<?xml version="1.0" encoding="ISO-8859-1" ?><rss version="2.0">  <channel>      <title>Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement Festival Pages</title>      <link>http://www.profootballhoffestival.com/</link>      <description><![CDATA[JOIN US FOR A&nbsp;"ONE OF A KIND CELEBRATION!"&nbsp;
Jack Butler, Dermontti Dawson, Chris Doleman, Cortez Kennedy, Curtis Martin, and Willie Roaf will soon call Canton, Ohio, their home.&nbsp; With their induction on August 4, 2012, they&nbsp;will join&nbsp;267 other players, coaches and contributors as members of the Pro Football Hall of Fame, "America's Premier Sports Museum and Showplace!"&nbsp; 
The Enshrinement Ceremony is the marquee event that together with 17 other diverse events comprise the annual Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement Festival, enjoyed by nearly 700,000 people.&nbsp; The professional staffs of the Pro Football Hall of Fame and Canton Regional Chamber of Commerce are collaborating&nbsp;with a team of 4,200 extraordinary community volunteers to plan and stage these events over a two-week period, all meeting our traditional standard of excellence as we celebrate our 49th anniversary.&nbsp; We can promise that you will create memories to last a lifetime!
Check out the details on our Web site, then join us this summer as we celebrate and pay tribute to the 2012 Class of Enshrinees:
JACK BUTLER:&nbsp;Cornerback, 6-1, 200 pounds, 1951-1959 Pittsburgh Steelers, 9 seasons, 103 games
DERMONTTI DAWSON:&nbsp;Center, 6-2, 288 pounds, 1988-2000 Pittsburgh Steelers, 13 seasons, 184 games
CHRIS DOLEMAN:&nbsp;Defensive end/linebacker, 6-5, 270 pounds, 1985-1993, 1999 Minnesota Vikings, 1994-1995 Atlanta Falcons, 1996-1998 San Francisco 49ers
CORTEZ KENNEDY: Defensive tackle, 6-3, 298 pounds, 1990-2000 Seattle Seahawks, 11 seasons, 167 games
CURTIS MARTIN: Running back, 5-11, 207 pounds, 1995-1997 New England Patriots, 1998-2005 New York Jets, 11 seasons, 168 games
WILLIE ROAF: Tackle, 6-5, 300 pounds, 1993-2001 New Orleans Saints, 2002-2005 Kansas City Chiefs, 13 seasons, 189 games
THE PRO FOOTBALL HALL OF FAME ENSHRINEMENT FESTIVAL. . .
TRULY A "ONE OF A KIND CELEBRATION!"
&nbsp;
]]></description>      <item>          <title> Enshrinement Festival General Chairman Alumni Association hosts annual dinner</title>          <link>http://www.profootballhoffestival.com/enshrinement-festival-general-chairman-alumni-association-hosts-annual-dinner</link>          <pubDate>Mon, 10 October 2011 21:24:27 EDT</pubDate>          <description><![CDATA[The Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement Festival General Chairman Alumni Association held its annual dinner on Sept. 21. The event was emceed by Bill Schauer, current association president and 2006 general chairman. The association is comprised of all general chairmen of the Canton Regional Chamber of Commerce Enshrinement Festival committees since the Enshrinement Festival&rsquo;s inception; members offer assistance to the Enshrinement Festival in the areas of sponsor recognition, promoting community awareness and support in planning and producing the annual festivities.At the annual dinner, Barbara Hammontree Bennett, 2009 general chairman, presented the 17th annual Corporate Award of Merit to Lowe&rsquo;s in grateful recognition of their long-time outstanding and generous support of the Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement Festival. Since 1946, Lowe&rsquo;s has grown from a small-town hardware store to a Fortune 500 company, but their commitment to their customers has never changed. Their company culture is focused on great customer service, respect and teamwork. In addition to offering quality products at great prices, Lowe&rsquo;s has a long and strong reputation for maintaining high ethical standards and promoting community engagement. They maintain that they are able to do what is right for their customers and communities by doing what is right for their employees, and they promote integrity as one of their core values.Lowe&rsquo;s has annually provided many of the materials and resources necessary to successfully plan and stage Enshrinement Festival events, particularly the largest outdoor events. Their generous support has been extraordinary and critical to the Enshrinement Festival&rsquo;s ability to thrive. The award was accepted on behalf of Lowe&rsquo;s by Tim Moore, regional vice president, Brett Bailey, district manager, and Bill Burmeister, commercial sales specialist.
Another tradition at the annual dinner is the initiation into the association of the most recent General Chairman. The ceremonial green jacket was presented by 2010 general chairman Dan Fuline to 2011 general chairman Robert R. Timken, who joins 45 other women and men who have held this prestigious position over the years. He was commended for his extraordinary leadership and dedication to the enhancement and growth of the Enshrinement Festival. Timken was especially recognized for his unmatched hands-on role in supporting all of the Enshrinement Festival committees.In 2012, he will continue to serve the Enshrinement Festival as chairman of the Chamber&rsquo;s Steering Committee. Additionally, the Pro Football Hall of Fame and the Chamber&rsquo;s Enshrinement Festival department have begun to collaborate on plans for their 50th Anniversary celebrations in 2013, and Timken will chair the Chamber&rsquo;s planning efforts.&nbsp;]]></description>          <enclosure url="http://www.profootballhoffestival.com/uploads/138751318295989.jpg" length="14858" type="image/pjpeg" />          <enclosure url="http://www.profootballhoffestival.com/uploads/140211318296226.jpg" length="15470" type="image/pjpeg" />      </item>      <item>          <title> Enshrinement Festival Queen Pageant seeking applications</title>          <link>http://www.profootballhoffestival.com/enshrinement-festival-queen-pageant-seeking-applications</link>          <pubDate>Mon, 6 February 2012 15:12:37 EST</pubDate>          <description><![CDATA[The Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement Festival Queen Pageant applications and tickets will be available beginning Monday, Feb. 13, at the Canton Regional Chamber of Commerce, Enshrinement Festival department, located at 222 Market Ave. N., in downtown Canton, weekdays from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.The deadline to submit the application and a $68 application fee is Monday, Mar. 12, by 5 p.m. Candidates cannot be younger than a high school senior and 18 years old by May 1, or more than 23 years of age before Sept. 1. Candidates must reside and, if employed, work within a 30-mile radius of Stark County.While not mandatory, all potential candidates are invited and encouraged to attend the fourth annual "Screen the Queen Pageant" session, which will take place Saturday, Feb. 25, at the Canton Regional Chamber from 9 to 11 a.m. This session will help young ladies decide if they would like to enter the Pageant, and give them a better idea of what to expect if they do.Participants will have the opportunity to review the 2011 Queen Pageant DVD, learn about the judging experience from past years' judges, hear from a past queen who will share her memories, and ask questions about the process. This informative, informal session is FREE, but reservations must be made in advance by calling Kathy Lindenberger at (330) 458-2056.The Queen Pageant will take place Thursday, May 10, at The Canton Palace Theatre. All seats are reserved at $18 each, and tickets can be purchased at the Canton Regional Chamber, Canton AAA and Massillon AAA.At the conclusion of the Pageant, a Queen and six (6) court members will have been selected on the basis of personality, poise, beauty, communication skills, academic achievement and service to community. The number of court members selected will coincide with the number of members of the recently announced 2012 Class of Enshrinees into the Pro Football Hall of Fame - Jack Butler, Dermontti Dawson, Chris Doleman, Cortez Kennedy, Curtis Martin, and Willie Roaf. The Queen and her court will serve as role models and goodwill ambassadors throughout the community, and one of their most memorable experiences will be their ride on a float in the Timken Grand Parade.Kara Abbott has been named chair of the 2012 Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement Festival Queen Committee. An 11-year committee member, this is her second year in this leadership role. As the 1995 Enshrinement Festival Queen, she has a unique perspective on the process and the qualifications necessary to attain the crown. Assisting her with leadership responsibilities will be Crystal McLendon, committee vice chair.A Canton native, Abbott is a graduate of Central Catholic High School and Kent State University. In addition to her service on the Queen Committee, she volunteered for 10 years on the Jackson-Belden Food Fest &amp; Fireworks Committee, and has modeled in the Enshrinement Festival Fashion Show for the past six years. Her community activities include past service as a United Way coordinator, and current service at St. Mary&rsquo;s School in Massillon as coordinator of the Spirit Window, and member of the PTO and the Auction Committee. She and husband Steve are the proud parents of five children.The Queen Committee is responsible for working with Enshrinement Festival staff in coordinating all activities relating to the Enshrinement Festival Queen and court and serving as chaperones during their community service activities and official event appearances.For more information regarding applications, tickets or sponsorship opportunities, contact Kathy Lindenberger at (330) 458-2056. ]]></description>      </item>      <item>          <title> Wallace, McFarlane named to leadership roles for 2012 Enshrinement Festival</title>          <link>http://www.profootballhoffestival.com/wallace-mcfarlane-named-to-leadership-roles-for-2012-enshrinement-festival</link>          <pubDate>Fri, 14 October 2011 11:55:26 EDT</pubDate>          <description><![CDATA[The Canton Regional Chamber of Commerce and Pro Football Hall of Fame have named two long-time community volunteers to leadership positions for the 2012 Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement Festival. The world-renowned festival will celebrate the annual enshrinement of football players, coaches and contributors into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, &ldquo;America&rsquo;s Premier Sports Museum and Showplace!&rdquo;Candy Wallace, long-time and extremely active community volunteer, will serve as general chairman of the Enshrinement Festival activities planned by the Enshrinement Festival department of the Canton Regional Chamber of Commerce. For the second consecutive year, Robert J. McFarlane, national sales director of outdoors products division for Bruce Foods Corporation of New Iberia, LA, will serve as general chairman of the Enshrinement Festival activities planned by the Pro Football Hall of Fame.With the 2011 Enshrinement Festival just a few months behind them, strategic planning for the 2012 Enshrinement Festival is already well underway. The collaborative efforts of this leadership team, combined with the professional staffs at the Canton Regional Chamber and the Pro Football Hall of Fame, and the dedicated team of more than 4,200 extraordinary community volunteers, will ensure the success of 18 unique and diverse events over a nearly two-week period. The tentative dates for the 2012 events will be announced and available shortly at www.profootballhofef.com. The Enshrinement Festival activities, attended by nearly 700,000 people, are expected to produce an economic impact of over $30 million for the Canton/Stark County area and nearly $55 million for the State of Ohio. In addition, millions will experience aspects of the Enshrinement Festival as events are televised and covered by other media. With a record of success for the past 48 years, the Enshrinement Festival has earned its reputation as &ldquo;A One of a Kind Celebration!&rdquo;Wallace will lead the chairmen of 26 Canton Regional Chamber of Commerce committees, who hold in excess of 350 meetings throughout the year, to attend to the massive details of planning and staging several Enshrinement Festival events. She has been deeply involved in Enshrinement Festival activities for many years, including serving in 2011 as General Vice Chairman, and prior service on the Fashion Show Luncheon committee, and chairman of the Food Committee and Enshrinees Dinner Committee. Elsewhere in the community, she is a member of the Aultman Hospital Women&rsquo;s Board and provides volunteer service to Stark Community Foundation, Stark Education Partnership, Sisters of Charity, SPARK, Plain Local Schools and Leadership Stark County. She and her husband William reside in Canton and have four children and three grandchildren.McFarlane will lead the chairmen of 11 Pro Football Hall of Fame committees in planning and implementing other Enshrinement Festival events, including the central focus of the entire festival, the Enshrinement Ceremony, as well as the NFL Hall of Fame Game and the First Play event. McFarlane also will lead the support committees that assist the Pro Football Hall of Fame in providing hospitality to the 2012 Enshrinees, the returning Hall of Famers and their families. He is a 20-year veteran of the Hall of Fame Hospitality Committee, and served as chairman for 11 years.&nbsp;In addition to his volunteer work with the Hall of Fame committee, McFarlane is past-chairman of the Enshrinement Festival Balloon Classic Invitational Committee, past-president of Wishes Can Happen, Inc,&nbsp;co-founder and past-president of Jackson Township Jaycees, JCI Senator and Ambassador, included in Outstanding Young Men of America, and retired football official after 26 years. He has been very involved in Jackson Township, where he resides and has served as a volunteer fireman. He was also involved in the formation of the Jackson Township Police Department. He is a graduate of Capital University with a bachelor&rsquo;s degree in management. He and wife Sharon are proud of daughter Kelly and son-in-law Scott.While nearly 21,000 men have played in at least one National Football League game, there are only 267 members of the Pro Football Hall of Fame. This number will be increased by not more than seven and not fewer than four when the 2012 Class is announced Feb. 4 during Super Bowl weekend. The central focus and highlight of the festivities will be the induction ceremony for the 2012 Class of Enshrinees, tentatively scheduled for Saturday, Aug. 4, at Fawcett Stadium.]]></description>          <enclosure url="http://www.profootballhoffestival.com/uploads/121041318607656.jpg" length="88003" type="image/pjpeg" />          <enclosure url="http://www.profootballhoffestival.com/uploads/120101318607623.jpg" length="50090" type="image/pjpeg" />      </item>      <item>          <title>125 units scheduled for HOF Enshrinement Festival Community Parade</title>          <link>http://www.profootballhoffestival.com/125-units-scheduled-for-hof-enshrinement-festival-community-parade</link>          <pubDate>Tue, 12 July 2011 15:18:56 EDT</pubDate>          <description><![CDATA[125 parade units will participate in this year's Community Parade on Sunday, July 31, in downtown Canton.The community-based parade, founded in 1980 as the Junior Parade, offers local and regional groups the opportunity to participate in an exciting, professional event. The 125 parade units will be staged in the Nationwide Insurance Companies parking lot, with units stepping off at 2:30 p.m. from 11th St. N, traveling south on Market Ave. through the downtown area, and disbanding at approximately Second St. S.Robert Timken, 2011 General Chairman of the Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement Festival for the Canton Regional Chamber of Commerce, will serve as the 2011 Community Parade Grand Marshal.Spectators at the Community Parade will help determine the "Community Choice Award" winner when they cast a vote for their favorite parade group. Entry forms will be published in The Repository and will be available parade day at the souvenir booth near the office of Canton Regional Chamber of Commerce, located at 222 Market Ave. N. The winning group will receive a plaque and $100 cash award and will be featured in next year's parade.The Enshrinement Festival partners with News-Talk 1480 WHBC to produce the telecast of the parade from their broadcast booth at the "Kresge green space" on Market Ave., between Third and Fourth Sts. N. The Community Parade broadcast will be shown on Monday, Aug. 1, and Tuesday, Aug. 2, at 8 p.m. on the following: Canton City Schools Channel 11, Massillon City Schools Channel 21, Massillon Cable Channel 128, Time Warner Cable 989, and WIVM Over the Air 39.1.For more information, call Kathy Lindenberger at (330) 458-2056.]]></description>      </item>      <item>          <title>2-Mile and 5-Mile Races FAQ</title>          <link>http://www.profootballhoffestival.com/5-mile-and-2-mile-races-faq</link>          <pubDate>Fri, 3 February 2012 11:59:43 EST</pubDate>          <description><![CDATA[Can I register online?&nbsp; Yes, click here to register online.&nbsp; Do it now and save:&nbsp; individual registration on-line is $20, but after Friday, July 20, it increases to $22 -- so register now!What is the last day I can register and where?&nbsp; Your last chance to register is on Saturday, July&nbsp;28 from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. in the packet pick-up area at the Pro Football Hall of Fame.&nbsp; It's most convenient and cost-effective to pre-register on-line at&nbsp;www.bit.ly/2012races.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Check back periodically for further information.
Is there Race Day registration?&nbsp;&nbsp;Sorry -- NO Race Day registration.&nbsp;
Where do I pick up my packet? Race packets will be available on Saturday, July 28, at the Pro Football Hall of Fame, 2121 George Halas Dr., Canton, OH 44708, beginning at 9:00 am until 4:00 pm.&nbsp; Please use the McKinley High School Parking Lot when you pick up your packets.&nbsp; On race day, packets may be picked up on the grounds of the Football HOF, please follow the signage.
Where do I park for packet pick-up and on Race Day? Ample parking is available at the McKinley High School parking lot at 2327 -- 17th Street, NW -- adjacent to the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
May I pick up my friend or family member's race packet?&nbsp; Yes, but please be cautioned that a new packet will NOT be issued if on Race Day a runner does not have his/her number -- so please be careful.
