CANTON, OH (July 23, 2009) - Canton Regional Chamber of Commerce Pro Football
Hall of Fame Enshrinement Festival Timken Grand Parade will be held on Saturday, Aug. 8, beginning at 8 a.m. The first grand parade was held in 1963, and it has become one of the largest of the 15 events over a 10-day period celebrating the induction of the newest Class of Enshrinees into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
This year's celebration will include many returning Hall of Famers, who will ride in the parade, along with the 2009 Class of Enshrinees or their representatives including Bob Hayes, Randall McDaniel, Bruce Smith, Derrick Thomas, Ralph Wilson, Jr., and Rod Woodson. Parade viewers will be treated to the sights and sounds of 12 giant helium balloons, 22 marching and military bands, 11 floats, and 27 specialty units, as well as antique vehicles, animal units, and much, much more.
The growth of the Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement Festival over the years is the result of extraordinary support from entities such as The Timken Company, which this year marks its fourth consecutive year as title sponsor of the parade.
Specialty units sure to thrill the spectators are the Fred Hill Briefcase Brigade, giant walking flag, Ziggy helium balloon with creator Tom Wilson, Jr., and two units from Dayton, Ohio, including the Cowgirl Express Rodeo Drill Team, and the 100 youngsters comprising the Invincible Regulating Striders Marching Ensemble.
The Timken Grand Parade has grown to national proportions and media exposure and will be nationally televised again this year. The broadcast and syndication is coordinated by IMS Productions of Indianapolis, and local viewers as well as those throughout all of Ohio will have the opportunity to see the parade via Fox Sports Net Ohio at 7 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 9, following the Cincinnati Reds baseball game.
Dan Dierdorf, Canton native and 1996 inductee into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, and Wilma Smith, news anchor on WJW FOX 8, will serve as commentators for the parade. Tony Rizzo, WJW FOX 8 sportscaster will be the "man-on-the-street" for interviews with the 2009 Class of Enshrinees and many of the returning Hall of Famers.
In order to maintain safety and assure the enjoyment of participants, the following shall apply and will be strictly enforced by parade marshals and safety officials:
- • Spectators are absolutely prohibited from coming onto the street and/or approaching any of the units for photographs, autographs or any other reason.
- • Likewise, parade participants are prohibited from approaching spectators and/or throwing anything into the crowd.
- • The Enshrinement Festival "Policy on Politics" prohibits distribution of political information and/or materials within the event boundaries.
- • All vendors (even if licensed by the City, County and/or State) are prohibited from selling on the parade route; any vendor sales or solicitation for sales must occur outside of the event boundaries/barricades.
Parade units step off at Sixth St. and Cleveland Ave. SW and move north to 25th St. NW, where they will begin to disband. For Enshrinement Festival and football fans wanting to see the parade live, great reserved chair and bleacher seats are still available for only $8.50 by calling the Chamber at (330) 458-2088 or stopping in at 222 Market Ave. N from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. weekdays.
For complete Enshrinement Festival information visit www.profootballhofef.com.
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