Giant helium balloons and parade floats bring smiles.
It's difficult not to grin when a super-sized Oscar the Grouch or beaver glide by. Or when a float filled with waving people passes.
The Canton Regional Chamber of Commerce, which organizes the annual Canton Repository Grand Parade, is well aware of that fact.
"In the last few years, we've focused on bringing back the grandeur of the parade," said Melissa Coultas, chamber vice president of development and partnership relations.
That means making sure the parade, which kicks off Saturday morning, is filled with crowd-pleasing highlights. There will be a dozen floats and 10 balloons participating this year.
The 61st annual parade also will showcase the Class of 2024 enshrinees and returning Hall of Famers, marching bands, antique vehicles, specialty units, celebrities and mascots.
The paradehas long been a Canton tradition, with some people campingout along the route overnightto assure a premium viewing spot the next morning.
What to know:2024 Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement Festival guide
Here's everything you need to know to get you excited about this year's parade:
When is the Canton Repository Grand Parade?
The parade runsfrom 8 to 10:30a.m. Saturday.
What is the Canton Repository Grand Parade route?
The parade startsin downtown Canton along Cleveland Avenue at approximately Fifth Street SW and travelsnorth on Cleveland Avenue to 25thStreet NW, where the parade begins to disband.
Who are the Pro Football Hall of Fame enshrinees participating?
The Class of 2024 enshrinees are:
- Dwight Freeney, a defensive end/outside linebacker who played the majority of his career with the Indianapolis Colts
- Steve McMichael, a defensive tackle/nose tackle who played the majority of his carer with the Chicago Bears
- Randy Gradishar, a linebacker who played with the Denver Broncos
- Devin Hester, a punt returner/kick returner/wide receiver who played the majority of his career with the Chicago Bears
- Patrick Willis, a linebacker who played with the San Francisco 49ers
- Julius Peppers, a defensive end who played the majority of his career with the Carolina Panthers
- Andre Johnson, a wide receiver who played the majority of his career with the Houston Texans
Who is the grand marshal of the Canton Repository Grand Parade?
Early on — as in ages ago — the parade featured a grand marshal but that tradition faded away.
But the chamber brought the title back last year, partnering with the Aultman Women's Board's Angel Auction to auction off the role. Last year, Jerry Schroer of The Schroer Group was the winning bidder.
This year, the grand marshal is Zerina Brown, a 9-year-old who goes to school at St. Paul Catholic School in North Canton.
How many local high school marching bands are in the parade?
Bulldogs, Tigers and Mustangs, oh my.
The parade is packed with local high school bands, including those from Canton McKinley, Massillon and Lake. Overall, there are 16 high school bands participating (listed in order of appearance):
- Lake
- Northwest
- Champion
- East Canton
- Alliance
- North Canton Hoover
- Massillon
- Canton South
- Maple Heights
- Shaw
- Canton McKinley
- Jackson Local
- Tuslaw
- Perry Local
- GlenOak
- Sandy Valley
What's the 2024 Canton Repository Grand Parade lineup?
Here's the parade lineup, which is subject to change:
- Canton Police Department
- U.S. Army Color Guard, Canton Army Recruiting Station, sponsored by Huntington Bank
- Football player balloon, sponsored by The Canton Repository
- Lake High School Blue Streak Marching Band
- The Walking Flag, sponsored by Joseph A. Jeffries Co.
- 2024 Pro Football Hall of Fame enshrinee Dwight Freeney
- Dwight Freeney family
- Ultimate Fans: Indianapolis Colts
- Northwest High School Marching Band
- Mix 94.1 Java Joel and Matt Fantone
- 1480 WHBC Kenny and JT
- 1928 Ford, 1930 Ford, 1932 Plymouth, 1934 Ford
- 2024 Pro Football Hall of Fame enshrinee Devin Hester
- Devin Hester family
- Ultimate Fans: Chicago Bears
- Piggy Bank balloon, sponsored by Synchrony
- Freedom float, sponsored by Newcomers Chapel of Pigeon Run
- Army truck, sponsored by Newcomers Chapel of Pigeon Run
- Cliff Harris; Elvin Bethea, Joe DeLamielleure, James Lofton (with wife, Beverly); Robert Brazile; Deborah Little (wife of Floyd Little); Steve Atwater (with wife, Letha); Issac Bruce; Steve Hutchison; 10th Anniversary Walter Jones
- 1928 Ford, 1928 Ford, 1929 Ford, 1931 Ford, 1931 Ford
- MAPS Air Museum (World War II Jeep with Iwo Jima display; Army truck; Vietnam Jeep ambulance; tug pulling Cobra helicopter; M37 Army truck; Air Force MP Jeep)
- Champion High School Marching Band
