Here's everything you need to know about the 2025 Grand Parade and lineup in Canton

The streets of downtown Canton will be filled with giant helium balloons, floats, marching bands, football greats, and, perhaps most important, smiles as the Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement Festival Grand Parade returns this weekend.

The 62nd annual parade, which kicks off at 8 a.m. Aug. 2, attracts about 200,000 people.

"The Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement Festival Grand Parade has a strong tradition in Canton and is among the top five parades in the country," said Darla Brown, vice president of marketing and membership strategy at the Canton Regional Chamber of Commerce, which organizes the festival. "We're proud to showcase our community while honoring the football greats being enshrined this weekend."

A new helium balloon will lead off the parade lineup this year. The balloon is a football player — wearing a Certified Angus Beef jersey because the parade is presented by the Wooster-based company — stretching out his arms with a football in his hands.

The parade also will showcase a new military band. The 2D Marine Aircraft Wing Band from Cherry Point, North Carolina, will follow the new football player balloon.

Of course, the parade also will showcase the Class of 2025 enshrinees and returning Hall of Famers, marching bands, antique vehicles, specialty units and mascots.

When is the Grand Parade?

The parade runs from 8 to 10:30 a.m. Aug. 2.

What is the 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 2025 enshrinees are:

1. Defensive back Eric Allen, who played for the Philadelphia Eagles, New Orleans Saints and Oakland Raiders

2. Defensive end Jared Allen, who played for the Minnesota Vikings, Kansas City Chiefs, Chicago Bears and Carolina Panthers

3. Tight end Antonio Gates, who played for the San Diego Chargers (and the nearby Kent State University basketball team while in college)

4. Wide receiver Sterling Sharpe, who played for the Green Bay Packers

Who is the grand marshal of the 2025 Grand Parade?

The grand marshal is Wendy Lichtenwalter. The chamber partners with the Aultman Women's Board's Angel Auction to auction off the role.

The grand marshal last year was Zerina Brown, a student at St. Paul Catholic School in North Canton.

How can you watch the 2025 Grand Parade?

In person.

There is not a livestream, the chamber said. The parade will be broadcast on the chamber's Facebook page and the Enshrinement Festival Facebook page at 1 p.m. Aug. 10.

The parade also will air on WIVM-TV 39 (Akron), WIVN-TV 26 (Stark County), WIVD-TV 30 (Tuscarawas County), Spectrum Cable 989 in Stark County, Spectrum Cable 15 in Tuscarawas, Carroll and Coshocton Counties and MCTV channel 128 in Stark and Wayne counties at 8 p.m. Aug. 9 and at 1 p.m. Sunday Aug. 10.

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 17 high school bands participating (listed in order of appearance):

• GlenOak

• Louisville

• Perry

• Tuslaw

• Canton McKinley

• Sandy Valley

• Jackson

• East Canton

• Minerva

• Alliance

• Marlington

• Lake

• Canton South

• Shaw

• Massillon

• Hoover

• Northwest

What's the 2025 Grand Parade lineup?

Here's the parade lineup, which is subject to change:

1. Grand Parade presented by Certified Angus Beef

2. Football player balloon

3. 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing Band sponsored by Huntington Bank

4. The Walking Flag sponsored by Joseph A. Jeffries Co.

5. The Magical Train sponsored by Wishes Can Happen

6. GlenOak High School Marching Band, 2024 Battle of the Bands winner, courtesy of Pellegrino Music Center

7. 2025 Pro Football Hall of Fame enshrinee Eric Allen and presenter Austin Allen

8. Eric Allen family

9. Ultimate fans from Philadelphia Eagles

10. Goldy the G.O.A.T., the Pro Football Hall of Fame mascot

11. Ford Maverick truck to by raffled off by the Hall of Fame

12. Antique cars: 1932 Plymouth, 1934 Ford Phaeton, 1930 Ford Model A and 1926 Ford Model T

13. Louisville Constitution ambassadors and essay winners float sponsored by Arrowhead Orchard

14. Louisville High School Marching Band

15. Louisville High School 2025 Boys Basketball State Champs float, sponsored by Fairway Mortgage, West Main Vet Clinic and Rock Solid Painting

16. Mix 94.1 with Matt Fantone

17. News talk 1480 WHBC with Kenny and JT

18. Actor Eddie McClintock, a North Canton native

19. Hall of Famers: Elvin Bethea, Joe DeLamielleure, Robert Brazile, Randy Gradishar, Ken Houston, Kevin Mawae and Randall McDaniel

