center of the universe, with dogs on leashes and little kids roaming the grassy park as parents line up for pancakes.

A free pancake breakfast welcomes Shrine Bowl fans, as well as fans and contestants of the CNFR, from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m., in front of the Casper Elks Lodge, Seventh and Center streets facing City Park. The breakfast is served by the Casper Kiwanis Club and provided by the College National Finals Rodeo Committee.

The annual Shrine Bowl parade starts at 10:30 a.m., and runs from Ninth and Center north on Center Street to the intersection of Fifth and Center, then east one block to Wolcott and south on Wolcott from Fifth to Ninth street.

Parade goers should note this is a different route from the summer Central Wyoming Fair Parade.

The stars of the parade are the team's players who walk the route, accompanied by Shrine entertainment units from throughout the region on their requisite funny modes of transportation. Clowns will be in abundance, as well.

Families and football fans will want to gather early at NCHS Stadium for a tailgate party beginning at 4 p.m. Food and nonalcoholic beverages will be for sale with all of the proceeds donated to the Shrine Bowl. Saturday's tailgate is also provided by Mark and Tami Munsell.

Pregame festivities, including introduction of every player with his parents, begin at 6:15 p.m., with kickoff at 7 p.m. Tickets are available at the gate for $5 each.

Last year's Shrine Bowl was nearly a sellout and raised $25,000 for the Shrine Intermountain Hospital in Salt Lake City.

Community News editor Sally Ann Shurmur can be reached at (307) 266-0520; sallyann.shurmur@trib.com or see her profile and blog at my.trib.com/Sal/blog

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Continued Shrine Bowl Week coverage in Sports/Page D1