The Budweiser Clydesdales are coming back to Annapolis to lead the Military Bowl Parade, continuing what organizers describe as an annual tradition tied to the city's biggest college football showcase. The 2026 Freedom Mortgage Military Bowl kicks off at 2 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 28, at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium, pitting a team from the Atlantic Coast Conference against one from the American Conference. Tickets are already on sale, with the parade and a tailgate festival rounding out a full day of pregame activity in Maryland's capital city.
According to militarybowl.org, the game will be televised on ESPN, with kickoff set for 2 p.m. Eastern. Last year's matchup saw East Carolina defeat Pitt 23-17, per the same source, though the specific teams facing off in this year's bowl have not yet been confirmed. Proceeds from the bowl benefit Patriot Point, the Military Bowl Foundation's 294-acre retreat for wounded, ill and injured service members, their families and caregivers, according to the organization.
Tickets for the 2026 Freedom Mortgage Military Bowl start at $50 and are available through MilitaryBowl.org, as reported by Eye On Annapolis. The outlet also notes that a Military Bowl Tailgate Festival will begin at 10 a.m. in the stadium parking lot, featuring military displays, games and music, with food and beverages available for purchase.
The Clydesdales' Annual Return
The Budweiser Clydesdales will continue their annual tradition of headlining the Military Bowl Parade. The pairing of the famous horse team with the bowl game has become a fixture of the pregame buildup in Annapolis.
Last year's parade drew five Medal of Honor recipients who served in Vietnam, according to The Baltimore Banner. That same account describes the Clydesdales as a beloved corporate promotion and a highlight of the procession each year. Construction at City Dock had forced organizers to shift the 2025 parade's starting point to Amos Garrett Boulevard, with the route running down West Street to Church Circle before looping around Northwest Street and ending at St. John's Street, the Banner reported.
The horse team made an additional loop during that 2025 procession, per the same account. The crew that handles the Clydesdales and their 19th-century beer wagon typically sets up a corral the day before the parade and opens it for public tours, the Banner noted, giving spectators a chance to see the animals up close before they take to the streets.
Road Closures to Expect Downtown
Drivers in historic downtown Annapolis should prepare for temporary disruptions for the Sunday, Dec. 27 Miracle on West Street. Inner West Street and Church Circle will have temporary road closures and parking restrictions from 2:15 p.m. to 5:30 p.m., with drivers directed to follow marked detours to and from the historic downtown area.
The parade, tailgate crowds and game-day fans are part of the Military Bowl's festivities in downtown Annapolis. With the game still weeks away, organizers have time to finalize logistics, but the pieces already in place point to another full slate of festivities built around the horses, the stadium and the city's streets.
