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CANTON ‒ The Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement Festival rolls around each year as predictably as the seasons.
Pillar events reliably return, including the Balloon Classic, Gold Jacket Dinner, Enshrinement Ceremony, Concert for Legends, and the Hall of Fame Game, which kicks off the NFL preseason.
"We are the beginning of football," said Jim Porter, CEO of the Pro Football Hall of Fame. "We're the beginning of the passion."
This year's enshrinement festival begins with the Community Parade on July 20, followed by the Balloon Classic on July 25-27.
Festival week begins with First Play on July 30, followed by the Hall of Fame Game July 31; Fashion Show Luncheon and Enshrinees' Gold Jacket Dinner, both on Aug. 1; Grand Parade and enshrinement ceremony, both on Aug. 2; and the Class of 2025 Unscripted & Tailgate and Concert for Legends, both Aug. 3. The final event will be Bluecoats − Innovations in Brass concert on Aug. 4 at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium.
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Despite so many tried-and-true events, Hall of Fame staff, the Canton Regional Chamber of Commerce and festival volunteers continually look for ways to improve the experience.
This year is no exception. Additions include Fan Fest, a four-day football-centric party on the Hall of Fame campus from July 31 to Aug. 3. Also being introduced is the Gold Jacket Classic, a one-day youth flag football tournament on July 31.
The Drone Light Show, part of the Balloon Classic, returns for a second year. Fan-friendly measures include free SARTA bus shuttles from the Stark County Fairgrounds to festival events.
A few surprises are also in store, including a big announcement at the Concert for Legends. And extra safety measures will be taken for the Grand Parade.
Here's your guide to what's new at the 2025 Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement Festival:
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Fan Fest is new this year
Fan Fest is an effort to get more local and regional residents engaged with enshrinement events.
The event features food trucks, live music, games, live national podcasts, football-related activities on the miniature field, and free photo opportunities with Hall of Fame enshrinees. Free Pro Football Hall of Fame gifts will be available in limited supply.
The hall is also providing 20,000 to 30,000 bottles of free water.
Fan Fest hours will be noon to 8 p.m. July 31; 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Aug 1; 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Aug. 2; and noon to 8 p.m. Aug. 3. Admission is free.
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Safety barriers on the Grand Parade route
Mayor William V. Sherer II and the Canton Police Department have decided to rent barricades to block off streets along the parade route as part of the security plan for the Certified Angus Beef Grand Parade.
Barriers "will guard against vehicle intrusion into the parade route," Police Chief John Gabbard said.
The city is contracting with Meridian for the barriers.
"Our goal is to enhance the security of all who attend the parade," Gabbard said. "The mayor's office, police department, fire department and all of our supporting partners are dedicated to providing a safe atmosphere for the public to enjoy all Canton events."
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Sherer said the barriers would be too expensive to buy. Renting them will cost less than $25,000, he said.
“What started the conversation is what happened in New Orleans,” Sherer said, referring to when a man drove a pickup along crowded Bourbon Street on Jan. 1, killing 14 people. “I got everybody together and said I would rather see us be proactive than reactive.”
Also known as Meridian Rapid Defense Group, the California-based company says it "provides not only a security solution but a safety solution for the ever-changing needs that arise to protect people, communities and places from hostile vehicles doing damage and harm."
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Hall of Famer Walk & Photo Op
The third annual Pro Football Hall of Famer Walk & Photo Op will have a new location.
Instead of strolling from the DoubleTree by Hilton to Centennial Plaza in downtown Canton, around 100 Hall of Fame members will walk around 10:45 a.m. Aug. 1 along George Halas Drive NW and on the campus of the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Open to the public, the free event is an excellent opportunity to take photos of famous football players. No autographs will be permitted, however.
Based on past practice, former players and coaches will be dressed casually and wearing matching shirts emblazoned with the Hall of Fame logo. Last year's walk featured Orlando Pace, Marcus Allen, Dan Fouts, Emmitt Smith, Dick Vermeil, Tony Dungy and many others.
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Gold Jacket Classic
New to the festival is the Gold Jacket Classic on July 31, a youth flag football tournament hosted by Unrivaled Flag in partnership with the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Games will be played at the Unrivaled Sports’ ForeverLawn Park at the Hall of Fame Village.
The one-day event will feature boys and girls flag football divisions. Teams will compete in pool play, playoffs and championship rounds. Top teams in each division will receive a half-paid bid to the 2026 Youth Flag Football World Championships.
“The Pro Football Hall of Fame is proud to be teaming with Unrivaled to bring another premier flag football event to the region,” said Porter. “And for it to coincide with the opening of the 106th NFL season will make it even more special to the young players who can see legends from today’s game and elite Hall of Fame members.”
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Enshrinees' Gold Jacket Dinner access
Last year was a trial run of sorts for selling ceremony-only tickets to the Gold Jacket Dinner.