Where is the 2-Mile Start? The 2-Mile Race starts in Stadium Park near the shuffle board area.&nbsp; All runners will meet&nbsp;at the front of the Pro Football Hall of Fame for the invocation and&nbsp;will then&nbsp;be led to the starting area.
Where is the 5-Mile Start?&nbsp; The 5-Mile Race starts at the south end of McKinley High School by the Field House entrance.&nbsp;
Where is the Kids Fun Run Start? The Kids Fun Run starts by the large electronic sign in the upper parking lot of the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
What is the age limit and where do I register by child for the Kids Fun Run?&nbsp; The Kids Fun Run is for youngsters six and under, and you may register your child at the Pro Football Hall of Fame either on packet pick-up day, Saturday, July 28, 9:00 a.m. &ndash; 4:00 p.m. or&nbsp;on Race Day, Sunday July 29, 7:15 am &ndash; 7:45 am, at the Kids Fun Run tent.
Where is the finish line for all races?&nbsp; All races will finish right in front of the Pro Football Hall of Fame, a perfect photo opportunity for all!
Are pets allowed on the race course?&nbsp; Sorry -- no pets allowed.
Are strollers permitted on the race course?&nbsp; Strollers are permitted but must not interfere with runners or walkers.
Are walkers allowed on the course? Walkers are permitted on the 2-Mile Race.&nbsp; Walkers are not prohibited in the 5-Mile Race, but please be advised that the race course will be opened to vehicular traffic on 12th Street approximately one hour after the commencement of the 5-Mile Race, and official race times will be guaranteed only for participants who finish the 5-Mile Race within one hour and 40 minutes.
Is the 5-Mile Competitive Walk for recreational walkers?&nbsp; This competitive walk is for serious walkers only, and walkers must maintain an 18 minute pace.
QUESTIONS OR NEED MORE INFO -- CONTACT KATHY LINDENBERGER: 330.458.2056 or kathyl@cantonchamber.org
&nbsp;]]></description>      </item>      <item>          <title>2011 Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement Festival Schedule Announced</title>          <link>http://www.profootballhoffestival.com/2011-enshrinement-festival-announced</link>          <pubDate>Wed, 12 January 2011 19:34:53 EST</pubDate>          <description><![CDATA[CANTON, OH (January 9, 2011) &ndash; In 2011, the Pro Football Hall of Fame and the annual Enshrinement Festival will mark 48 years of excellence in honoring the legends and preserving the history of professional football. Since opening the museum on Sept. 7, 1963, and the Enshrinement of the inaugural class of 17 football heroes, the Pro Football Hall of Fame has gone through multiple expansions and improvements, including the recently opened Lamar Hunt Super Bowl Gallery. Additionally, the Hall of Fame has recently announced plans for a $23.6 million expansion and renovation. The expansion and renovation plan has been dubbed the Future 50 Project, as its completion, scheduled for 2013, will coincide with the Hall of Fame&rsquo;s 50th Anniversary and constitute the foundation for success in the next 50 years. When combined with renovations of recent years, the Future 50 Project will provide visitors with a completely new experience.
&nbsp;
Hundreds of thousands of people annually visit the Pro Football Hall of Fame and millions more experience the Hall of Fame through the nationally televised Enshrinement Ceremony and NFL Hall of Fame Game. Like the Pro Football Hall of Fame, the annual Enshrinement Festival surrounding the Enshrinement Ceremony has become a national attraction. Another 700,000 people annually participate in the spectacular multi-day Enshrinement Festival, which has grown from just four small events in the early years to 18 diverse and spectacular events over a nearly two-week period, earning the reputation as a &ldquo;One of a Kind Celebration&rdquo; and becoming the standard by which similar festivals are measured.
&nbsp;
While nearly 24,000 men have played in National Football League games, there are only 260 members of the Pro Football Hall of Fame; this number will be increased by not more than seven and not fewer than four when the 2011 Class is announced Feb. 5 during Super Bowl weekend. The newest class of Enshrinees will be celebrated by nearly 700,000 people during the 18 diverse Enshrinement Festival events from July 28 through Aug. 9, 2011. The central focus and highlight of the festivities will be the induction ceremony for the 2011 Class of Enshrinees, scheduled for Saturday, Aug. 6, at Fawcett Stadium.&nbsp; Download the Tenative 2011 Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement Festival Schedule.
&nbsp;
The two weeks of festivities are expected to produce an economic impact of over $30 million for the Canton/Stark County area and nearly $55 million for the State of Ohio. A team of more than 4,200 extraordinary community volunteers will join with local, regional and national sponsors to provide the resources and cash and in-kind support necessary to plan and stage the activities. A wide variety of sponsorship opportunities are available, each offering a myriad of promotional opportunities in areas such as advertising, sampling, customer and employee hospitality and media exposure.]]></description>          <enclosure url="http://www.profootballhoffestival.com/uploads/33441294878532.pdf" length="44097" type="application/pdf" />      </item>      <item>          <title>2012 Events</title>          <link>http://www.profootballhoffestival.com/events</link>          <pubDate>Wed, 7 December 2011 09:37:22 EST</pubDate>          <description><![CDATA[The greater Canton/Stark County community is proud to host the annual Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement Festival. Join&nbsp;approximately 700,000 people at 18 diverse events over a nearly two-week period as they celebrate the induction of football heroes into the Pro Football Hall of Fame located in Canton, Ohio!&nbsp;&nbsp; A dedicated staff, team of more than 4,200 volunteers, and generous sponsors give the support necessary to plan and stage these action-packed festivities.***Audio, video, photographic, and/or any other devices used for reproducing images and sounds of said events are prohibited without express consent of the Festival in the way of media credential or other specific authorization.&nbsp; Credentials are offered to the media for the sole purpose of reporting the events and depicting the same through written, audio, video, photographic media.&nbsp; All secondary, non-editorial, or commercial use of video, audio, photographic recordings, or other materials obtained through the use of media credentials is expressly prohibited.Many Enshrinement Festival events are generously supported by:
]]></description>          <enclosure url="http://www.profootballhoffestival.com/uploads/52211286537248.jpg" length="12572" type="image/pjpeg" />      </item>      <item>          <title>2012 schedule changes announced by Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement Festival</title>          <link>http://www.profootballhoffestival.com/2012-schedule-changes-announced-by-pro-football-hall-of-fame-enshrinement-festival</link>          <pubDate>Thu, 20 October 2011 14:06:50 EDT</pubDate>          <description><![CDATA[The 2012 Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement Festival planning is well underway for the professional staffs and team of more than 4,200 volunteers from the Pro Football Hall of Fame and Canton Regional Chamber of Commerce.Candy Wallace, 2012 General Chairman of the Chamber&rsquo;s Enshrinement Festival committees, noted that a date change will be necessary for one of the events. &ldquo;During planning for the 2011 festivities, the Enshrinement Festival learned that due to site issues in 2012, 2013 and 2014, the U. S. National Hot Air Balloon Championship will be held in Longview, Texas, at the same time as our Balloon Classic/Jackson-Belden Food Fest &amp; Fireworks,&rdquo; said Wallace. The Nationals are held at a &ldquo;teaching&rdquo; airport during the week of the school&rsquo;s break between semesters, and the semester schedule has now changed.&nbsp;&ldquo;The Enshrinement Festival&rsquo;s Balloon Classic celebrated its 25th anniversary this year and is highly regarded in the ballooning world as a premier event,&rdquo; noted Maury Sullivan, long-time event director. &ldquo;This date conflict would significantly impact the quality and success of our Balloon Classic due to the fact that the most experienced pilots, ballooning officials, scoring teams and weather experts are already annually committed to the U. S. National Championship.&rdquo; The date change also eliminates a date conflict with two other major balloon festivals, one in New Jersey and one in Iowa.Therefore, after consultation and approval from all partners, it was decided to adjust the Enshrinement Festival schedule to move the Balloon Classic/Jackson-Belden Food Fest &amp; Fireworks one week earlier than usual, on July 20, 21 and 22, 2012. This loosens the Enshrinement Festival schedule a bit and allows the downtown Canton Concert &amp; Fireworks event to be moved from Thursday night to Saturday night, July 28, 2012. Organizers believe that these two schedule modifications will slightly ease the burden on volunteers, allow for more efficient site setup, and make the entire Enshrinement Festival experience even more enjoyable for participants, attendees, and sponsors.The date modifications have received the full support and approval of the Board of Trustees of the Pro Football Hall of Fame, as well as the Enshrinement Festival Steering Committee and the Board of Directors of the Canton Regional Chamber of Commerce, along with the Jackson-Belden Chamber of Commerce and host facilities, Kent State University at Stark and Stark State College. &ldquo;Continued enthusiasm and commitment by our staff, team of volunteers, and family of sponsors working cooperatively will be crucial to the implementation of these changes, and we are confident everyone will meet the challenge,&rdquo; said Joanne Murray, Enshrinement Festival director.&nbsp;The exact 2012 Enshrinement Festival dates cannot be finalized until the National Football League determines the date of the NFL/Hall of Fame Game, and then the Enshrinement and remaining 16 event dates will be secured. However, assuming that the dates will be similar to prior experience,&nbsp;click link that follows for the TENTATIVE 2012 Enshrinement Festival Schedule of Events &ndash; subject to change.]]></description>          <enclosure url="http://www.profootballhoffestival.com/uploads/239501319133727.pdf" length="100521" type="application/pdf" />          <enclosure url="http://www.profootballhoffestival.com/uploads/241261319133736.pdf" length="100521" type="application/pdf" />      </item>      <item>          <title>65 balloons to fly in Balloon Classic Invitational</title>          <link>http://www.profootballhoffestival.com/65-balloons-to-fly-in-balloon-classic-invitational</link>          <pubDate>Tue, 12 July 2011 15:11:25 EDT</pubDate>          <description><![CDATA[The 2011 Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement Festival Balloon Classic Invitational/Jackson-Belden Food Fest &amp; Fireworks will be held Friday, July 29, through Sunday, July 31, at the Kent State University at Stark and Stark State College campuses. Approximate times for scheduled flights, weather permitting, will be Friday at 5:30 p.m., Saturday at 6:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m., and Sunday at 6:30 a.m.&nbsp; There will be 65 awesome sport, commercial and special shape hot air balloons, including The Pig, Annie the Ladybug, Birthday Cake, and two Little Bees known as Joey and Lilly.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The participating pilots have impressive credentials and hail from 13 different states, including 35 from Ohio. Canton is only one of the many locations they have seen from a bird&rsquo;s-eye view. Many of these pilots have flown all over the world including Australia, Austria, Brazil, Canada, China, Costa Rica, England, France, Germany, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Kenya, Luxembourg, Mexico, Mongolia, New Zealand, Scotland, South Africa, Soviet Union, Spain and Zimbawbe.&nbsp;The Dawn Patrol will take place on Friday, July 29, at 5 a.m. If you are an early bird, you won't want to miss this photo opportunity! Pilots will take off in the dark and fly until it is light enough to see landing sites. These balloons create a very strange appearance in the early-morning sky, especially to those on the ground never having experienced this show in the past.This year marks the 25th anniversary of the Balloon Classic Invitational, and additional activities over the ballooning weekend include:

Some pilots will compete in a team format for a prize package valued at $19,000, while others will fly "fiesta" in a non-competitive format. 
All will participate in a $3,000 Pole Grab where the pilots will maneuver their balloons over a pole erected on the launch field and attempt to grab the cash from the top of the pole. 
19 pilots will participate in the "Night Glow" on Friday at 9:45 p.m., when they illuminate their balloon envelopes while tethered at the launch field. 
The Balloon Education Area, sponsored by Uncrustables, will provide a special opportunity for adults and children to enter a fully inflated balloon envelope and learn about the envelope, balloon basket and burners.

Residents of Stark County can participate in the ballooning excitement by allowing a balloon to land on their property. To signal pilots for landing, place a white sheet in a 200 ft. x 200 ft. grassy area. The landing area must be clear of trees and power lines as well as allow enough space for the balloon to land. The pilots offer landowners the chance to win a $100 U.S. Savings Bond in appreciation of land use.Great food and entertainment are also on tap at the Jackson-Belden Food Fest &amp; Fireworks held on Friday and Saturday evenings. There will be a variety of food from more than 20 vendors,&nbsp;a playground of inflatables for children and musical concerts. Friday night concerts include performances by The Wild West Band at 6 p.m. and Outlaw, sponsored by the Red Dog Saloon at 9 p.m.&nbsp; Saturday night&rsquo;s line-up starts with Line of Defense at 4 p.m. followed by Brighter Side at 6:30 p.m., with Breakline at 9 p.m.&nbsp; Food Fest hours are Friday and Saturday from 4 to 11:30 p.m., with a spectacular fireworks display on Saturday at 10 p.m.The Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement Festival Balloon Classic Invitational/Jackson-Belden Food Fest &amp; Fireworks event is presented through a cooperative effort between the Canton Regional and Jackson-Belden Chambers of Commerce. For more information, call Laura Perry at (330) 458-2054.]]></description>          <enclosure url="http://www.profootballhoffestival.com/uploads/112311310497524.jpg" length="64983" type="image/pjpeg" />          <enclosure url="http://www.profootballhoffestival.com/uploads/114991310497863.jpg" length="28139" type="image/pjpeg" />      </item>      <item>          <title>Balloon Classic Invitational FAQ</title>          <link>http://www.profootballhoffestival.com/balloon-classic-invitational-faq</link>          <pubDate>Tue, 1 November 2011 17:51:56 EDT</pubDate>          <description><![CDATA[NEWS FLASH!!!&nbsp; IN 2012, THIS EVENT IS ONE WEEK EARLIER THAN NORMAL IN ORDER NOT TO CONFLICT WITH THE U.S. NATIONAL HOT AIR BALLOON CHAMPIONSHIPS.
BALLOON CLASSIC ACTIVITIES:&nbsp; Hot air balloons fly best in less than 8 mph winds, and the weather must be almost perfect for these beautiful balloons to take to the skies. Pilots are briefed on weather before each and every flight; flights may be delayed or cancelled due to weather conditions.&nbsp; Helpful hints:&nbsp;&nbsp;If you&rsquo;re an early bird, come check out the morning flights!&nbsp; For evening flights, traffic is especially heavy, so plan ahead.
TIMES ARE TENTATIVE AND SUBJECT TO CHANGE, SO CHECK BACK PERIODICALLY. . .
&nbsp;
FRIDAY, JULY 20
5:00 AM: Dawn Patrol
6:30 AM: Media Flight
5:30 PM: Activities begin at the Balloon Classic
6:30 PM: Balloon Launch
9:30 PM: Night Glow
&nbsp;
&nbsp;
SATURDAY, JULY 21
6:30 AM: Media Flight
5:30 PM: Activities begin at the Balloon Classic
6:30 PM: Balloon Launch
&nbsp;
SUNDAY, JULY 22
6:30 AM: Balloon Launch
&nbsp;
JACKSON-BELDEN FOOD FEST ACTIVITIES:
FRIDAY, JULY 29
4:00 PM:&nbsp; Activities begin at the Food Fest
6:00 - 8:00 PM: Band (to be announced)
9:00 - 11:30 PM: Band (to be announced)
&nbsp;
SATURDAY, JULY 21
4:00 PM:&nbsp; Activities begin at the Food Fest
4:30 - 6:00 PM: Band (to be announced)
6:30 - 8:30 PM: Band (to be announced)
9:00 - 10:00 PM: Band (to be announced)
10:00 - 10:30 PM: Fireworks
10:30 - 11:30 PM: Band (to be announced)
At both venues, there are also awide variety of food and beverage vendors, as well as family activities such as a playground of inflatables and balloon education area.
&nbsp;
Is parking available? Yes. Parking is only $5.00 after 3:00 p.m. in the Kent State University at Stark/Stark State College lots. Disabled parking is available to those who present their disability parking permit.
When will the balloons glow? The&nbsp;illuminating Night Glow is scheduled for Friday night at 9:30&nbsp;PM but is also weather dependent.&nbsp; Watch as the balloons &ldquo;dance&rdquo; to music &ndash; it's quite a sight to see!
When are the fireworks? The Jackson-Belden Food Fest hosts the spectacular fireworks show on Saturday night at 10:00 PM., once again, a bit weather dependent.&nbsp;For more information, visit www.jbcc.org.
