Published:
CANTON, OH (July 29, 2011) – The Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement Festival department of the Canton Regional Chamber of Commerce is responsible for planning and staging the Timken Grand Parade in a cooperative effort with the City of Canton. It is the desire of all parties to maintain a safe event by not permitting any activities that could pose a risk or enhance the chance of injury to any parade participants and/or spectators. Therefore, the following shall apply to all entities that are not sanctioned by the Enshrinement Festival as sponsors and/or official partners: Merchandise vendors:
  • * All vendors (even if licensed by the City, County and/or State) are prohibited from selling anywhere on the route.
  • * Any vendor sales or solicitation for sales must occur outside of the barricades.
Distributors of information/materials:
  • * Because of the confined space and safety concerns in the areas where ticket holder seats are located, distribution of information and/or materials is prohibited south of 12th Street North.
  • * If entities choose to distribute information and/or materials, such distribution will be permitted only north of 12th Street North and only behind the spectators.
  • * Any such distribution north of 12th Street North must be done in an orderly, non-confrontational manner so as not to cause congestion and/or infringe on people’s rights to view the parade without interruption.
  • * Information/materials deemed by Enshrinement Festival to be controversial and/or political in nature are prohibited.
Spectators and participants:
  • * Spectators are absolutely prohibited from coming onto the street and/or approaching any of the units for photographs, autographs, or any other reason.
  • * Parade participants are prohibited from approaching spectators and/or throwing anything into the crowd.
The Canton Regional Chamber of Commerce also reminds all political candidates and those who support or oppose political and/or ballot issues that the Canton Regional Chamber of Commerce’s Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement Festival “Policy on Politics” prohibits distribution of political information and/or materials within the event boundaries. The policy has been in place since 1993, and specifically states the following:
  • * All political signs, brochures or any other political materials at any Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement Festival event are prohibited.
  • * No person presently holding and/or running for political office shall be permitted to participate in or be introduced at Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement Festival events except as follows:
    • * The President and/or Vice-President of the United States, the Governor of the State of Ohio, and the Mayor of the City of Canton shall be welcome.
    • * A volunteer working member of a Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement Festival Committee may participate but may not be introduced except in his or her official Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement Festival committee capacity.
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