The Moolah Shrine Circus Is Coming To Town, But Who Are The Shriners?

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Fez hats, tiny race cars and a circus are the first things that come to mind when you think of the Moolah Shriners (recently that cool bowling alley and theater in Midtown comes to mind, too). The Shriners are more than just a float in a parade and a circus act though. Did you know that their mission is to heal hundreds of children each year in their hospitals, for free?

The Moolah Shriners are a fraternal organization that spans the country. Doug Bachman, a St. Louis Shriner on the Board of Governors for the Shriners Hospital, told us that the Shriners are a fraternal organization similar to what you see on college campuses but just a little older. Like a college fraternity the Shriners have their share of Shriners only ceremonies, which contributes to some of the secretive aura of the group. Like a typical college Greek organization they also have tons of committees within the group that the members can participate in, including their famous mini indy car patrol (called the Gateway 500) that helps promote the organization, a drum and bugle corps that marches in parades and guides that provide the manpower at the Shrine functions, just to name a few.

This year's Moolah Shrine Circus is almost here. The St. Charles Family Arena will be transformed into the big top March 26 through 29 for the organization's biggest annual fundraiser. We had a chance to talk to the Moolah Shriners about their mission and the circus, and we even got to take one of the mini indy cars for a spin. To learn more about the Shriner's mission to help kids and to check out ToastedRav's peek behind the fez (and in the go-kart) check out the Featured Video tab.

You can buy tickets for the circus by going to www.StlShrineCircus.com; tickets start at $12 for general admission for the performance and go to $35 for Executive V.I.P. passes. There will be eight performances, including a special show for the hearing impaired on March 29 at 1:30pm, so you have plenty of chances to catch all of the trapeze artists, clowns and tigers and support a great cause.

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