CANTON – This year’s Community Parade, celebrating its 46th year and part of the 2026 Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement Festival, filled the downtown with sights and sounds Aug. 1. This is the first year the parade has moved to Saturday after traditionally being held on Sunday.
It was overcast and in the 70s. The rain held off except for a light drizzle. Families brought chairs and pets and hundreds lined the parade route.
Kathy Lindenberger, souvenir and event manager at Canton Regional Chamber of Commerce, said parade participants came from 17 surrounding cities.
“This parade is for the community, as we celebrate all organizations and groups that are happy to participate,” she said.
Steven and Kim Nolan of Cuyahoga County were among the spectators enjoying the celebration.
“We grew up in Stark County and still have family in the area,” Steven Nolan said. “This is always such a fun event – real people just having a great time celebrating community.”
Latisha Miller of Canton and her granddaughter, Ella, enthusiastically watched as the parade passed by. The previous weekend, they had enjoyed the Balloon Classic.
Parade participants marched, danced, walked and rode through downtown Canton. Canton police on motorcycles kicked off the parade, joined later by square dancers, cheer squads, dance groups, marching bands, swing bands and an assortment of community organizations.
Cheers erupted from the crowd as spectators spotted family members and friends and favorite floats passed by.
Bev Shaffer, Food & Drink reporter for The Canton Repository, can be reached at bshaffer@usatodayco.com or 330-580-8318.
This article originally appeared on The Repository: HOF Enshrinement Community Parade marches through Canton with bands
Reporting by Bev Shaffer, Canton Repository / The Repository
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By Bev Shaffer, Canton Repository | USA TODAY Network