- 2024 Pro Football Hall of Fame enshrinee Randy Gradishar
- Randy Gradishar family
- Ultimate Fans: Denver Broncos
- Matt Spatz and Amanda, 97.5 WONE
- The Big Idaho Potato Truck sponsored by The Big Idaho Potato Tour
- East Canton Hornet Marching Band
- Tolin Designs float
- The Magical Train, sponsored by Wishes Can Happen
- Texans Cheerleaders and TORO the mascot
- Houston Texans float
- 2024 Pro Football Hall of Fame enshrinee Andre Johnson
- Andre Johnson family
- Ultimate Fans: Houston Texans
- Pigskin, Visit Canton
- Stark County Sheriff's Office Mounted Unit
- Freer Buckaroo Band
- 2024 Pro Football Hall of Fame enshrinee Steve McMichael represented by presenter Jarrett Payton
- Steve McMichael's presenter family
- Ultimate Fans: Chicago Bears
- Oscar the Grouch balloon, sponsored by Kimble Recycling & Disposal
- 1951 Mack firetruck; 1962 Diamond pumper
- Carolina Panthers cheerleaders, drumline, Sir Purr Cat Cruiser
- 2024 Pro Football Hall of Fame enshrinee Julius Peppers
- Julius Peppers family
- Ultimate Fans: Carolina Panthers
- Stark County Humane Society, sponsored by Ziegler Tire
- Alliance Aviator Band
- 2024 Pro Football Hall of Fame enshrinee Patrick Willis
- Patrick Willis family
- Ultimate Fans: San Francisco 49ers
- Angel balloon, sponsored by Aultman Health Foundation
- North Canton Hoover High School Marching Band
- Juggler Dave and Friends with Cincinnati Circus, sponsored by Giant Eagle
- Celebrating 60 Years, sponsored by Ziegler Bolt & Nut House
- Goldy the G.O.A.T
- Massillon Tiger Swing Band
- Obie the Tiger
- T-Rex balloon, sponsored by Solmet Group
- Gigi's Playhouse walkers, sponsored by Gigi's Playhouse
- Divine Nine
- Kim Davenport, 2024 general chair, Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement Festival
- Grand Parade marshal Zerina Brown
- EN-RICH-MENT
- The Ohio Lottery float, sponsored by The Ohio Lottery Commission
- Beaver balloon and antique truck, sponsored by The Beaver Companies
- Ali Lumin, ACBC
- Canton South Wildcat Marching Band
- Bobby Bell; Dan Fouts; Earl Campbell; Harry Carson; Warren Moon; Di Wright (wife of Rayfield Wright); Dave Casper; Monique Brown (wife of Jim Brown), Morten Anderson; 20th Anniversary Carl Eller
- Q92 Crew, sponsored by Hills International Trucks
- Maple Heights Mustangs Marching Band
- Tony Dungy, Tara Greene (wife of Kevin Greene); Mike Haynes; Ken Houston; Steve Young; Charlie Joiner, Steve Largent; Curtis Martin; Latresa Doleman (wife of Chris Doleman); 25th Anniversary Tom Mack
- 1915 Ford, 1920 Ford, 1927 Ford, 1955 Chevy
- Shaw High School Mighty Marching Cardinal Band
- Stephanie Haney and Lindsay Buckingham, 3News WKYC
- Canal Fulton mini boat and horses, sponsored by City of Canal Fulton
- Darrell Green; Gary Zimmerman; Peyton Manning; Drew Pearson; Bill Polian; Ron Wolf, Dave Robinson; Linda Brown (wife of Roosevelt Brown); Georgia Buchanan (wife of Buck Buchanan); 30th Anniversary Jackie Smith, Tony Dorsett
- Abby Cadabby balloon, sponsored by Akron Children's Hospital
- Jeff Burner, 2024 chairman, Canton Repository Grand Parade
- Sugardale/Freshmark mascots and van, sponsored by Sugardale/Freshmark
- Canton McKinley High School Marching Band
- Canton Mayor William V. Sherer II
- 12th Man, sponsored by Akron Auto Auction
- Dwight Stephenson; Mike Singletary; Bruce Smith; Roger Wehrli; Ron Yary; Bryant Young; Melanie Mills (wife of Sam Mills); Elizabeth Jones (wife of Deacon Jones); Willie Lanier Sr.
- Louisville Constitution ambassadors, sponsored by Louisville Constitution Days
- K1 Speed Go Karts, sponsored by K1 Speed of Canton
- South Shore Drill Team, sponsored by Marathon Petroleum of Canton
- 1930 Ford, 1937 Chevy, 1950 Cadillac, 1964 Chevy
- NFL Football balloon, sponsored by Midwest Industrial Supply
- 1933 Chrysler, 1957 Ford, 1957 Jeep, 1969 Dodge, 1972 Ford, 2016 Dodge, sponsored by Wally Armour
- Jackson High School Marching Band
- Flags of Freedom
- Medal of Honor Recipient Lt. Michael Thornton
- Medal of Honor Recipient Master Sgt. Gary Littrell
- Medal of Honor Recipient Master Sgt. Leroy Petry
- Dr. Tim Novelli, The Patriot Project
- Tuslaw High School Marching Band
- Brad Belden, chairman of the board, Canton Regional Chamber of Commerce
- Summit Academy Schools float, sponsored by Summit Academy Schools
- Perry High School Marching Band
- Hilscher-Clarke float, sponsored by Hilscher-Clarke
- FeLeap the Frog, Stark Parks
- 1930 Ford, 1931 Ford, 1931 Ford, 1931 Ford
- Shrek balloon, sponsored by Liberty HealthShare
- GlenOak High School Marching Band
- Ag-Pro tractors, sponsored by Ag-Pro
- Max & Ruby balloon, sponsored by Shearer's Foods
- Sandy Valley Cardinal Marching Band
- Canton Fire Department