20. Blue Angel balloon sponsored by Solmet Group

21. EN-RICH-MENT drumline and cheer squad

22. Grand Parade marshal Wendy Lichenwalter

23. Antique cars: 1929 Ford Model A, 1928 Ford Model A, 1927 Ford Roadster pickup and 1931 Ford Deluxe

24. Freedom float with veterans sponsored by Newcomers Chapel of Pigeon Run

25. Stark County Sheriff's Office Mounted Unit

26. Ag-Pro North Canton tractors

27. Perry High School Marching Band

28. 2025 Pro Football Hall of Fame enshrinee Jared Allen and presenter Ron Allen

29. Jared Allen family

30. Ultimate Fans from the Minnesota Vikings

31. Hilscher-Clarke Electrical Co. float

32. Mr. Potato Head balloon sponsored by Shearers Foods

33. Q92 Christian & Lauren in the Morning

34. Q92 Nikolina your Mid-Day Diva and J-Dub in the Afternoon

35. WDPN Rex Combs in the morning reporters Clint Marshall and Geof Mears

36. Q92 sports Sam Borquin and Jordan Miller

37. Tuslaw High School Marching Band

38. Antique cars: 1931 Ford Model A, 1929 Ford Model A, 1931 Ford Model A, 1950 Cadillac

39. Hall of Famers: Di Wright (wife of Rayfield Wright), Monique Brown (wife of Jim Brown), Issac Bruce, Tom Mack, Linda Brown (wife of Roosevelt Brown) and Steve Largent

40. Gigi's Playhouse float

41. Canton Mayor William V. Sherer II

42. Canton McKinley High School Marching Band

43. The Ohio Wheelman, antique bikes

44. 2025 Pro Football Hall of Fame enshrinee Sterling Sharpe and presenter Shannon Sharpe

45. Sterling Sharpe family

46. Ultimate Fans from the Green Bay Packers

47. Sandy Valley Cardinal Marching Band

48. Pro Football Ultimate Fan float sponsored by Akron Auto Auctions

49. Race Car balloon sponsored by Akron Auto Auctions

50. 94.9 WQMX

51. Canal Fulton mini-boat

52. Hall of Famers: Steve Atwater, David Casper, LaTresa Doleman (wife of Chris Doleman), DeBorah Little (wife of Floyd Little), James Lofton, Anthony Munoz, and Ron Yary

53. Jackson High School Marching Band

54. Vi Leggett, 2025 chairperson, Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement Festival

55. FeLeap the Frog, Stark Parks mascot

56. Liberty HealthShare float

57. Birthday Cake balloon sponsored by Midwest Industrial Supply

58. East Canton Hornet Marching Band

59. Antique cars: 1931 Ford Fire Chief and Burnt Timbers 1951 Mack firetruck

60. Hall of Famers: Dan Fouts, Joe Greene, John Hannah, Mike Haynes, Willie Lanier, Dave Robinson, Charles Hayley, Bill Polian and Ron Wolf

61. The Big Idaho Potato Truck

62. Sugardale/Fresh Mark mascots: Ketchup, Mustard, Ms. Onion, Spicy Mustard

63. Minerva High School Marching Band

64. Dr. Tim Novelli, The Patriot Project

65. Medal of Honor recipient Sammy Davis

66. Medal of Honor recipient Ken David

67. Turtle balloon sponsored by Aultman

68. 2025 Pro Football Hall of Fame enshrinee Antonio Gates

69. Antonio Gates family

70. Ultimate Fans from the San Diego/Los Angeles Chargers

71. Alliance Aviator Marching Band

72. Pigskin mascot sponsored Visit Canton

73. Canton Regional Chamber of Commerce board Chair Chris Goff

74. Antique cars: 1928 Ford PV, 1915 Ford Model T, 1931 Ford PV and 1929 Ford Model A

75. Marlington High School Marching Band

76. Stark County Chapter Ohio Horsemans

77. Flags of Freedom float

78. Flag balloon sponsored by Kimble

79. Lake High School Marching Band

80. MAPS Air Museum: World War II Jeep with Iwo Jima statue, World War II truck, tug with AH-1 Cobra helicopter, M37 Korean Army truck, Vietnam Jeep ambulance and Air Force military Jeep

81. Hall of Famers: Morten Andersen, Tony Dungy, Steve Hutchinson, Mike Singletary, Jackie Slater and Aeneas Williams

82. Ali Lumin mascot sponsored by ACBC

83. Canton South Wildcat Marching Band

84. Stilt walkers sponsored by Giant Eagle

85. Football and Fasteners float sponsored by Ziegler Bolt & Parts Co.

86. Antique cars: 1964 Chevy Malibu, 1972 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme, 1972 Oldsmobile Cutlass, and 1937 Chevy Coupe

87. Shaw High School Marching Band

88. Football balloon sponsored by Synchrony

89. Jeff Burner, 2025 chairman, Grand Parade presented by Certified Angus Beef

90. Massillon Tiger "Swing" Band

91. Obie the Tiger balloon

92. 97.5 WONE

93. LAWson the police dog

94. Certified Angus Beef advertising truck

95. North Canton Hoover Marching Band

96. Sugarcreek Amish Mysteries car (1969 Chevy Impala) and cast

97. The Beaver Companies antique truck (1932 Ford Model B Truck)

98. Beaver balloon sponsored by Beaver Companies

99. Northwest High School Band

100. Stark County Humane Society float sponsored by Ziegler Tire

101. Butterfly balloon sponsored by Pioneer Physicians

102. South Shore Drill Team sponsored by Marathon Petroleum Corp.

103. Ohio Lottery Commission float

104. Hydro the Fire Marshal mascot from the Canton Fire Department

105. Canton City Fire Department 1936 Fox Fire Pump

This article originally appeared on The Repository: Here's your 2025 Pro Football Hall of Fame Grand Parade guide