What kind of entertainment can I expect to see?&nbsp; All kinds! The Balloon Classic Invitational/Jackson-Belden Food Fest offers a variety of entertainment. From giant hot air balloons, to fireworks, food, music and children&rsquo;s areas &ndash; this is quite an event to see!
Can I bring Fido? Sorry -- no. You will definitely enjoy this event, but it is not a place for pets. We do not have doggy port-a-johns or water stations, so please leave Fido at home. Many animals are frightened around crowds or loud noises such as fireworks. Service dogs are welcome.
Will the balloons take off or land near my home? We wish we could say yes, because watching these big beauties is fascinating, but their location is 100% based on the winds! Pilots are briefed on wind speed and direction before each flight, which dictates where they will take off and land. Keep your eyes to the skies!
What should I bring? Please bring blankets and/or chairs for seating. Don&rsquo;t forget your cameras! Food and drinks are available for purchase, as well as souvenirs.
Can I go on a balloon ride? No. Due to liability and insurance, spectators are not permitted to take balloon rides at the event.
How close can I get to the balloons? Spectators will have a great view of the balloons from just about anywhere but are not permitted on the launch field which is reserved only for&nbsp;pilots, crew, and credentialed media.
Where can I eat and stay during the Enshrinement Festival events? Please check out www.visitcantonstark.com for more information.
QUESTIONS OR NEED FURTHER INFO -- CONTACT LAURA PERRY:&nbsp; 330.458.2054 or laurap@cantonchamber.org
&nbsp;]]></description>      </item>      <item>          <title>Canton Regional Chamber and Pro Football Hall of Fame announce key chairs for Enshrinement Festival</title>          <link>http://www.profootballhoffestival.com/canton-regional-chamber-and-pro-football-hall-of-fame-announce-key-chairs-for-enshrinement-festival</link>          <pubDate>Mon, 25 April 2011 12:36:02 EDT</pubDate>          <description><![CDATA[The Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement Festival department of Canton Regional Chamber of Commerce and the Pro Football Hall of Fame have named the following key committee chairs: Brad Longbrake, Community Parade; Karen Myers, Food; David Kiddey, Staging; and Joann Smith, Special Events.&nbsp;&nbsp;
Longbrake is partner at Reminger Co. LPA. A graduate of Wooster High School and the College of Wooster, he graduated from the School of Law at Case Western Reserve University. A member of the Community Parade Committee for the past 14 years, this marks his second year as chairman. He also served two years on the Grand Parade Committee. He and wife Suzanne have two children.&nbsp;
The Community Parade is scheduled to kick-off at 2:30 p.m. on July 31, at 11th Street and Market Avenue North, and will travel south through the heart of downtown Canton. Longbrake will be assisted by vice chairman Bernie Bresson.&nbsp;
Myers is a 15-year member of the Food Committee, with this being her first year as chairman, and she brings great expertise to the task via her position as consumer services supervisor for the Canton City Health Department. A graduate of East Canton High School and Kent State University, she has also taken classes at Walsh University. She and her husband Les have two children and three grandchildren.&nbsp;
The Food Committee oversees the menu and wine selections, working closely with caterers, to ensure the success of the food service to 12,000 guests at the Enshrinement Festival&rsquo;s Fashion Show Luncheon, Enshrinees Dinner and Enshrinees GameDay Roundtable. Serving as vice chairman of the committee is Dean Kahler.&nbsp;
Kiddey brings 12 years of committee experience with him to his first year as chairman of the Staging Committee, along with exceptional knowledge gained in his position as department supervisor for The Home Depot. He graduated from the former Glenwood High School and attended Kent State University. He is past president of Trendition House Color Association and has been active in the Jackson Band Boosters and Boy Scouts of America. He and wife Vicky are the parents of two children and grandparents to seven.&nbsp;
The Staging Committee directs the planning, preparation and production of the Queen Pageant, Fashion Show Luncheon, Enshrinees Dinner and Enshrinees GameDay Roundtable. Greg Briggs is assisting Kiddey as vice chairman.&nbsp;
Smith, coordinator of student teaching and field experience at Kent State University at Stark, is heading the Hall of Fame Special Events Committee for the ninth year. Prior to this position, she served as chairman of the Enshrinement Festival Souvenir Committee, was a long-time member of the Appreciation Party Committee, and she continues to serve as co-chairman of the Ribs Burnoff judging sub-committee. She shares her musical gifts as a choir member at Our Lady of Peace Catholic Church, and as a singer and secretary of the board of trustees for Voices of Canton. She and husband Fred are the parents of two sons and grandparents of two granddaughters.&nbsp;
As Special Events chairman, one of her major tasks will be to coordinate the Hall of Fame Board of Trustees Reception, which is staged as the first official function for the Enshrinees and their presenters, returning Hall of Famers and other out of town guests. Additionally, the Special Events Committee provides services such as emergency medical and dental assistance for guests of the Hall of Fame during their stay in Canton, and the committee is always on call to assist the Enshrinees and their families as needed. Smith will be assisted with these many duties by vice chairman Linda Leitzke.&nbsp;
In 2011, the Pro Football Hall of Fame and Enshrinement Festival will mark the 48th anniversary of honoring the legends of professional football, which includes conducting a world-renowned festival celebrating the annual enshrinement of football players, coaches and contributors into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. The collaborative efforts of this leadership team, combined with the professional staffs at the Chamber of Commerce and the Pro Football Hall of Fame, and the dedicated team of more than 4,200 volunteers, will ensure the success of 18 unique events from July 28 to Aug. 9, 2011. The Enshrinement Festival activities, attended by nearly 700,000 people, are expected to produce an economic impact of over $30 million for the Canton/Stark County area and nearly $54 million for the State of Ohio. In addition, millions will experience aspects of the Enshrinement Festival as events are televised and covered by other media.]]></description>          <enclosure url="http://www.profootballhoffestival.com/uploads/295191303746517.jpg" length="21299" type="image/pjpeg" />          <enclosure url="http://www.profootballhoffestival.com/uploads/64311306357165.jpg" length="94424" type="image/pjpeg" />          <enclosure url="http://www.profootballhoffestival.com/uploads/289661302206007.jpg" length="101858" type="image/pjpeg" />          <enclosure url="http://www.profootballhoffestival.com/uploads/290501302206105.jpg" length="58086" type="image/pjpeg" />      </item>      <item>          <title>Chamber and Hall announce key chairs for Enshrinement Festival</title>          <link>http://www.profootballhoffestival.com/chamber-and-hall-announce-key-chairs-for-enshrinement-festival</link>          <pubDate>Wed, 25 May 2011 16:54:11 EDT</pubDate>          <description><![CDATA[Souvenirs &bull; Appreciation Party &bull; Hostesses &bull; First Play &bull; Autograph&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
CANTON, OHIO (May 13, 2011) &ndash; The Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement Festival department of Canton Regional Chamber of Commerce and the Pro Football Hall of Fame have named the following key committee chairs: Mike Boylan, Souvenirs; Julie Norris, Appreciation Party; Nancy Chapman, Hostesses; Richard Lutz, First Play, and Steve Marcelli, Autograph.&nbsp;
Boylan has been a very active Enshrinement Festival volunteer for the past 15 years, previously serving as chairman of the Security and Logistics Committee and currently in his third year as Souvenir Committee chairman. He is a realtor with Cutler Real Estate, and a member of Stark County Association of Realtors.&nbsp;
He and his team of highly-energized volunteers are responsible for selling official souvenir and commemorative items at the majority of the 18 events throughout the nearly two weeks of the Enshrinement Festival. Many of this year&rsquo;s souvenir items, including the collector&rsquo;s pin, will depict the Enshrinement Festival or Hall of Fame logo, and all items provide lasting memories of the festivities. Boylan will receive extensive assistance from vice chairman Michelle Moyer.&nbsp;
Norris is a certified pharmacy technician and pharmacy benefits coordinator for AultCare. She is serving her second year as chairman of the Appreciation Party Committee after being on the committee for nine years. She has also served as a hostess for the Enshrinees Dinner Committee. A member of Aultman/AultCare Race Committee, she is also a member of the Canton South DHO Advisory Committee and is an independent consultant for Arbonne International. She is married to Paul, and together they are the proud parents of two children and one grandson.&nbsp;
The Appreciation Party is held to show gratitude to the generous sponsors and team of more than 4,200 dedicated community volunteers who provide the resources and support to make the annual Enshrinement Festival such a huge success. Dave Dolan is serving as committee vice chair.&nbsp;
Chapman is a professional contracting representative for Medical Mutual of Ohio. She has served as an Enshrinement hostess since 1998, and this is her third year in the chairmanship role. She has a special enthusiasm for the Enshrinement Festival Community Parade, which her company has supported for the past 11 years. She is a member of American Health Insurance Plans and Toastmasters of America. Chapman and husband Thomas are parents of two daughters and one son, and proud grandparents of five, with a sixth on the way!&nbsp;
Chapman will be assisted by vice chairman Daisy Suggs in selecting and preparing the numerous volunteer hostesses who are given various assignments, including assisting in the press box during the NFL/Hall of Fame Game and working on the stage during the Enshrinement ceremony. Each member of the 2011 Class of Enshrinees and their presenters will have a hostess assigned to his family while in Canton, and hostesses are also used to assist the wives of returning members of the Pro Football Hall of Fame.&nbsp;
Lutz, a Canton native, is a registered architect and serves as president of Lawrence and Dykes Architects. In addition to his degree from Miami University, he completed the MBA Highlights program at Kent State University at Stark, as well as studies at the Harvard University Graduate School of Design. He was the First Play vice chairman since its inception, with this year being his fourth consecutive year as chairman. Lutz is a Canton Rotary Paul Harris Fellow and graduate of Leadership Stark County. He shares his time and talents as a member of the Meyers Lake YMCA board and American Institute of Architects. He and wife Laura are the parents of two daughters.&nbsp;
First Play committee vice chairmen are Matthew Petit and Laura Weisgarber. The event will begin at 10 a.m. on Thursday, Aug. 4. Nearly 2,000 enthusiastic youngsters will pass an official NFL football through a three-mile child-link chain, from the site in downtown Canton where the NFL was founded in 1920, to the steps of the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Emphasizing the importance of physical fitness starting at an early age, it is also a great ceremonial kick-off to an incredible weekend of football.&nbsp;
Marcelli, a Massillon native, is a Washington High School graduate and attended Walsh University. He is an executive sales associate at Putman Properties and a member of both the Stark County and National Associations of Realtors. He received the Co-Star Power Broker Award in recognition of his accomplishments and is a member of the President&rsquo;s Sales Club of the Ohio Association of Realtors. He and wife Lori are the proud parents of three daughters and one son.&nbsp;
A member of the Autograph Committee since 1999, this is his first year chairing the committee, and he is assisted by vice chairman Scott Clark. The committee oversees the sessions where fans have the opportunity to preserve football memories with autographs from the current Class of Enshrinees as well as some of the previous inductees into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.]]></description>          <enclosure url="http://www.profootballhoffestival.com/uploads/162801305549425.jpg" length="11019" type="image/pjpeg" />          <enclosure url="http://www.profootballhoffestival.com/uploads/59811306356796.jpg" length="12069" type="image/pjpeg" />          <enclosure url="http://www.profootballhoffestival.com/uploads/159661305549399.jpg" length="29686" type="image/pjpeg" />          <enclosure url="http://www.profootballhoffestival.com/uploads/159641305549333.jpg" length="27185" type="image/pjpeg" />          <enclosure url="http://www.profootballhoffestival.com/uploads/159481305549258.jpg" length="4416" type="image/pjpeg" />      </item>      <item>          <title>Class of 2011 Autograph Session FAQ</title>          <link>http://www.profootballhoffestival.com/class-of-2010-autograph-session-faq</link>          <pubDate>Fri, 4 February 2011 17:50:43 EST</pubDate>          <description><![CDATA[THIS SECTION IS STILL UNDER CONSTRUCTIONPLEASE CHECK BACK SOON]]></description>      </item>      <item>          <title>Community Parade FAQ</title>          <link>http://www.profootballhoffestival.com/community-parade-faq</link>          <pubDate>Tue, 1 November 2011 17:40:25 EDT</pubDate>          <description><![CDATA[What time does the Community Parade begin?&nbsp; Kick-off is at 2:30 p.m.
Where is the Community Parade route?&nbsp; The parade will begin at the corner of 11th Street and Market Avenue North and units will travel south&nbsp;on Market through the heart of downtown Canton, and disband between 2nd and 3rd Streets SE.
How do I get an application for the parade?&nbsp; Applications will be available on-line soon.&nbsp; In the meantime, please call&nbsp;Kathy Lindenberger at 330.458.2056 for information.&nbsp;
Is there a fee to enter?&nbsp; There is no fee to enter unless you are a commercial entity. Commercial advertising shall not be displayed without prior approval of the Enshrinement Festival committee and prior payment of an advertiser&rsquo;s fee of $250.
Where do I park?&nbsp; Convenient parking is available on area streets and in surrounding parking lots.
Is there bleacher seating?&nbsp; There are no reserved bleachers or chairs. Spectators are welcome to find their own place to watch the parade along the route on Market Avenue -- bring your lawn chair and sun screen!
Will the parade be televised locally?&nbsp; Typically the parade is locally televised -- check back periodically for details.
Can I purchase a video of the parade?&nbsp; Community Parade DVDs may be purchased by calling Kathy Lindenberger at 330.458.2056.&nbsp; The cost is $24.95 per copy, plus applicable shipping/handling fees.
Where do I drop off participants in the parade?&nbsp; Traffic is heavy, so it's very important that you follow directions from the safety officials and volunteers stationed in the area.&nbsp; Drop off participants in the staging area in the parking lot behind the Masonic Temple -- you must enter off Walnut, just south of 9th Street.&nbsp;For the safety of all, vehicles are NOT permitted to stop on Walnut Avenue to drop off participants.
Can participants in the parade throw candy or other items to the spectators, or approach spectators to distribute goodies or information?&nbsp; Sorry, this is strictly prohibited due to safety and liability reasons.
QUESTIONS OR NEED FURTHER INFO -- CONTACT KATHY LINDEBERGER: 330.458.2056 or kathyl@cantonchamber.org
&nbsp;]]></description>      </item>      <item>          <title>Concert and Fireworks FAQ</title>          <link>http://www.profootballhoffestival.com/concert-and-fireworks-faq</link>          <pubDate>Tue, 1 November 2011 17:37:28 EDT</pubDate>          <description><![CDATA[When and where will the&nbsp;fireworks be launched?&nbsp; This awesome fireworks show will originate at 10 p.m.&nbsp;from the Cornerstone Square parking deck on the corner of Walnut and 2nd Street, SE in downtown Canton.&nbsp; But, come early to enjoy musical entertainment and fun activities for the kids.
Will rain cancel the show?&nbsp; Fireworks can be shot -- and even enjoyed --&nbsp;in the rain!&nbsp; The show will go on as long as conditions are safe for our spectators.
Where is the best viewing area?&nbsp; This venue offers a huge variety of unobstructed viewing opportunities throughout the greater downtown Canton area.&nbsp; While viewing within the drop zone is strictly prohibited, spectators&nbsp;can get a fantastic view&nbsp;by sitting right on Tuscarawas&nbsp;Street as well as on Walnut Avenue (north of Tusc).
Where can I park for this event?&nbsp; The Cornerstone Square and the Millennium parking decks will be closed to the public but&nbsp;parking is available in the NewMarket parking deck at 233 Market Avenue South.&nbsp; Additionally, there are many open lots and on-street parking spaces in downtown Canton.&nbsp;Come early, and stay late!
What are road closings for Concert &amp; Fireworks?&nbsp; (This information is tentative at this time and subject to slight adjustment as planning proceeds.) Beginning at&nbsp;1:00 p.m.: Walnut Avenue from Tuscarawas Street going north to 5th Street will be closed; 5th Street will remain open all evening to vehicular traffic. Beginning at 2 p.m.: Intersecting streets including 2nd, 3rd, and 4th, will be closed from Piedmont to Cherry (meters will be bagged accordingly).
Is there public transportation available?&nbsp; Please check with SARTA at: wwwsartaonline.com or by calling, 330.477.2782
Will there be beverages and food availalbe?&nbsp; You can purchase beverages and a wonderful variety of tasty treats from vendors who are open from 5:30 p.m. till 10:30 p.m.
