Everything you need to know about the 2024 Canton Repository Grand Parade

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 parade has long been a Canton tradition, with some people camping out along the route overnight to 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 runs from 8 to 10:30 a.m. Saturday.

What is the Canton Repository Grand Parade route?

The parade starts in downtown Canton along Cleveland Avenue at approximately Fifth Street SW and travels north on Cleveland Avenue to 25th Street NW, where the parade begins to disband.

Who are the Pro Football Hall of Fame enshrinees participating?

The Class of 2024 enshrinees are:

1. Dwight Freeney, a defensive end/outside linebacker who played the majority of his career with the Indianapolis Colts

2. Steve McMichael, a defensive tackle/nose tackle who played the majority of his carer with the Chicago Bears

3. Randy Gradishar, a linebacker who played with the Denver Broncos

4. Devin Hester, a punt returner/kick returner/wide receiver who played the majority of his career with the Chicago Bears

5. Patrick Willis, a linebacker who played with the San Francisco 49ers

6. Julius Peppers, a defensive end who played the majority of his career with the Carolina Panthers

7. 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:

1. Canton Police Department

2. U.S. Army Color Guard, Canton Army Recruiting Station, sponsored by Huntington Bank

3. Football player balloon, sponsored by The Canton Repository

4. Lake High School Blue Streak Marching Band

5. The Walking Flag, sponsored by Joseph A. Jeffries Co.

6. 2024 Pro Football Hall of Fame enshrinee Dwight Freeney

7. Dwight Freeney family

8. Ultimate Fans: Indianapolis Colts

9. Northwest High School Marching Band

10. Mix 94.1 Java Joel and Matt Fantone

11. 1480 WHBC Kenny and JT

12. 1928 Ford, 1930 Ford, 1932 Plymouth, 1934 Ford

13. 2024 Pro Football Hall of Fame enshrinee Devin Hester

14. Devin Hester family

15. Ultimate Fans: Chicago Bears

16. Piggy Bank balloon, sponsored by Synchrony

17. Freedom float, sponsored by Newcomers Chapel of Pigeon Run

18. Army truck, sponsored by Newcomers Chapel of Pigeon Run

19. 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

20. 1928 Ford, 1928 Ford, 1929 Ford, 1931 Ford, 1931 Ford

21. 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)

22. Champion High School Marching Band

23. 2024 Pro Football Hall of Fame enshrinee Randy Gradishar

24. Randy Gradishar family

25. Ultimate Fans: Denver Broncos

26. Matt Spatz and Amanda, 97.5 WONE

27. The Big Idaho Potato Truck sponsored by The Big Idaho Potato Tour

28. East Canton Hornet Marching Band

29. Tolin Designs float

30. The Magical Train, sponsored by Wishes Can Happen

31. Texans Cheerleaders and TORO the mascot

32. Houston Texans float

33. 2024 Pro Football Hall of Fame enshrinee Andre Johnson

34. Andre Johnson family

35. Ultimate Fans: Houston Texans

36. Pigskin, Visit Canton

37. Stark County Sheriff's Office Mounted Unit

38. Freer Buckaroo Band

39. 2024 Pro Football Hall of Fame enshrinee Steve McMichael represented by presenter Jarrett Payton

40. Steve McMichael's presenter family

41. Ultimate Fans: Chicago Bears

42. Oscar the Grouch balloon, sponsored by Kimble Recycling & Disposal

43. 1951 Mack firetruck; 1962 Diamond pumper

44. Carolina Panthers cheerleaders, drumline, Sir Purr Cat Cruiser

45. 2024 Pro Football Hall of Fame enshrinee Julius Peppers

46. Julius Peppers family

47. Ultimate Fans: Carolina Panthers

48. Stark County Humane Society, sponsored by Ziegler Tire

49. Alliance Aviator Band

50. 2024 Pro Football Hall of Fame enshrinee Patrick Willis

51. Patrick Willis family

52. Ultimate Fans: San Francisco 49ers

53. Angel balloon, sponsored by Aultman Health Foundation

54. North Canton Hoover High School Marching Band

55. Juggler Dave and Friends with Cincinnati Circus, sponsored by Giant Eagle

56. Celebrating 60 Years, sponsored by Ziegler Bolt & Nut House

57. Goldy the G.O.A.T

58. Massillon Tiger Swing Band

59. Obie the Tiger

60. T-Rex balloon, sponsored by Solmet Group

61. Gigi's Playhouse walkers, sponsored by Gigi's Playhouse

62. Divine Nine

63. Kim Davenport, 2024 general chair, Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement Festival

64. Grand Parade marshal Zerina Brown

65. EN-RICH-MENT

66. The Ohio Lottery float, sponsored by The Ohio Lottery Commission

67. Beaver balloon and antique truck, sponsored by The Beaver Companies

68. Ali Lumin, ACBC

69. Canton South Wildcat Marching Band

70. 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

71. Q92 Crew, sponsored by Hills International Trucks

72. Maple Heights Mustangs Marching Band

73. 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

74. 1915 Ford, 1920 Ford, 1927 Ford, 1955 Chevy

75. Shaw High School Mighty Marching Cardinal Band

76. Stephanie Haney and Lindsay Buckingham, 3News WKYC

77. Canal Fulton mini boat and horses, sponsored by City of Canal Fulton

78. 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

79. Abby Cadabby balloon, sponsored by Akron Children's Hospital

80. Jeff Burner, 2024 chairman, Canton Repository Grand Parade

81. Sugardale/Freshmark mascots and van, sponsored by Sugardale/Freshmark

82. Canton McKinley High School Marching Band

83. Canton Mayor William V. Sherer II

84. 12th Man, sponsored by Akron Auto Auction

85. 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.

86. Louisville Constitution ambassadors, sponsored by Louisville Constitution Days

87. K1 Speed Go Karts, sponsored by K1 Speed of Canton

88. South Shore Drill Team, sponsored by Marathon Petroleum of Canton

89. 1930 Ford, 1937 Chevy, 1950 Cadillac, 1964 Chevy

90. NFL Football balloon, sponsored by Midwest Industrial Supply

91. 1933 Chrysler, 1957 Ford, 1957 Jeep, 1969 Dodge, 1972 Ford, 2016 Dodge, sponsored by Wally Armour

92. Jackson High School Marching Band

93. Flags of Freedom

94. Medal of Honor Recipient Lt. Michael Thornton

95. Medal of Honor Recipient Master Sgt. Gary Littrell

96. Medal of Honor Recipient Master Sgt. Leroy Petry

97. Dr. Tim Novelli, The Patriot Project

98. Tuslaw High School Marching Band

99. Brad Belden, chairman of the board, Canton Regional Chamber of Commerce

100. Summit Academy Schools float, sponsored by Summit Academy Schools

101. Perry High School Marching Band

102. Hilscher-Clarke float, sponsored by Hilscher-Clarke

103. FeLeap the Frog, Stark Parks

104. 1930 Ford, 1931 Ford, 1931 Ford, 1931 Ford

105. Shrek balloon, sponsored by Liberty HealthShare

106. GlenOak High School Marching Band

107. Ag-Pro tractors, sponsored by Ag-Pro

108. Max & Ruby balloon, sponsored by Shearer's Foods

109. Sandy Valley Cardinal Marching Band

110. Canton Fire Department

This article originally appeared on The Repository: Guide to the 2024 Canton Repository Grand Parade