The cocktail reception and dinner are not included with the ticket, but the idea was to make the ceremony at the Canton Memorial Civic Center more affordable and accessible to fans. Ceremony-only tickets were rolled out only a couple of weeks before last year's event, which takes place Aug. 1.
For those who want to witness 2025 class members — Eric Allen, Sterling Sharpe, Jared Allen and Antonio Gates — slip into their gold jackets, tickets can be purchased for $130.85 at https://www.ticketmaster.com.
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Free parking and SARTA bus shuttle
Parking, parking, parking.
Whether it's the Concert for Legends, Hall of Fame Game or enshrinement ceremony, parking spaces are always at a premium. That's why neighbors of the Pro Football Hall of Fame grounds and Hall of Fame Village campus turn their yards into parking lots and charge for spaces.
Efforts are being made to help alleviate some of the parking crunch.
"We want it to be a great guest experience," Porter said.
Free parking will be available at the Stark County Fairgrounds on July 31 and Aug. 2 and 3. Free SARTA bus shuttles will take festivalgoers from the fairgrounds to the Hall of Fame on those three days. Several hundred parking spaces controlled by the Pro Football Hall of Fame also will be available for free on the hall's campus, Porter said, although some of those spaces will be credentialed.
Some of the parking areas surrounding the Pro Football Hall of Fame are controlled by the Hall of Fame Village, a 100-acre entertainment campus surrounding the football museum. A fee may be charged for at least some of those spaces.
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Big announcement coming
Attending the Nickelback concert will have an extra bonus.
Besides hearing the rock band's hit songs, concertgoers will find out who will headline the 2026 Concert for Legends at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium. The Pro Football Hall of Fame plans to announce next year's headliner at the Nickelback show.
Rock 'n' roll hitmakers: Pro Football Hall of Fame announces 2025 headliner for Concert for Legends
"It's a big (musical artist)," Porter said. "We're ready for 2026."
The concert has a history of top-tier entertainers, including Aerosmith, Maroon 5, Imagine Dragons, Journey, Zac Brown Band and Carrie Underwood.
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Drone Light Show is back
The Balloon Classic has been an aerial extravaganza for 40 years.
But the Canton Regional Chamber of Commerce, which sponsors and coordinates the event, added the Drone Light Show last summer. Sponsored by the Timken Co., the event returns this year on the nights of July 25 and 26 on the campus of Kent State University at Stark.
Even more drones will perform aerial choreography this year — the fleet increasing from 300 to 500.
The Kent State at Stark campus is at 6000 Frank Ave. NW in Jackson Township. Admission is free. Parking costs $15.
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Balloon Classic VIP experience
The "Soaring Soiree" is a new way to elevate your experience at the Balloon Classic.
Presented by Visit Canton in partnership with Canton Culture Collective, the private ticketed experience allows guests to enjoy exclusive access, including unlimited food and cocktails and specialty entertainment. "Soaring Soiree" will be featured on the evenings of July 25 and 26.
The "Bigtime Balloon Bash" is open to families on July 25. "Polynesian Paradise" is July 26 and for adults only.
Tickets cost $125 per person and include one VIP parking spot. Tickets cost $50 for kids age 12 and under. To register for tickets, go to https://business.cantonchamber.org/event-calendar.
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Famous younger brother
Last year, fans were on the lookout for sporting icon Michael Jordan.
The former basketball star was good friends with 2024 enshrinee Dwight Freeney. And Jordan showed up in Canton for his buddy's big day at the enshrinement ceremony.
A global superstar isn't expected this year, but high-profile sports figures will be in attendance. That includes Shannon Sharpe, the brother of 2025 inductee Sterling Sharpe.
Shannon Sharpe, a former star tight end for the Denver Broncos and Baltimore Ravens, will be his older brother's presenter for the Aug. 2 enshrinement ceremony. Shannon Sharpe played on three Super Bowl championship teams during a 14-year career.
The younger Sharpe was inducted into the hall in 2011. And he's also been a successful and popular sports talker on television and in social media. Sharpe's Club Shay Shay podcast has more than 4 million subscribers on YouTube.
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Ready for rain
Festival staff and volunteers enter this year's event battle-tested after coping with torrential rains on the day of the 2024 enshrinement ceremony.
Following a largely dry Grand Parade, the skies tore open with a deluge of rain, delaying the enshrinement ceremony.
But Porter called it the festival's finest hour. Delays were minimal. Attendees and guests took shelter. Updates and announcements were posted online. And the event went forward, just later than scheduled under sunny skies.
"Our team reacted in an amazing way," Porter said, also crediting volunteers. "I was proud of our team."
For more festival schedule details, go to https://www.profootballhoffestival.com.
Reach Ed at [email protected]. On Instagram at ed_balint and TikTok @edwardbalint.
This article originally appeared on The Repository: What to know about the 2025 Pro Football Hall of Fame Fest in Canton
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