How do I become a Concert &amp; Fireworks vendor?&nbsp; Please contact Kathy Lindenberger, event manager, at 330.458.2056.
QUESTIONS OR NEED FURTHER INFO -- CONTACT KATHY LINDENBERGER: 330.458.2056 or kathyl@cantonchamber.org
&nbsp;
&nbsp;]]></description>      </item>      <item>          <title>Contact Us</title>          <link>http://www.profootballhoffestival.com/contact-us</link>          <pubDate>Thu, 27 January 2011 17:21:22 EST</pubDate>          <description><![CDATA[]]></description>      </item>      <item>          <title>Director, Joanne K. Murray</title>          <link>http://www.profootballhoffestival.com/director-joanne-k-murray</link>          <pubDate>Tue, 20 December 2011 09:50:01 EST</pubDate>          <description><![CDATA[Welcome to the Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement Festival Web site. We appreciate the opportunity to share with you the fun and excitement of this annual event and hope that after reviewing the site, you'll make plans to experience the Enshrinement Festival in person!&nbsp; The Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement Festival department of the Canton Regional Chamber of Commerce is a proud partner with the National Pro Football Hall of Fame. Together, we plan and stage 18 events over a nearly two-week period, for the enjoyment of 700,000 people&nbsp;- all celebrating the induction of football players coaches and contributors into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Our 48-year history of success is the result of a collaborative effort among more than 4,200 extraordinary community volunteers, 180 generous corporate sponsors, annual ticket holders, government entities, and our professional and dedicated staff, including:&nbsp; Chris Gumpp, Sponsorship Manager; Karen Khourey, Administrative Specialist and Event Coordinator; Kathy Lindenberger, Souvenir &amp; Event Manager; Kim Miller, Ticket &amp; Event Manager; and Laura Perry, Event Manager.&nbsp;
Travel through our Web site and you'll see that the Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement Festival has something for everyone. An elite tourism industry selection committee from the American Bus Association has designated the Enshrinement Festival as one of the Top 100 Events in North America.&nbsp; We appreciate your interest in the Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement Festival and hope you'll continue to read about it, inquire about it, support it, and most of all...enjoy it!
(Note:&nbsp; There is currently a vacant Event Manager position in the Enshrinement Festival department at the Canton Regional Chamber of Commerce.&nbsp; While it will not be filled immediately, if you are a qualified candidate, feel free to send a letter of interest and resume to Joanne Murray: joannem@cantonchamber.org. Qualifications include prior event management experience, extreme attention to detail, ability to multi-task, and proven success in working with a large number of volunteers and/or constituents.)]]></description>      </item>      <item>          <title>Drum Corps International Competition FAQ</title>          <link>http://www.profootballhoffestival.com/drum-corps-international-competition-faq</link>          <pubDate>Tue, 1 November 2011 17:53:39 EDT</pubDate>          <description><![CDATA[What time should I arrive?&nbsp; The gates open at 5:30 p.m. and we recommend that you arrive early enough to be in your seats prior to the pre-show beginning at 6:30 p.m.&nbsp; Traffic will be heavy, so plan accordingly.
Do I have to pay for parking?&nbsp; There is no charge for parking at Paul Brown Tiger Stadium.&nbsp; But remember, traffic will be heavy so give yourself plenty of time.
Can I purchase tickets at the gate?&nbsp; Yes, but pleae note that ticket prices do increase the date of the show -- so buy pre-sale and save a bit!
Are there children&rsquo;s prices?&nbsp; Children&rsquo;s prices (12 and under) are available on tickets purchased in the General Admission seating only (sections 1 and 6). &nbsp;Tickets in the Reserved or Premium Reserved Seating remain the same for all ages.
Can I get out of my seat during the show? &nbsp;Drum Corps etiquette requires that spectators not move in or out of the stands during a corps performance.&nbsp; You can enter or leave between performances or during intermission.
Is food available at the show?&nbsp; Food and beverage items are available for purchase at the stadium concession stands managed by the Massillon Tiger Swing Band Boosters.
What happens if it rains?&nbsp; Due to the strict travel schedule of the corps, no rain date or refund is available.&nbsp; However, the corps&nbsp;respect the importance of giving their fans a show and will do everything possible to reach that goal, even if has to be a stand-still performance.
QUESTIONS OR NEED FURTHER INFO -- CONTACT KIM MILLER:&nbsp; 330.458.2048 or kimm@cantonchamber.org
&nbsp;]]></description>      </item>      <item>          <title>Emcees named for Enshrinement Festival events</title>          <link>http://www.profootballhoffestival.com/emcees-named-for-enshrinement-festival-events</link>          <pubDate>Mon, 19 September 2011 15:09:45 EDT</pubDate>          <description><![CDATA[The Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement Festival department of the Canton Regional Chamber of Commerce has announced emcees for various events during this year&rsquo;s festivities.

Matt Fox will serve as emcee at the Fashion Show Luncheon on Friday, Aug. 5.&nbsp;Fox is a well-known HGTV host who has had great success as a speaker, television host, carpenter and designer, as well as being a published author. With 17 years of experience as a public speaker and presenter at home and garden trade shows, he has also appeared on numerous national and regional radio and television shows. He was the host of HGTV&rsquo;s Room by Room, which started in 1994 with co-host Shari Hiller, and he wrote, designed and hosted over 360 episodes, with his Christmas episode the highest rated special in HGTV history. Room by Room was the first show to air on HGTV and is the longest running program in the decorating category in television history. He and Hiller now have a PBS series called Around the House with Matt and Shari and he is co-host on Cook and Fox in the Morning on Canton&rsquo;s own News-Talk 1480 WHBC.
The fashion show will include state-of-the-art sound, lighting, and video to showcase male and female professional models featuring the season&rsquo;s hottest fashions. Providing added energy throughout the show will be a variety of musical entertainment including Jonah Koslen and Dianne Rasbitsky singing &ldquo;The Music of the Movies&rdquo; and members of the Cleveland School of the Arts Dance Company, under the direction of choreographer Terrence Greene, featuring &ldquo;Dirty Dancing Revisited.&rdquo; High fashion trends are also expected to be seen on attendees who hope to win the fourth annual Westfield Belden Village &ldquo;Fan Fashion Favorite&rdquo; contest. A winner in each dining room will receive a $50 Westfield Belden Village gift card, with a $250 Westfield Belden Village gift card going to the grand prize winner.
Doors will open at 11 a.m. and activities start at 11:30 a.m.&nbsp;Tickets for this fashion and entertainment celebration are available by calling (330) 458-2048.
Rich Eisen, host of NFL Network, will serve as emcee of the Enshrinees Dinner on Friday, Aug. 5.&nbsp;He was the first on-air talent added to the NFL Network roster in June 2003 and is lead host of the 24-hour, cable and satellite channel dedicated to football. Known for his intelligence and wit, Eisen signed a new, long-term deal with NFL Network in 2010 and became the new host of NFL GameDay Morning, the first and most comprehensive NFL pre-game show on television. He remains host of several other programs including NFL Total Access and NFL GameDay Highlights, and offers special on-location coverage of many league events.
A two-time Sports Emmy nominee in the Outstanding Studio Host category, Eisen is no stranger to the Enshrinement Festival, having served as emcee of the induction ceremonies in 2009, and as emcee of the Enshrinees GameDay Roundtable several times.
The Enshrinees Dinner activities will begin on Aug. 5 with cocktails at 5:15 p.m. A large contingent of returning Hall of Famers will be present to congratulate this year&rsquo;s Class, and the highlight of the evening will be the presentation of the Hall of Fame gold jackets to Enshrinees Richard Dent, Marshall Faulk, Chris Hanburger, Ed Sabol, Deion Sanders, and Shannon Sharpe, and the Lifetime Achievement Award to the late Les Richter, who will be represented by his son Jon.&nbsp;Enshrinees Dinner tickets are available by calling (330) 458-2048.
Dan Dierdorf will be teaming up with husband and wife team Dionne Miller and Ray Crawford from Fox SportsNet Ohio to co-host the television broadcast of the Timken Grand Parade, which will step-off at 8 a.m. on Saturday, Aug. 6.
Dierdorf, a Canton native, is a 1996 inductee into the Pro Football Hall of Fame and 2000 inductee into the College Football Hall of Fame. He was a 1970 consensus All-American at University of Michigan. He went on to play 13 seasons with the St. Louis Cardinals (1971-1983), was named All-Pro five times, was selected as the NFL Players Association&rsquo;s top offensive lineman three times and was voted to the NFL Team of the Decade for the 1970s. He began his broadcasting career in 1984 with CBS Sports&rsquo; NFL broadcasts, first as play-by-play announcer and later as color analyst. In 1987, he joined the ABC Sports&rsquo; Monday Night Football broadcast team, and in 1999 returned to CBS Sports as a game analyst for the network&rsquo;s coverage of The NFL on CBS.
Nationally recognized as one of the top football announcers in the industry, Dierdorf is a three-time Emmy Award nominee (1987, 1988, and 1989) as Outstanding Sports Analyst, and the 2008 recipient of the Pete Rozelle Radio-Television Award.
Miller&nbsp;will be in the broadcast booth to provide color commentary. She is a freelance host/reporter with FSNO, mainly as a sideline reporter for the high school football game of the week and remote host for Buckeye State Tailgate.&nbsp;Crawford&nbsp;will be responsible for man-on-the-street interviews with the 2011 Class of Enshrinees and many returning Hall of Famers. For the past two years, he has been an anchor and reporter for FSNO, mainly for Blue Jackets hockey and Xavier men&rsquo;s college basketball and high school football.
The Timken Grand Parade will step-off at 8 a.m. on Aug. 6, following Cleveland Avenue from Sixth Street S to 25th Street N where it will begin to disband. Featured will be the 2011 Class of Enshrinees along with many returning Hall of Famers, 16 giant helium balloons, 20 marching and military bands, 11 floats, antique vehicles and 24 specialty units, including the giant walking flag, Ohio Purple Peddlers, South Shore Drill Team, Magical Train, and Al Kaf Youth Group.
A wide television viewing audience is expected on Fox Sports Net Ohio, available to almost six million households saturating Ohio and reaching into portions of West Virginia, Kentucky, Illinois, Indiana, Pennsylvania and New York. It will be broadcast on Sunday, Aug. 14, from approximately 4 to 6 p.m. (immediately following the Cincinnati Reds post-game show), and will re-air on Monday, Aug. 15, from approximately 8:30 to 10:30 p.m. (unless there is a Reds make-up game due to previous weather cancellation). The Timken Grand Parade can also be seen on Aug. 13 at 8 p.m. on Time Warner Cable Channel 989; WIVM Channel 39; and Massillon Cable Channel 128. Viewers can also enjoy the parade on Time Warner Cable &ndash; Local On-Demand channel 411 beginning Sept. 15.
For those wishing to enjoy the parade sights and sounds on-site, reserved chair and bleacher seats are available by calling (330) 458-2088.
Adam Schefter will emcee the Enshrinees GameDay Roundtable on Sunday, Aug. 7.&nbsp;He has covered the NFL for over 20 years and is regarded as one of the National Football League&rsquo;s top reporters. He started as a sportswriter for the Denver Post where he covered the Broncos for 15 years and was named Colorado Sports Writer of the Year in 2002 and 2003. In 2004, he joined the NFL Network as a reporter and analyst until he joined ESPN in 2009 as an NFL Insider. He is highly recognized as a contributor on several shows including SportsCenter, NFL Live, and Sunday NFL Countdown. Last year, Schefter did a cross-country road trip to all 32 NFL training camps in 19 days. The author of four books, including one that made the New York Times bestseller list, he is a multi-talented sports enthusiast.Enshrinees GameDay Roundtable activities will begin at 12:30 p.m. on Aug. 7, and will conclude with a center stage roundtable presentation featuring members of the newly inducted Class of Enshrinees in an unscripted, up-close-and-personal format where they share stories and memories of their careers. Enshrinees GameDay Roundtable tickets are available by calling (330) 458-2048.]]></description>          <enclosure url="http://www.profootballhoffestival.com/uploads/177111316458986.jpg" length="49099" type="image/pjpeg" />          <enclosure url="http://www.profootballhoffestival.com/uploads/177131316458916.jpg" length="42210" type="image/pjpeg" />          <enclosure url="http://www.profootballhoffestival.com/uploads/180911316459334.jpg" length="51948" type="image/pjpeg" />          <enclosure url="http://www.profootballhoffestival.com/uploads/172171316458942.jpg" length="59955" type="image/pjpeg" />          <enclosure url="http://www.profootballhoffestival.com/uploads/179631316459242.jpg" length="47078" type="image/pjpeg" />          <enclosure url="http://www.profootballhoffestival.com/uploads/178931316459282.jpg" length="11861" type="image/pjpeg" />      </item>      <item>          <title>Enshrinees Dinner FAQ</title>          <link>http://www.profootballhoffestival.com/enshrinees-dinner-faq</link>          <pubDate>Mon, 6 February 2012 19:23:09 EST</pubDate>          <description><![CDATA[What are ticket prices?&nbsp; Ticket prices&nbsp;vary depending on location either in the main auditorium or in one of the many satellite rooms -- check back soon for 2012 prices.&nbsp; All guests enjoy the cocktail party and a wonderful dinner before being escorted into the main auditorium for the program.&nbsp; There's not a bad seat in the house!
What should I wear?&nbsp; Most men wear a suit and tie, and women wear evening attire (but not formal wear).
Where do I park?&nbsp; Convenient, free parking is availabile in the parking deck on site. Some patrons choose to find on-street parking or at area surface lots.
What time should I arrive?&nbsp; The cocktail party begins at 5:15 p.m.; doors to the dinner open at 6:15 p.m., and dinner is served approximately 6:30 p.m.&nbsp; Traffic will be very heavy, so please plan accordingly.
What special treats can I look forward to at this event?&nbsp; You will have a chance to&nbsp;offer a warm welcome to&nbsp;the&nbsp;2012 Class of Enshrinees--Jack Butler, Dermontti Dawson, Charles Doleman, Cortez Kennedy, Curtis Martin, and Willie Roaf&nbsp;as they briefly tour through each dining area, and again as they receive their gold NFL Alumni jacket, one of the&nbsp;symbols of their induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.&nbsp; Additionally, you'll see many of your favorite football heroes as a large contingent of Hall of Famers will be introduced center stage as they join in paying tribute to the newest group of Enshrinees to join their exclusive fraternity.
What time does the event conclude?&nbsp; The festivities should conclude between 9:30 and 10:00 p.m.--then you will definitely reminisce about this great event for years to come!
QUESTIONS OR NEED FURTHER INFO -- CONTACT KIM MILLER: 330.458.2048 or joannem@cantonchamber.org ]]></description>      </item>      <item>          <title>Enshrinees Gameday Roundtable FAQ</title>          <link>http://www.profootballhoffestival.com/enshrinees-gameday-roundtable-faq</link>          <pubDate>Fri, 6 January 2012 18:14:06 EST</pubDate>          <description><![CDATA[What are ticket prices?&nbsp; Ticket prices vary depending on location either in the main auditorium or in one of the many satellite rooms -- check back soon for 2012 prices.&nbsp; All guests enjoy a hot lunch before being escorted into the main auditorium for the roundtable discussion.&nbsp; There's not a bad seat in the house!
What should I wear?&nbsp; Some guests will be wearing business/casual attire, but this is definitely a casual event for fans to enjoy just hours before the NFL/Hall of Fame Game, so feel free to wear the jersey of&nbsp; your favorite football team!
Where do I park?&nbsp; Convenient, free parking is available in the parking deck on site.&nbsp; Some patrons choose to find on-street parking or at surface lots.
What time should I arrive?&nbsp; Doors open at noon, and lunch is served at 12:15 p.m. on the Cultural Center side and at 12:30 p.m. on the Civic Center side.&nbsp; You'll want to be sure to be in your seat on time, as the current Class of Enshrinees will briefly tour each of the dining areas just before lunch is served, and you don't want to miss that opportunity!&nbsp; Traffic will be heavy, so plan accordingly.
What happens during the roundtable?&nbsp; Each of the Enshrinees will be seated center stage, and a sportscaster of national acclaim will lead them in an unscripted, informal chat about their playing days and special moments during their careers.&nbsp; You never know what to expect, but it's always insightful, emotional, and humorous -- truly a fan favorite!
What time does the event conclude?&nbsp; The festivities should conclude between 2:15 and 2:45 p.m. -- and we guarantee you'll leave with a smile on your face!
QUESTIONS OR NEED FURTHER INFO -- CONTACT KIM MILLER:&nbsp; 330.458.2048 or joannem@cantonchamber.org 
&nbsp;
&nbsp;
&nbsp;]]></description>      </item>      <item>          <title>Enshrinement Festival announces key committee chairs</title>          <link>http://www.profootballhoffestival.com/enshrinement-festival-announces-key-committee-chairs</link>          <pubDate>Tue, 7 June 2011 10:31:39 EDT</pubDate>          <description><![CDATA[
Hospitality &bull; Security &bull; Transportation &bull; Drum Corps International Competition&nbsp;&nbsp;
The Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement Festival department of Canton Regional Chamber of Commerce and the Pro Football Hall of Fame have named the following key committee chairs: Tim Jones, Hospitality; Todd Stover, Security; Jim Evans, Transportation; and Chip Conde, Drum Corps International Competition.&nbsp;
Jones is vice-president of operations for Slesnick Iron &amp; Metal and a graduate of Jackson High School and The Ohio State University. A veteran on the Hospitality Committee, he has been a member for 26 years and served as vice-chairman for the last seven, with 2011 being his first year as chairman. He also volunteers for the Stefanie Spielman Fund and the Buckeye Cruise for Cancer and is a member of the board of the Friends of the Children&rsquo;s Network. He and wife Tiffany have two children, Jordan and Logan.&nbsp;
The Hospitality Committee coordinates post-banquet receptions and several private receptions as well as the fan appreciation events&nbsp;at the Pro Football Hall of Fame on Enshrinement and NFL/Hall of Fame Game days. Assisting Jones as committee vice chairman is Tim Theiss.&nbsp;
Stover is a staff business analyst for Ohio Edison/Penn Power, and this will be his 32nd year serving on the Hall of Fame Security Committee. He was named vice chairman in 2001, and is now serving his third year as chairman. He is a past-president and chairman of the Jackson-Belden Jaycees, past chairman of Parish Council of Saints Philip &amp; James Church, and is a member of the Edison Men's Club, Knights of Columbus #11037 and North Canton Elks #2029. Stover and wife Shelly are the proud parents of Kyle and Lauren.&nbsp;
The committee is responsible for security at the events sponsored by the Pro Football Hall of Fame, including a Thursday night reception, Friday night reception following the Enshrinees Dinner, Sunday Brunch, Enshrinement ceremony, NFL/Hall of Fame Game and Tailgate reception, Hall of Fame autograph sessions and other Hall of Fame private events. As chairman, Stover and his vice chairmen, Joel Chenevey and Jim Dehnke, will work closely with the Canton Police, Jackson Township Police, Stark County Sheriff&rsquo;s Deputies, State Highway Patrol and other Hall of Fame committees.&nbsp;
Evans has been named Pro Football Hall of Fame Transportation chairman for the 11th year. Senior technology analyst for Bridgestone Americas Business Technologies, he is a 27-year veteran of the committee, which is responsible for providing transportation for the Enshrinees, presenters and other special guests. Many of the Hall&rsquo;s guests will arrive on the Thursday preceding the Enshrinement, and will not leave until after the NFL/Hall of Fame Game. Evans and his wife Diane are the parents of one son.&nbsp;
The massive details of providing transportation will be addressed by a team effort led by Evans and his vice chairmen Joe Andoloro and Bob Vero.
Conde, office manager for Strategy One, Inc., has offered his enthusiasm as a volunteer for numerous Enshrinement Festival committees, and previously chaired the Enshrinees GameDay Roundtable and Concert &amp; Fireworks committees. A graduate of Canton Lincoln High School and University of Mount Union, he is a board member of Canton Palace Theatre Association, Lincoln High School Alumni Association, Friends of the Children&rsquo;s Network, and Canton Marathon. He belongs to the Spanish-American Center, Canton Preservation Society and McKinley Library &amp; Museum. He and wife Kathy proudly claim one four-legged family member named Molly.&nbsp;
Assisting Conde with this family-oriented event is vice chairman Marcas Miles. Drum Corps International Competition tickets are available at (330) 458-2048; at-the-gate ticket prices are slightly increased, so purchase now! The show is sponsored by the Enshrinement Festival in partnership with the Canton Bluecoats Drum and Bugle Corps and will be held at Massillon Paul Brown Tiger Stadium on Tues., Aug. 9. Competing against Canton&rsquo;s own Bluecoats&nbsp;will be&nbsp;some of the nation&rsquo;s top-ranked corps, including (in alphabetical order): Blue Knights from Denver, Colo.; Boston Crusaders from Boston, Mass.; The Cadets from Allentown, Pa.; Crossmen from San Antonio, Texas; Phantom Regiment from Rockford, Ill; Santa Clara Vanguard from Santa Clara, Calif.; and Troopers from Casper, Wyo. These corps will be at the peak of their performance just one week away from the international championships to be held in Indianapolis.]]></description>          <enclosure url="http://www.profootballhoffestival.com/uploads/142461307456866.jpg" length="16060" type="image/pjpeg" />          <enclosure url="http://www.profootballhoffestival.com/uploads/142571307456888.jpg" length="12454" type="image/pjpeg" />          <enclosure url="http://www.profootballhoffestival.com/uploads/143921307457159.jpg" length="15345" type="image/pjpeg" />          <enclosure url="http://www.profootballhoffestival.com/uploads/143491307456947.jpg" length="13108" type="image/pjpeg" />      </item>      <item>          <title>Enshrinement Festival distribution policies and political activity</title>          <link>http://www.profootballhoffestival.com/enshrinement-festival-distribution-policies-and-political-activity</link>          <pubDate>Mon, 19 September 2011 14:46:33 EDT</pubDate>          <description><![CDATA[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&nbsp;prohibited from selling anywhere on the route.
* Any vendor sales or solicitation for sales&nbsp;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&nbsp;prohibited south of 12th Street North.
* If entities choose to distribute information and/or materials, such distribution will be permitted&nbsp;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&rsquo;s rights to view the parade without interruption.
* Information/materials deemed by Enshrinement Festival to be&nbsp;controversial and/or political in nature are prohibited.

Spectators and participants:

* Spectators are absolutely&nbsp;prohibited&nbsp;from coming onto the street and/or approaching any of the units for photographs, autographs, or any other reason.
* Parade participants are&nbsp;prohibited&nbsp;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&rsquo;s Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement Festival &ldquo;Policy on Politics&rdquo; 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&nbsp;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.
]]></description>      </item>      <item>          <title>Enshrinement Festival Fun Facts/Trivia</title>          <link>http://www.profootballhoffestival.com/fun-facts-trivia</link>          <pubDate>Mon, 24 January 2011 14:50:01 EST</pubDate>          <description><![CDATA[
More then 4,200 volunteers help the Canton Regional Chamber of Commerce and Pro Football Hall of Fame plan and stage 18 events over a nearly two-week period, for the enjoyment of nearly 700,000 people.
More than 350 meetings are held by the Enshrinement Festival's 26 committees and 64 sub-committees.
Committee sizes range from 15 to 190 volunteer members.
Just one example of volunteer commitment is reflected by the Communications Committee members who volunteer nearly 700 man hours of service. There are surely many, many other instances of volunteers taking vacation from their jobs, time away from their families, and offering countless hours of volunteer service to attend to the myriad details involved in planning and staging the Enshrinement Festival events.
An estimated 225 volunteers from 35 different Emergency Medical Services (EMS) agencies expended more than 2,276 hours and treated approximately 300 patients.
The EMS committee typically uses more than 2,550 pounds of ice just to provide 9,100 cold towels and 10,200 cups of cool water to event guests and participants.
An additional 85,000 pounds of ice are utilized by other outdoor events for food and beverage service.
Volunteers utilize well over $350,000 worth of loaned equipment, including, radios and free air time.
The Timken Grand Parade is widely broadcast on Fox Sports Net Ohio, along with extensive local and regional cable coverage.
Well over 2,500 volunteers and sponsors attend the Appreciation Party, to celebrate a full year's worth of planning.
Nearly 1,600 gallons of propane are used to refuel the 65 hot air balloons that participate in the Balloon Classic Invitational, and more then $25,000 spent to house and feed the pilots during their three-day stay in Stark County.
Volunteers from six community organizations expend 2,600 hours to man the beverage booths at the three-day Ribs Burnoff.
The seven members of the 2010 Class of Enshrinees into the Pro Football Hall of Fame brought the total to 260 inductees.
]]></description>      </item>      <item>          <title>Enshrinement Festival named one of North America's Top 100 Best Events</title>          <link>http://www.profootballhoffestival.com/enshrinement-festival-named-one-of-north-america-s-top-100-best-events</link>          <pubDate>Mon, 10 October 2011 21:26:35 EDT</pubDate>          <description><![CDATA[The American Bus Association (ABA) recently announced that the Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement Festival has been designated as one of the Top 100 Events in North America for 2012 by an experienced expert tourism industry selection committee. Inclusion in this Top 100 list indicates that the Enshrinement Festival offers excellent entertainment value to both tour groups and individual travelers from around the world, according to ABA.What began 30 years ago as a way for motorcoach operators to incorporate new product into their itineraries has grown to one of the most sought-after lists by travel professionals, motorcoach operators and the general public.&ldquo;The attractiveness of the Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement Festival as a don&rsquo;t-miss entertainment value is only part of why its selection this year is such a distinction,&rdquo; said Peter J. Pantuso, CTIS, ABA&rsquo;s president and CEO. &ldquo;The real news is that the Enshrinement Festival has been recognized as a potential magnet for tourism dollars, at a time when reenergizing domestic tourism is so important to our spirit and our economy. The honor gives you an important boost in visibility among professional tour planners.&rdquo;According to studies completed by researchers at The George Washington University and Dunham and Associates, one overnight visit by a motorcoach group can leave between $5,000 and $11,000 in a local destination&rsquo;s economy. Those dollars are spent on lodging, meals, admissions, fees, shopping, souvenirs, services, and local taxes. Further, a 2005 comprehensive economic impact study commissioned jointly by the Canton Regional Chamber of Commerce, Pro Football Hall of Fame, and Canton/Stark County Convention and Visitors&rsquo; Bureau shows that the Enshrinement Festival annually produces a $31 million economic impact on the local area, and nearly $56 million on the State of Ohio.ABA&rsquo;s 2012 Top 100 Events Selection Committee selected the Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement Festival from hundreds of event nominations submitted by ABA members. Judges considered the event&rsquo;s broad appeal, its accessibility to motorcoaches and skill at handling large groups, and a variety of other relevant criteria. The Enshrinement Festival also received this prestigious recognition in 1982, 1987, 2004, 2008, and 2010.The Top 100 Events list is available online at www.buses.org/News-Publications/Top-100.]]></description>      </item>      <item>          <title>Enshrinement Festival Official Playbooks and Pins now available</title>          <link>http://www.profootballhoffestival.com/enshrinement-festival-official-playbooks-and-pins-now-available</link>          <pubDate>Mon, 23 May 2011 12:41:00 EDT</pubDate>          <description><![CDATA[In 2011, the Pro Football Hall of Fame and Enshrinement Festival will mark the 48th anniversary of honoring the legends of professional football. The world-renowned Enshrinement Festival celebrates the annual Enshrinement of football players, coaches and contributors. With the addition of this year&rsquo;s class, the Enshrinees in the Pro Football Hall of Fame total 267.&nbsp;
All the excitement of this &ldquo;One of a Kind Celebration&rdquo; and a complete schedule of events are captured in the 2011 &ldquo;Official Playbook&rdquo; of the Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement Festival. Individuals, area businesses and organizations are encouraged to pick up this comprehensive brochure at the Canton Regional Chamber of Commerce to distribute to family, friends, customers and clients. It is also available throughout the community at:

Pro Football Hall of Fame Museum
Canton and Massillon Auto Clubs
Tourist Information Center on Fulton Road&nbsp;
Visitors&rsquo; Information Center at Akron-Canton Airport

In addition to the printed copies of this year's Official Playbook, a digital copy is available online at www.ProFootballHOFEF.com/official-playbook for easy reference, download or printing.&nbsp;
The brochure is referred to as the Official Playbook because it contains comprehensive information about each of the 18 events comprising the 2011 Enshrinement Festival, highlights the 2011 Class of Enshrinees &ndash; Richard Dent, Marshall Faulk, Chris Hanburger, Les Richter, Ed Sabol, Deion Sanders, and Shannon Sharpe &ndash; and outlines details of the Future 50 Project, the $27 million expansion and renovation at the Pro Football Hall of Fame, which will be completed in time for the 50th anniversary of the Hall and Enshrinement Festival in 2013.&nbsp;
Continuing a tradition first started in 1977, the 2011 commemorative pins are also currently available, designating the 2011 Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement Festival as a &ldquo;One of a Kind Celebration!&rdquo;&nbsp;
While this year&rsquo;s pin is only $4, it could be worth much more for some lucky customers. Thanks to the generosity of Auntie Anne&rsquo;s Pretzels, each 2011 pin comes in an envelope with a pin prize entry form.
GRAND PRIZES include: $300 in American Express gift cards from CharterOne Bank; commemorative item from the Pro Football Hall of Fame; complete car detailing service from Sure-Fit Auto Care Center; 10 three-foot party subs from J &amp; K Subway (valid in Stark County); one-year supply of Pepsi products from The Pepsi Beverage Company; and a pizza-per-month for one year from Pizza Hut. In addition to these prizes, the pin envelope includes coupons from various businesses for food and entertainment discounts.&nbsp;
Entry forms must be completed and returned to the Canton Regional Chamber offices by 5 p.m. on Friday, August 12, 2011. Mailed entries received Saturday, August 13, or later are not eligible.&nbsp;
Winners will be drawn and announced on News-Talk 1480 WHBC AM on Tuesday, August 16, between 7 and 8 a.m. No purchase is necessary to win. For a complete list of rules and regulations or to request an entry blank, contact the Enshrinement Festival office at (330) 456-7253. The current and many past year&rsquo;s pins can be purchased at the Enshrinement Festival office at the Canton Regional Chamber of Commerce, 222 Market Avenue North, along with a variety of other souvenirs and gift items, including golf shirts, t-shirts and caps. These items will also be available for purchase at all Enshrinement Festival events.&nbsp;&nbsp;]]></description>          <enclosure url="http://www.profootballhoffestival.com/uploads/249401306168614.jpg" length="76909" type="image/jpeg" />      </item>      <item>          <title>Enshrinement Festival Ribs Burnoff winners announced</title>          <link>http://www.profootballhoffestival.com/enshrinement-festival-ribs-burnoff-winners-announced</link>          <pubDate>Mon, 19 September 2011 14:43:33 EDT</pubDate>          <description><![CDATA[Vicky Sterling, this year&rsquo;s chairman of the Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement Festival Ribs Burnoff Committee, has announced that&nbsp;Armadillo BBQ Company has won First Place for Most Outstanding Ribs for the SIXTH YEAR in a row.
Locally-owned&nbsp;Old Carolina Barbecue Co. is an eight-year People&rsquo;s Choice Award winner.
The following is a complete list of the 2011 Ribs Burnoff Competition winners:
First Place Winner: Most Outstanding Ribs; $2,500 PrizeArmadillo&rsquo;s BBQ Company, Youngstown, Ohio
Second Place Winner: Mayor&rsquo;s Award; $1,000 PrizeJack On the Bone, Canton, Ohio
Best Sauce Award Winner; $500 PrizeTexas Pit, Willis, Texas
People&rsquo;s Choice Award WinnerOld Carolina Barbecue, Canton, Ohio
The 2011 HOFEF Ribs Burnoff Competition included eight local and national rib contenders and more than 80 judges. Seven area professional chefs served as judges in selecting the Best Sauce Award winner. The People&rsquo;s Choice Award winner was awarded based on surveys taken by an anonymous, independent group who surveyed the general public at the event to determine the best ribs at the Ribs Burnoff according to the populous.
In addition to fantastic ribs, the annual HOFEF Ribs Burnoff features specialty foods, fun family activities and live music. The Ribs Burnoff continues tonight, Thursday, Aug. 4, at the Stark County Fairgrounds, with a live performance from country artist Phil Vassar. The Ribs Burnoff concludes Friday, Aug. 5, with an evening performance from party band Southside Johnny and The Asbury Jukes &ndash; with special guest Joe Grushecky and the House Rockers.]]></description>      </item>      <item>          <title>Enshrinement Festival Timken Grand Parade steps off Aug. 6</title>          <link>http://www.profootballhoffestival.com/enshrinement-festival-timken-grand-parade-steps-off-aug-6</link>          <pubDate>Fri, 29 July 2011 10:01:42 EDT</pubDate>          <description><![CDATA[The Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement Festival department of the Canton Regional Chamber of Commerce Timken Grand Parade will be held on Saturday, Aug. 6, beginning at 8 a.m. The first grand parade was held in 1963, and it has become one of the largest of the 18 events, which are held over a nearly two-week 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 2011 Class of Enshrinees including Richard Dent, Marshall Faulk, Chris Hanburger, a representative for the late Les Richter, Ed Sabol, Deion Sanders and Shannon Sharpe. Parade spectators will be treated to the sights and sounds of 16 giant helium balloons, 20 marching and military bands, 11 floats, and 24 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 sixth consecutive year as the main sponsor of the parade.
Specialty units sure to thrill the spectators include the giant walking flag, Ohio Purple Peddlers, South Shore Drill Team, Magical Train and Al Kaf Youth Group.
The Timken Grand Parade will enjoy a wide television viewing audience on Fox Sports Net Ohio, available to almost six million households saturating Ohio and reaching into portions of West Virginia, Kentucky, Illinois, Indiana, Pennsylvania and New York. It will be broadcast on Sunday, Aug. 14, from approximately 4 to 6 p.m. (immediately following the Cincinnati Reds post-game show), and will re-air on Monday, Aug. 15, from approximately 8:30 to 10:30 p.m. (unless there is a Reds make-up game due to previous weather cancellation).
The Timken Grand Parade can also be seen on Aug. 13 at 8 p.m. on Time Warner Cable Channel 989, WIVM Channel 39, and Massillon Cable Channel 128. Viewers can also enjoy the parade on Time Warner Cable &ndash; Local On-Demand channel 411 beginning Sept. 15.
Dan Dierdorf, Canton native and 1996 inductee into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, will bring his extensive knowledge of the game to the broadcast booth for the 13th consecutive year, serving as commentator along with Dionne Miller, a free lance host/reporter with FSNO, mainly as a sideline reporter for the high school football game of the week and remote host for &ldquo;Buckeye State Tailgate.&rdquo; Responsible for man-on-the-street interviews with the 2011 Class of Enshrinees and many returning Hall of Famers will be Miller&rsquo;s husband, Ray Crawford, who for the past three years has been an anchor and reporter for FSNO, mainly for Blue Jackets hockey and Xavier men&rsquo;s college basketball and high school football.&nbsp;
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 p.m. weekdays.]]></description>      </item>      <item>          <title>Enshrinment Celebration Fan Party FAQ</title>          <link>http://www.profootballhoffestival.com/enshrinment-celebration-fan-party-faq</link>          <pubDate>Fri, 25 June 2010 09:43:33 EDT</pubDate>          <description><![CDATA[THIS SECTION IS STILL UNDER CONSTRUCTIONPLEASE CHECK BACK SOON]]></description>      </item>      <item>          <title>Enshrinment Ceremony FAQ</title>          <link>http://www.profootballhoffestival.com/enshrinment-faq</link>          <pubDate>Tue, 14 February 2012 16:46:39 EST</pubDate>          <description><![CDATA[THIS SECTION IS STILL UNDER CONSTRUCTIONPLEASE CHECK BACK SOON]]></description>      </item>      <item>          <title>Erin Shipbaugh crowned 2011 Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement Festival Queen, seven Court Members announced</title>          <link>http://www.profootballhoffestival.com/erin-shipbaugh-crowned-2011-pro-football-hall-of-fame-enshrinement-festival-queen-seven-court-member</link>          <pubDate>Mon, 9 May 2011 12:26:57 EDT</pubDate>          <description><![CDATA[Erin Shipbaugh, 22, of Rochester, Ohio, was crowned the 2011 Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement Festival Queen from a field of 56 contestants. The 2011 Enshrinement Festival Queen Pageant was held Thursday, May 5, at The Canton Palace Theatre in downtown Canton. Contestants were judged on the basis of personality, poise, beauty, communication skills, academic achievement and service to community.
Seven Court members also were selected, including Brooke Catazaro, 20, of Massillon, Ohio, Kee&rsquo;Auna Cherry, 21, of Canton, Ohio, Lauren Cheviron, 18, of Canton, Ohio, Ebonie Parks, 20 of Canton, Ohio, Cecelia Ramsey, 18, of North Canton, Ohio, Shanice Robinson, 18 of Canton, Ohio, and Haley Smith, 18 of Massillon, Ohio.
Shipbaugh, the daughter of Joe and Kim Shipbaugh, is a graduate of Minerva High School and Ohio University and is currently attending Notre Dame College. Catazaro, the daughter of Bob Catazaro and Kathy Catazaro-Perry, is a graduate of Perry High School and attends Walsh University. Cherry, the daughter of Tonya Fontes, is a graduate of GlenOak High School and attends Kent State University. Cheviron, the daughter of Dennis and Claudia Cheviron, will graduate from Canton South High School and will attend Walsh University. Parks, the daughter of Nelson Parks and Tracy Curtis, is a graduate of GlenOak High School and attends Kent State University. Ramsey, the daughter of Kent and Tam Ramsey, is a graduate of Hoover High School and attends David Lipscomb University. Robinson, the daughter of Stephanie Robinson, will graduate from McKinley High School and will attend Spelman College. Smith, the daughter of Timothy Smith and Jeanne McNeal, will graduate from Perry High School and will attend The Ohio State University.
Kayleigh Kriss, mid-day personality and FM music director of WHBC Mix 94.1, and Ron Ponder, host of Points to Ponder on News-Talk 1480 WHBC, were masters of ceremonies, and Tonya Hodgson Stuck, Enshrinement Festival Queen Pageant event manager, was choreographer. Robert Timken, 2011 general chairman of the Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement Festival&rsquo;s Canton Regional Chamber committees, assisted with crowning the new queen and seven court members, and Bob Hill Quartet, singer/songwriter Julie Hufstetler and Green High School Dance Team provided entertainment throughout the Pageant.
Judges for the event included Shelly Haugh, senior corporate communications Consultant, AEP Ohio; Terrance Jones, executive director, Multi-Development Services of Stark County; Tammy Owens, executive assistant, Pro Football Hall of Fame; and Candy Wallace, community volunteer and 2011 Enshrinement Festival General Vice Chairman of the Canton Regional Chamber committees.
Kara Abbott, 2011 Queen Pageant chairman, vice chairman Crystal McLendon, and the members of the Queen Committee will work with Enshrinement Festival staff to coordinate all activities relating to the Queen and Court during their service as goodwill ambassadors and positive role models throughout the summer via participation in a wide range of community service projects.
At the Enshrinees Dinner, the Court will serve as escorts to the 2011 Class of Enshrinees, including: defensive end Richard Dent, running back Marshall Faulk, linebacker Chris Hanburger, linebacker Les Richter, contributor Ed Sabol, cornerback Deion Sanders and tight end Shannon Sharpe. Further, the Queen and Court will represent the community at all Enshrinement Festival activities, happening from Thursday, July 28 through Tuesday, Aug. 9.]]></description>          <enclosure url="http://www.profootballhoffestival.com/uploads/255721304958352.jpg" length="70964" type="image/pjpeg" />          <enclosure url="http://www.profootballhoffestival.com/uploads/254821304958393.jpg" length="46146" type="image/pjpeg" />      </item>      <item>          <title>Fan Appreciation Tailgate Party FAQ</title>          <link>http://www.profootballhoffestival.com/fan-appreciation-tailgate-party-faq</link>          <pubDate>Fri, 25 June 2010 09:49:09 EDT</pubDate>          <description><![CDATA[THIS SECTION IS STILL UNDER CONSTRUCTIONPLEASE CHECK BACK SOON]]></description>      </item>      <item>          <title>FAQs</title>          <link>http://www.profootballhoffestival.com/faqs</link>          <pubDate>Fri, 4 February 2011 15:07:23 EST</pubDate>          <description><![CDATA[Please feel free to browse the FAQs listed on the right.]]></description>      </item>      <item>          <title>Fashion Show Luncheon FAQ</title>          <link>http://www.profootballhoffestival.com/fashion-show-luncheon-faq</link>          <pubDate>Fri, 6 January 2012 18:11:51 EST</pubDate>          <description><![CDATA[What are ticket prices?&nbsp; Ticket prices are $54, $56, or $68 depending on location either in the main auditorium or in one of the many satellite rooms.&nbsp; All guests enjoy the same wonderful lunch and then are escorted into the main auditorium for Ohio's largest fashion show,&nbsp; There's not a bad seat in the house!
What should I wear?&nbsp; Come dressed to impress--and you might be selected as a candidate for the "Fan Fashion Favorite Contest" and the chance to win a Westfield Belden Village gift card--$50 to each room winner, or $250 to the grand prize winner!&nbsp; 
Where do I park?&nbsp; Convenient, free parking is available in the parking deck on site. Some patrons choose to find on-street parking or at area surface lots.
What time should I arrive?&nbsp; Doors open at 11:00 a.m. and lunch is served at 11:30 a.m.&nbsp; Traffic is usually heavy, so please plan accordingly.
What time does the event conclude?&nbsp; The festivities should conclude between 2:00 and 2:30&nbsp;p.m. -- but your memories will last a lifetime.
How can a retailer feature fashions in the show?&nbsp; It's simple, and totally affordable -- with outstanding promotional opportunities.&nbsp; For a packet that gives you all the important information, just call Tonya at 330.458.2052.
QUESTIONS OR NEED FURTHER INFO -- CONTACT&nbsp;KIM MILLER AT&nbsp; 330.458.20548 or joannem@cantonchamber.org 
&nbsp;]]></description>      </item>      <item>          <title>First Play 2011 FAQ</title>          <link>http://www.profootballhoffestival.com/first-play-2010-faq</link>          <pubDate>Fri, 4 February 2011 17:44:31 EST</pubDate>          <description><![CDATA[THIS SECTION IS STILL UNDER CONSTRUCTIONPLEASE CHECK BACK SOON]]></description>      </item>      <item>          <title>Food, football and fun at the Enshrinement Festival Ribs Burnoff</title>          <link>http://www.profootballhoffestival.com/food-football-and-fun-at-the-enshrinement-festival-ribs-burnoff</link>          <pubDate>Fri, 29 July 2011 09:55:49 EDT</pubDate>          <description><![CDATA[The Canton Regional Chamber of Commerce Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement Festival Ribs Burnoff will have a variety of food vendor booths at the Stark County Fairgrounds Aug. 3, 4 and 5, with the event running 11 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. daily.
Rib and specialty vendors will occupy 34 booth spaces. Rib vendors will compete to win top prizes as judged by more than 80 judges on Wednesday, with the following awards to be announced on Thursday, Aug. 4, at approximately 5 p.m.: Most Outstanding Ribs Award (plaque and $2,500), Mayor&rsquo;s Award (plaque and $1,000), and Best Sauce Award (plaque and $500). Seven area professional chefs will serve as judges in selecting the Best Sauce Award winner. In addition, a People&rsquo;s Choice Award will be given based on surveys taken by an anonymous, independent group who will survey the general public at the event to determine the best ribs at the Ribs Burnoff according to the populous. The winning vendor will receive a plaque and &ldquo;bragging rights&rdquo; for the remainder of the event.
Three restaurants and caterers from Stark County will be serving ribs and competing for the prizes, including Jack on the Bone Rib Team, Old Carolina Barbeque and Two Fat Guys. Armadillo&rsquo;s (2010 Most Outstanding Rib winner) is an Ohio vendor (Youngstown, Ohio) as is Smokin&rsquo; Joe&rsquo;s Hog Wild BBQ (Mansfield, Ohio), and out-of-state participants include Gator&rsquo;s BBQ (Port Dover, Ontario, Canada), Shigs in Pit BBQ (Fort Wayne, Ind.), and Texas Pit BBQ (Willis, Texas).
Specialty food vendors will occupy 16 booths, including Big D&rsquo;s Concessions, Casto Concessions, Cherokee Cuisine, DeStefano&rsquo;s Concessions, DG Concessions, Island Delights, Jack &amp; Rich French Fries, Johnsonville Sausage, Lil John&rsquo;s Concessions, McKinley Band Parents Association, and Sipe Concessions/DiRusso Sausage.
Admission to the Ribs Burnoff is free. On-site parking at the fairgrounds is free each day until 4 p.m., when a fee of $5 per vehicle will be charged. In addition to great food, the event will feature national musical entertainment each night on the Emergency Medicine Physicians Stage:

Wed., Aug. 3: The fantastic Fabulous Thunderbirds featuring Kim Wilson presented in cooperation with WRQK 106.9
Thurs., Aug. 4: Country artist Phil Vassar presented in cooperation with WQXK K-105
Fri., Aug. 5: Party band Southside Johnny and The Asbury Jukes &ndash; with special guest Joe Grushecky and the House Rockers &ndash; presented in cooperation with Mix 94.1

Free, standing room only area is available on the track in front of the stage, or reserved grandstand seats can be purchased for only $9 at the Chamber office at 222 Market Ave. North in downtown Canton, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays, via phone at 330.458.2088, and at the event each day at the souvenir booth and in the evening at the &ldquo;Will Call&rdquo; center at the north end of the grandstand.
In addition to the national musical acts in the evenings on the main stage, attendees can enjoy activities all day including free musical entertainment on the daytime stage featuring the following acts at 5:15 PM: Wednesday &ndash; Brighter Side Band; Thursday &ndash; Wild West Band; and Friday &ndash; Mr. Trick. Other family activities include an expansive children&rsquo;s entertainment area with face painting, caricaturists, balloon twisters, Fantasy Football Zone of interactive inflatables powered by AEP Ohio, master sand sculptor, Lowe&rsquo;s Build &amp; Grow, 2012 Ford Focus Tour and much more.
For more information, call Laura Perry at 330-458-2054.]]></description>      </item>      <item>          <title>Great musical variety at annual Ribs Burnoff</title>          <link>http://www.profootballhoffestival.com/great-musical-variety-at-annual-ribs-burnoff</link>          <pubDate>Sat, 25 June 2011 11:46:22 EDT</pubDate>          <description><![CDATA[The Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement Festival 2011 Ribs Burnoff will offer a wide variety of food, beverages, family activities, and musical entertainment, including the following concert slate for performers on the Emergency Medicine Physicians Stage:

Wednesday, Aug. 3: The Fabulous Thunderbirds featuring Kim Wilson presented in cooperation with WRQK 106.9


Thursday, Aug. 4: Country artist Phil Vassar presented in cooperation with WQXK K-105


Friday, Aug. 5: A fantastic party band (to be announced at a later date due to contractual restrictions) presented in cooperation with Mix 94.1&nbsp; 

All concerts will begin approximately 8 p.m. To accommodate even more fans at the concerts, chairs or seating of any kind will not be permitted anywhere on the track area; all track admission will be free, standing room only. People wishing to have a reserved seat in the grandstands can purchase tickets for only $9 each. Tickets will be available for walk-in purchase beginning Wednesday, June 29, at the Canton Regional Chamber of Commerce in downtown Canton, 222 Market Avenue North from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. each weekday. Phone orders will be accepted beginning Thursday, June 30, by calling 330.458.2088.&nbsp; Tickets can also be purchased on site at the event each day at the souvenir booth and in the evening at the &ldquo;Will Call&rdquo; center at the north end of the grandstand.&nbsp;In addition to the national musical acts in the evenings on the main stage, attendees can enjoy activities all day including free musical entertainment on the daytime stage featuring the following acts at 5:15 PM: Wednesday: Brighter Side Band; Thursday: Wild West Band; and Friday: Mr. Trick.&nbsp; Other family activities include an expansive children&rsquo;s entertainment area with face painting, caricaturists, balloon twisters, Fantasy Football Zone of interactive inflatables powered by AEP Ohio, master sand sculptor, Lowe&rsquo;s Build &amp; Grow, 2012 Ford Focus Tour, and much more.&nbsp;For more information, call Laura Perry at 330-458-2054.&nbsp;CONCERT PERFORMER BIOS&nbsp;
The Fabulous Thunderbirds featuring Kim WilsonThe Fabulous Thunderbirds have a distinctive and powerful sound, influenced by a diversity of musical styles. Co-founder, vocalist, and harmonica player Kim Wilson is the sole original member and still spearheads the group as it evolves into its newest incarnation.&nbsp; They started as a straight blues band but now incorporate a mixture of many styles and define themselves as an American music band with much higher energy than before.&nbsp; Wilson is joined by Jay Moeller on drums, Johnny Moeller and Mike Keller on guitar, and Randy Bermudes on bass, and together they tour extensively in both the United States and Europe.The thread throughout the Thunderbirds career has been the respect they have commanded for their peerless musicianship and devotion to the sounds of blues, R &amp; B, and rock n&rsquo; roll.&nbsp; For Wilson, his musical journey began in California at the age of 17 when he began playing the harmonica and started singing.&nbsp; He moved to Minneapolis for a short time and then headed to Austin, Texas, where he met Jimmie Vaughan, they founded the T-Birds in 1974, and subsequently signed a record deal with CBS/Epic Records.In 1979, The Fabulous Thunderbirds released their first self-titled album which was primarily blues and became a cult classic.&nbsp; In subsequent releases, the band started to incorporate more Cajun, rock n&rsquo; roll, and soul influences.&nbsp; In 1986, they reached a commercial peak with the album, &ldquo;Tuff Enuff&rdquo; and the single of the same title along with &ldquo;Wrap It Up&rdquo; and &ldquo;Look At That&rdquo; all went Top 40.&nbsp; For the remainder of the 80&rsquo;s, the band continued to record and tour and released the album &ldquo;Powerful Stuff.&rdquo;&nbsp; Jimmie Vaughan left the band in 1989, but Wilson kept the group going, incorporating keyboards into the guitar-driven sound.More information: www.fabulousthunderbirds.com
Phil VassarThose who best understand Phil Vassar &ndash; good-time, piano playing, boundless energy on stage, hardest-working-man-in-the business&ndash; also understand the ongoing evolution of his original music. This Virginia-born songwriter and musician has undoubtedly made his mark in Nashville as an acclaimed artist.&nbsp; He&rsquo;s known not only for his gift for hit songwriting, but also for his compelling and highly entertaining skills on the piano.&nbsp; His uniquely piano-based, rhythm and blues-infused, infectiously buoyant brand of music has carried him throughout his career and remains his specialty in the genre.Vassar&rsquo;s resume boasts numerous hits for artists including Alan Jackson, Tim McGraw, Jo Dee Messina, and Collin Raye, and many more hits as an artist in his own right. He&rsquo;s been named the ASCAP Songwriter of the Year twice and has taken top honors from the Academy of Country Music, Billboard MusicRow, and also honored by the the CMA&rsquo;s.&nbsp; Some of Phil&rsquo;s accolades include two time ASCAP Songwriter of the Year, Billboard Magazine Top New Country Artist, Billboard Country Songwriter of the Year, Music Row Magazine Breakthrough Artist of the Year, and ACM Top New Male Vocalist of the Year and Song of The Year- just to name a few.&nbsp;&nbsp;With his self-titled artist debut on Arista/Nashville, Vassar took his seat as country's leading piano man with the success of songs like "Carlene," &ldquo;Just Another Day in Paradise&rdquo; and &ldquo;Six-Pack Summer.&rdquo;&nbsp; Since then, he&rsquo;s continued to prove his worth time and again with releases like &ldquo;American Child,&rdquo; That&rsquo;s When I love You,&rdquo; &ldquo;In A Real Love,&rdquo; "I'll Take That as a Yes (The Hot Tub Song)," &ldquo;Last Day of My Life&rdquo; and &ldquo;Love is a Beautiful Thing.&rdquo;Now with six highly acclaimed albums under his belt, Vassar is ready for the next journey in his musical career. No stranger to hard work and with a strong business mind on his shoulders, he&rsquo;s taking control by launching Rodeowave Entertainment, a full-service Record Label/Promotions/ Management company based in Nashville, TN.&nbsp; First up to be released is his seventh album &ndash; his first ever Live CD/DVD combo recorded in Nashville with brand new music included. Vassar&rsquo;s ongoing evolution endures and will surely prove he&rsquo;s here to stay.More information: www.philvassar.com]]></description>          <enclosure url="http://www.profootballhoffestival.com/uploads/188591309016518.jpg" length="23031" type="image/pjpeg" />          <enclosure url="http://www.profootballhoffestival.com/uploads/188831309016563.jpg" length="20970" type="image/pjpeg" />      </item>      <item>          <title>Halter and Ruda named general vice chairs for 2012 Enshrinement Festival</title>          <link>http://www.profootballhoffestival.com/halter-and-ruda-named-general-vice-chairs-for-2012-enshrinement-festival</link>          <pubDate>Mon, 21 November 2011 08:44:49 EST</pubDate>          <description><![CDATA[The Canton Regional Chamber of Commerce and Pro Football Hall of Fame have named two long-time community volunteers to leadership positions for the 2012 Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement Festival.Joe Halter, founding partner, chairman and CEO of Canton-based Solmet Technologies, Inc., will serve as general vice chairman of the Enshrinement Festival activities planned by the Enshrinement Festival department of the Canton Regional Chamber of Commerce. For the second consecutive year, Guy Ruda, sales associate for R. Z. Marketing Group, will serve as general vice chairman of the Enshrinement Festival activities planned by the Pro Football Hall of Fame.Halter brings first-hand experience to the position as a result of his years of service on the board of directors of the Canton Regional Chamber of Commerce, serving as chairman in 2006. His passion for the Enshrinement Festival runs deep, and his current service as a member of the board of directors of the Pro Football Hall of Fame allows him to bring a unique and energizing perspective to the joint planning efforts between the Chamber and the Hall. He has a strong dedication to the arts, service organizations and business community, and is currently active in Rotary Club of Canton, Stark Development Board and Aultman Health Foundation board of directors. He and his wife Nancy reside in Canton and have two grown sons.During the 2011 Enshrinement Festival while serving in the leadership role as general vice chairman, Ruda also completed his 11th year as chairman of the Enshrinement Committee. He previously served 18 years as a member of the committee, as well as three years as chairman of the former NFL Experience Committee. Ruda and his wife Gail are the proud parents of David and Danielle.Enshrinement Festival leadership will work together with the professional staffs at the Canton Regional Chamber of Commerce and Pro Football Hall of Fame, as well as a team of more than 4,200 dedicated community volunteers, as they plan and stage the 2012 Enshrinement Festival, tentatively slated for July 20 through Aug. 6. The Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement Festival features a total of 18 unique and diverse events, expected to be enjoyed by nearly 700,000 people. The central focus and highlight of the festivities will be the Aug. 4 induction ceremony for the 2012 Class of Enshrinees, who will be announced on Feb. 4 during Super Bowl weekend activities.The 2012 Enshrinement Festival will feature a slightly adjusted schedule, with the Balloon Classic occurring one week earlier than in past years, and the downtown Concert &amp; Fireworks moving from Thursday to Saturday night.]]></description>          <enclosure url="http://www.profootballhoffestival.com/uploads/50811321882995.jpg" length="18859" type="image/pjpeg" />          <enclosure url="http://www.profootballhoffestival.com/uploads/44461321883014.jpg" length="31248" type="image/pjpeg" />      </item>      <item>          <title>History</title>          <link>http://www.profootballhoffestival.com/history</link>          <pubDate>Tue, 12 October 2010 17:02:56 EDT</pubDate>          <description><![CDATA[On September 17, 1920, a group of men gathered in downtown Canton, Ohio, at the Hupmobile showroom of Ralph Hay, owner of the hometown Bulldogs; the building is now known as the Frank T. Bow Federal Building.&nbsp; The result of that historic meeting was the birth of the National Football League.&nbsp;
It seemed logical that a Canton Repository article published on December 6, 1959, announcing the need for a Professional Football Hall of Fame, marked Canton as the perfect site.&nbsp; Due to the tremendous efforts of the late Bill Umstattd, president of the Timken Company, late Paul Brown, legendary Cleveland Browns coach, late Clayton Horn, editor of The Repository and others, the dream became a reality.&nbsp; The Greater Canton (now Canton Regional) Chamber or Commerce and the Canton Junior Chamber of Commerce (now the Jaycees) supported the idea and these men in their efforts.&nbsp;&nbsp;
After nearly two years of planning, they finally broke ground on August 11, 1962.&nbsp; Henry Stuhldreher of Massillon, the late quarterback of the legendary Notre Dame &ldquo;Four Horsemen&rdquo;, served as the master of ceremonies along with help from Pete Rozelle, former NFL commissioner and other dignitaries.&nbsp; Following the ceremony, the New York Giants and St. Louis Cardinals competed at Fawcett Stadium for 14,000 fans in the first ever Hall of Fame Game.&nbsp;
THE HISTORY OF THIS ONE OF A KIND CELEBRATION!
The celebration continued to expand in 1963 with the addition of the first Festival events, thus earning recognition as &ldquo;Football&rsquo;s Greatest Weekend.&rdquo;&nbsp; Wives of Cleveland Browns and Pittsburgh Steelers modeled for a crowd of 300 at the first Fashion Show Luncheon on September 5, 1963 at the downtown Hotel Onesto.&nbsp; The Onesto also hosted a dance later that evening sponsored by the Canton Junior Chamber of Commerce.&nbsp;
Two days later 40,000 people lined the streets downtown to watch the premiere Grand Parade featuring 89 units and 17 bands.&nbsp; Later that same day came the dedication of the Hall of Fame and the induction of the first 17 enshrinees into the Professional Football Hall of Fame.&nbsp; The charter members included:&nbsp; Sammy Baugh, Bert Bell, Joe Carr, Dutch Clark, Red Grange, George Halas, Mel Hein, Pete Henry, Cal Hubbard, Don Hutson, Curly Lambeau, Tim Mara, George Marshall, John Blood McNally, Bronko Nagurski, Ernie Nevers and Jim Thorpe.&nbsp; That Sunday, September 8, 1963, CBS televised the defeat of the Cleveland Browns by the Pittsburgh Steelers 16-7 in the second Hall of Fame Game.&nbsp;&nbsp;
The Festival continued to grow and a year later on September 4, 1964, the first Mayor&rsquo;s Breakfast was held at the Hotel Onesto with 225 in attendance.&nbsp; The Fashion Show Luncheon was back by popular demand and was held at the Mergus Restaurant.&nbsp; The luncheon was supported by the Fine Arts Associates, Junior League of Canton and Stark County Bar Association wives.&nbsp; Once again, the evening ended with a dance, this time at Meyers Lake Moonlight Ballroom.&nbsp; The 1964 parade was a great success again with an estimated 50,000 spectators.&nbsp; The Baltimore Colts beat the Pittsburgh Steelers 48-17 the following Sunday afternoon.&nbsp;
The year 1965 saw the return of the Mayor&rsquo;s Breakfast and Fashion Show Luncheon at the Mergus Restaurant and the Jewish Community Center, respectively.&nbsp; The Grand Parade featured 74 units plus 23 bands and 16 floats, of which The Timken Company won the Grand Prize.&nbsp; Actress Jane Russell was Grand Marshall and led the parade past more than 150,000 spectators. Saturday evening 1,100 guests attended the first Celebrities Banquet (later the Enshrinees Civic Dinner) at the Meyers Lake Moonlight Ballroom.&nbsp; That same evening, Cynthia Hershey, of Perry High School, was crowned as the inaugural Pro Football Hall of Fame Festival Queen.&nbsp; The Coronation Dance was held at Glenwood High School due to severe weather at Meyers Lake.&nbsp; Football&rsquo;s Greatest Weekend came to a close when the Washington Redskins defeated the Detroit Lions 20-3.&nbsp;
Scheduling difficulties prevented the 1966 Hall of Fame game from taking place, but the festivities continued.&nbsp; The second annual Coronation Ball took place at the Moonlight Ballroom at Meyers Lake with 18 contestants.&nbsp; Kay Williams was crowned Queen and the remaining 17 participants served as members of the Royal Court.&nbsp; The Fashion Show Luncheon once again changed location and was held at Nazir Grotto Hall.&nbsp; The weekend ended with the Grand Parade, in which The Hoover Company float took first prize and the Enshrinement Ceremony was held on the steps of the Pro Football Hall of Fame for the first time.&nbsp;
During the 1980&rsquo;s the Festival experienced tremendous growth, adding the following events:&nbsp; Junior Parade (now Community Parade), 1980; Ribs Burnoff and Fireworks, 1984; Balloon Classic Invitational as well as the Drum Corps Competition, 1985; Kickoff Sunday Race, 1986 and the Photo Contest, 1989.&nbsp;
The Pro Football Hall of Fame Festival has also experienced a lot of exciting additions in recent years.&nbsp; In 1995, the Jackson-Belden Chamber of Commerce and the Canton Regional Chamber of Commerce worked together to bring the Jackson-Belden Food Fest and Fireworks under the umbrella of the Festival.&nbsp; The event is now held in conjunction with the Balloon Classic Invitational on the Kent State University/Stark State College of Technology campus.&nbsp;&nbsp;
The Ribs Burnoff expanded from two to three days in 1997 in order to accommodate the huge crowds coming to enjoy the food and free entertainment.&nbsp; Traditionally, the Burnoff takes place downtown on Market Avenue and was moved further south in 1999 due to the Market Avenue Streetscape Project renovations.&nbsp; Also in 1999, the AFC-NFC Hall of Fame Game was featured for the first time ever on ABC-TV&rsquo;s Monday Night Football, resulting in an expanded Festival schedule.&nbsp; Several new events were created:&nbsp; the NFL Experience, golf scramble, and the GameDay Luncheon (now known as Enshrinees GameDay Roundtable.&nbsp;
In the fall of 2002, Festival officials held a long-range strategic planning retreat in order to probe all aspects of festival operations, rationales, and philosophies, literally taking the festival apart and putting it back together again, with the goal of creating an even stronger and more successful festival for the future.&nbsp; Such extensive planning sessions had never before occurred, and the timing was perfect, as it coincided with the NFL and Pro Football Hall of Fame&rsquo;s challenge to compact the weekend into a stronger, more dynamic experience for the enshrinees and returning Hall of Famers.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
The most significant results of the session were initiated with the 2003 Festival, and they included elimination of the Mayor&rsquo;s Breakfast, as guests did not arrive in Canton until later in the day, and elimination of the traditional Kickoff Sunday Concert, shifting the event to a location in downtown Canton one week later for a concert and huge fireworks display.&nbsp; In addition, the Enshrinees Dinner (formerly known as Enshrinees Civic Dinner) was moved to Saturday evening, and the Enshrinement ceremony was moved to Sunday afternoon.&nbsp; Further, the Ribs Burnoff was shifted to Thursday (4:00 PM to 10:30 PM), Friday and Saturday (11:00 AM to 10:30 PM), and the event was held at the fairgrounds to allow for growth and enhancements.&nbsp; The Hall of Fame NFL Experience was part of the Ribs Burnoff for the first time ever.&nbsp;
Also in 2003, for only the second time in the Festival&rsquo;s history (the first time being the year 2000), all 144 living Hall of Famers were invited to return to Canton for the Enshrinement weekend and the celebration of the 40th anniversary of the Pro Football Hall of Fame and the Festival; 116 accepted the invitation and were present to witness the induction of five new members, bringing the total number of inductees to 221.&nbsp;&nbsp;
In 2004, the Ribs Burnoff was held for the second consecutive year at the Stark County fairgrounds, and due to the wonderful response the year before, the event was expanded to be in operation all three days from 11:00 AM to 10:30 PM.&nbsp; The Ribs Burnoff was also featured on The Food Network show &ldquo;All American Festivals,&rdquo; making it the first event in Ohio to be featured on The Food Network.&nbsp;
An increased number of tour group guests enjoyed the 2005 Festival, including 300 at an off-site Enshrinees Dinner at the Canton Negro Oldtimers Activity Center, and 2,000 guests at a &ldquo;Pigskin Picnic&rdquo; on Saturday night at the Ribs Burnoff.&nbsp; These tour group participants were in addition to the traditional 2,000 at the Hoover Grand Parade and 1,900 at Enshrinees GameDay Roundtable. This is a shining example of the partnership and cooperation between the Hall and the Festival.&nbsp; With the induction of four more football greats into the Pro Football Hall of Fame during the 2005 festivities, the total number of inductees was 229.&nbsp;
In 2006, an impressive Class of Enshrinees brought the total number of inductees to 235.&nbsp; Changes in the 2006 Festival included the AFC-NFC Hall of Fame Game moving from Monday night to Sunday night on &ldquo;NBC Sunday Night NFL Football&rdquo; and The Timken Company became the title sponsor of the Grand Parade.&nbsp; In order to further reflect the solid partnership between the Festival and the Hall of Fame, the Festival&rsquo;s mission statement was revised to read as follows:&nbsp; To work in a spirit of cooperation with the Pro Football Hall of Fame to annually organize and present the Pro Football Hall of Fame Festival in order to celebrate the induction of new Enshrinees, encourage continuing support for the Pro Football Hall of Fame Museum, provide a positive economic impact, and promote the spirit of our community and its people.&nbsp;&nbsp;
A significant change to the 2007 Festival was the opportunity to move the Enshrinement from an afternoon time slot to 6 PM, allowing a prime time television audience.&nbsp; All living members of the Pro Football Hall of Fame were invited to return for the ceremony and surrounding festivities, and approximately 85 were present.&nbsp; A capacity crowd at the Enshrinees Dinner warmly welcomed Roger Goodell, new commissioner of the National Football League, who offered congratulations to the Enshrinees and the entire Canton/Stark County community for a job well done.&nbsp;
In 2008, both the Hall of Fame and the annual Festival marked their 45th anniversaries with a renewed commitment to the partnership and the tradition of excellence in honoring the legends and preserving the history of pro football.&nbsp; In order to more clearly communicate that the Enshrinement of each new class of Hall of Famers is the central focus of the incredibly popular annual Festival celebration, beginning with the 2008 festivities, the Festival name was enhanced to &ldquo;Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement Festival.&rdquo;&nbsp; First time activities during the 2008 Enshrinement Festival included a Dawn Patrol at the Balloon Classic and Top Model Competition for the Fashion Show Luncheon.&nbsp;
In 2009, we were proud to contribute to the Fawcett Stadium renovation, a venue that is critical to our premier national activities &ndash; the Enshrinement and NFL Hall of Fame Game.&nbsp; The Game featured the Buffalo Bills vs. Tennessee Titans in celebration of the 50th anniversary of the AFL.&nbsp; There were many exciting highlights at all of the festivities, including Canton&rsquo;s own Bluecoats taking first place for the first time in the 21-year history of the Drum Corps Competition. &nbsp;A special treat at the Community Parade was the first time participation of a Pro Football Hall of Famer &ndash; Lem Barney, Class of 1992. Finally, staff and volunteers teamed up throughout the festivities to support a &ldquo;Go Green&rdquo; initiative to renew awareness and commitment to being good stewards of our communities and environment.&nbsp;
CELEBRATING 47 YEARS OF EXCELLENCE
Nearly 21,000 men have played in at least one National Football League game, but since the Pro Football Hall of Fame was established in 1963, with the enshrinement of the 2010 Class, only 260 football greats have been inducted into the Hall and have the privilege of wearing the gold jacket.&nbsp; Honoring the Enshrinement as the central focus of the entire annual celebration, this year saw a shift in the date for the Concert and Fireworks from its traditional slot on Enshrinement weekend to the first night of the 11-day celebration so as not to conflict with the induction ceremonies, and the event found a new home at the Cornerstone Square area in downtown Canton.&nbsp; The stellar Class of Enshrinees generated exceptional energy and enthusiasm, resulting in high attendance and excitement at both the free and ticketed events.&nbsp;
HONORING THE PAST AND LOOKING FORWARD TO THE FUTURE
The Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement Festival department of the Canton Regional Chamber of Commerce enjoys a huge level of support from members, volunteers, sponsors, governmental services, and especially, from the Pro Football Hall of Fame.&nbsp; A team of more than 4,200 volunteers work year-round with the professional staffs at the Hall and Chamber to plan and stage 18 events over an 11-day period for the enjoyment of nearly 700,000 people.&nbsp; A 2005 extensive economic impact survey provided the tools to tell us that the annual Enshrinement Festival today produces an economic impact of $30 million on Canton/Stark County and nearly $55 million on the State of Ohio.&nbsp;
Directors of the Pro Football Hall of Fame and the Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement Festival have collaborated for the past 46 years in order to make the Enshrinement Festival the best celebration possible.&nbsp; Directors of the Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement Festival have been:&nbsp; Janice C. Meyer, Dennis P. Saunier, and presently, Joanne K. Murray.&nbsp; Directors of the Hall of Fame have included:&nbsp; the late Dick McCann, the late Dick Gallagher, Pete Elliott, the late John W. Bankert, and currently Stephen A. Perry, President &amp; Executive Director.&nbsp;
While the Pro Football Hall of Fame and annual Enshrinement Festival have realized successes well beyond even the most optimistic of their founding fathers, we are committed to seizing every opportunity and meeting every standard of excellence to assure the continued growth of this truly &ldquo;One of a Kind Celebration!&rdquo;]]></description>      </item>      <item>          <title>HOF Enshrinement Festival 23rd annual Photo Contest award winners announced</title>          <link>http://www.profootballhoffestival.com/hof-enshrinement-festival-23rd-annual-photo-contest-award-winners-announced</link>          <pubDate>Mon, 19 September 2011 15:38:59 EDT</pubDate>          <description><![CDATA[Snapshots from the Timken Grand Parade by non-professional photographer&nbsp;Andy Smith of Canton won a first place award and the coveted &ldquo;Best of Show&rdquo;&nbsp;in the 23rd annual Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement Festival Photo Contest, sponsored by the&nbsp;Joseph Saxton Gallery of Photography. He also was awarded one honorable mention, bringing his personal prize package to $375.
The annual photo contest was open to amateur and professional photographers alike, and any photos of outdoor Hall of Fame Enshrinement Festival events qualified for entry. The photos were judged based on creativity, clarity, depth and color, overall composition and print quality. Nine photographers won a total cash purse of $1,650.

Bob Rossiter of Canton&nbsp;took first place honors in the professional category and $100 each for his photos taken at the Concert and Fireworks, Balloon Classic Invitational/Jackson-Belden Food Fest &amp; Fireworks, and Ribs Burnoff, plus one $25 honorable mention award.&nbsp;
Professional&nbsp;William Green of Louisville&nbsp;won $100 each for his photos of the 2-Mile and 5-Mile Races and Drum Corps International. The final professional entry winning of $100 was Dennis Valentine of Louisville for his Timken Grand Parade photo.
The non-professional category was led by&nbsp;Douglas Perry of Canton&nbsp;who received $325 for three first-place winning photos from the Concert and Fireworks, 2-Mile and 5-Mile Races, and Ribs Burnoff, as well as one honorable mention award. Other $100 award winners in the non-professional category included&nbsp;Bobby Grizzard of Massillon&nbsp;(Drum Corps International),&nbsp;Christy Moyer of Simpsonville, SC&nbsp;(Balloon Classic Invitational/Jackson-Belden Food Fest &amp; Fireworks), and&nbsp;Christina Wine of Massillon&nbsp;(Community Parade). Completing the non-professional category was&nbsp;Taylor Nervo of Louisville&nbsp;with one honorable mention award.
The winning photos will be on display at the Joseph Saxton Gallery of Photography at 520 Cleveland Ave. N in downtown Canton from Oct. 12 through 22, and on the Enshrinement Festival&rsquo;s Web site at www.profootballhofef.com/photo-contest.]]></description>          <enclosure url="http://www.profootballhoffestival.com/uploads/183381316459611.jpg" length="69183" type="image/pjpeg" />          <enclosure url="http://www.profootballhoffestival.com/uploads/190501316460468.jpg" length="141909" type="image/pjpeg" />      </item>      <item>          <title>HOF Enshrinement Festival names 2012 key committee chairs</title>          <link>http://www.profootballhoffestival.com/hof-enshrinement-festival-names-2012-key-committee-chairs</link>          <pubDate>Wed, 22 February 2012 15:32:36 EST</pubDate>          <description><![CDATA[The Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement Festival department of the Canton Regional Chamber has named chairmen for three key committees: Bob Timken, Steering Committee; William Schauer, General Chairman Alumni Association; and Ron Dougherty, Safety Management Committee.Timken, managing director of Cormony Development, LLC, most recently served as the 2011 general chairman of the Chamber&rsquo;s Enshrinement Festival committees. The function of the Steering Committee is to assist and facilitate as needed to successfully accomplish the Enshrinement Festival mission statement and goals. This committee&rsquo;s approval is required for crucial Enshrinement Festival issues, such as annual budget, ticket pricing changes and policy issues.Timken previously served on the board of the Canton Regional Chamber, Canton Country Day School, and Canton Tomorrow, Inc., and as chairman of the ArtsinStark annual fund drive. His civic involvement has also included participation on the committee engaged in analyzing the local environment for attraction and retention of young professionals, now functioning as ystark! His current activities include service on several boards, including the Downtown Canton Land Bank, Mercy Medical Center, and ArtsinStark, the County Arts Council. He is a member of the advisory council for the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad. Timken graduated with a bachelor&rsquo;s degree in political science from The College of Wooster and previously served as congressional aide to U.S. Representative David Hobson (OH) and as director of federal government affairs at McGough &amp; Associates, Inc. He and wife Sara reside in Canton with their three daughters.Schauer was the 2006 general chairman of the Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement Festival. For the third consecutive year, he now oversees a committee comprised of past general chairmen, many of whom will offer assistance to the Enshrinement Festival in the areas of sponsor recognition, promoting community awareness and support in planning and producing Enshrinement Festival events.Corporate treasurer of Schauer Group, Inc., he is a chartered property and casualty underwriter, as well as chartered life underwriter. He is past president of the Arthritis Foundation of Canton, and has served as a member of Canton Palace Theatre Association board, and Cultural Center for the Arts budget and marketing committees. In addition, he has participated in fundraising for the Downtown Canton YMCA, Malone and Walsh Universities, United Arts, United Way, and Ohio Foundation of Independent Colleges. He and wife Bobbi have three sons.Dougherty, of Krugliak, Wilkins, Griffiths &amp; Dougherty Co., L.P.A., is serving his 17th term as chairman of the Safety Management committee. He also serves as chairman of the Joint Coordinating Committee that serves as liaison between the Enshrinement Festival department of the Chamber and the Pro Football Hall of Fame.A Canton native, Dougherty graduated from Canton Lincoln High and was honored in 2000 as a Distinguished Alumnus. He graduated from Dartmouth College and the University of Virginia Law School, and served in the U.S. Air Force from 1954-1957 as a lieutenant and captain. He is the only Stark County lawyer to hold the office of president of the Ohio State Bar Foundation, and he served as chairman of the Stark County Public Defender Commission for 26 years, as well as Canton Assistant City Solicitor. Active in and chairman of various Enshrinement Festival activities since its beginning in 1963, Dougherty was the founder of the Enshrinement Festival General Chairman Alumni Association, and its Individual Award of Merit recipient in 2009 and the 2002 Award of Merit recipient from Canton Regional Chamber of Commerce. Additionally, he was The Wilderness Center 2004 honoree and is the immediate past chairman of the board of the Pro Football Hall of Fame. He has one daughter, one son and three grandsons.In 2012, the Pro Football Hall of Fame and Enshrinement Festival will mark the 49th anniversary of honoring the legends of professional football, which includes conducting a world-renowned festival celebrating the annual enshrinement of football players, coaches and contributors into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. The collaborative efforts of this leadership team, combined with the professional staffs at the Canton Regional Chamber and the Pro Football Hall of Fame, and the dedicated team of more than 4,200 volunteers, will ensure the success of 18 diverse events over two weeks from July 20 to Aug. 6, 2012.The Enshrinement Festival activities, attended by nearly 700,000 people, are expected to produce an economic impact of over $31 million for the Canton/Stark County area and $56 million for the State of Ohio. In addition, millions will experience aspects of the Enshrinement Festival as events are televised and covered by other media.The central focus and highlight of this year&rsquo;s Enshrinement Festival will be the Aug. 4 Enshrinement Ceremony for the 2012 Class of Enshrinees, comprised of cornerback Jack Butler, center Dermontti Dawson, defensive end/linebacker Chris Doleman, defensive tackle Cortez Kennedy, running back Curtis Martin and tackle Willie Roaf.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ]]></description>          <enclosure url="http://www.profootballhoffestival.com/uploads/115291329942601.jpg" length="51659" type="image/pjpeg" />          <enclosure url="http://www.profootballhoffestival.com/uploads/118251329942635.jpg" length="53541" type="image/pjpeg" />          <enclosure url="http://www.profootballhoffestival.com/uploads/120201329942658.jpg" length="67921" type="image/pjpeg" />      </item>      <item>          <title>HOF Enshrinement Festival names auxiliary committee chairs</title>          <link>http://www.profootballhoffestival.com/hof-enshrinement-festival-names-auxiliary-committee-chairs</link>          <pubDate>Wed, 16 March 2011 19:35:19 EDT</pubDate>          <description><![CDATA[The Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement Festival department of the Canton Regional Chamber has named the following auxiliary committee chairs, all of whom are in their second year of committee leadership: Alex Hoce, Communications; Diana Morse, Special Services; and Doug Froelich, Security &amp; Logistics.
Hoce, a career firefighter/paramedic currently with the Plain Township Fire Department and president of their Union Local 2967, also works part-time for Canton Township and Jackson Township Fire Departments. He has fond memories of participating in Enshrinement Festival activities since he was a child, including selling pop, working the trash patrol and assisting with first aid efforts at the Ribs Burnoff. A graduate of Central Catholic High School, he attended the University of Toledo and obtained a bachelor&rsquo;s degree in emergency management from University of Richmond, Va. He is a member of the International Association of Firefighters and formerly a member of St. Paul&rsquo;s UMC mission team and Canton Civic Opera volunteer.
Hoce will be assisted by committee vice chairman Gary Lyon.
The Communications committee assumes responsibility for communications equipment utilized at all Enshrinement Festival events. Members are responsible for distributing equipment, charging radios and telephones, monitoring EMS activities and serving as a clearinghouse for inquiries from guests, patrons and media.
Morse, fraud manager for GE Capital, serves as co-leader of GE Women&rsquo;s Network. She graduated from Garfield High School and The University of Akron. She and her husband Ricky have two adult children and two grandchildren.
Assisting Morse with committee duties is vice chairman Dan Paumier.
The Special Services Committee assists many of the event committees with varied duties, including media and sponsor hospitality, registration at the Balloon Classic Invitational media flight, transportation for the Drum Corps Competition and hosting the Timken Grand Parade float judges.
Froelich, a teacher at Green High School, heads the committee that coordinates security and logistics for several Enshrinement Festival events, including the Fashion Show Luncheon, Enshrinees Dinner and Enshrinees GameDay Roundtable. This is his 13th year as a member of the committee, and he has also served as chairman of the Balloon Classic Invitational Committee and was an eight-year member of the Hall of Fame&rsquo;s Hospitality Committee.
A graduate of North Canton Hoover High School, he earned a bachelor&rsquo;s degree from Kent State University and a master&rsquo;s degree from Ashland University.
Serving as vice chairman of the Security &amp; Logistics committee is Dennis Manzella.
The Security &amp; Logistics committee issues security passes for all personnel servicing the events, oversees the delivery, distribution and security of food, beverage, flowers, favors, programs and other items necessary to the success of the three indoor events, and monitors movement of people from the perimeter rooms into the main auditorium for the program portion of each of the three events. The committee also provides security support for the Queen Pageant, Drum Corps Competition, Community Parade, Ribs Burnoff, Concert &amp; Fireworks, 2-Mile and 5-Mile Races and Timken Grand Parade committees.
In 2011, the Pro Football Hall of Fame and Enshrinement Festival will mark the 48th anniversary of honoring the legends of professional football, which includes conducting a world-renowned festival celebrating the annual enshrinement of football players, coaches and contributors into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. The collaborative efforts of this leadership team, combined with the professional staffs at the Chamber of Commerce and the Pro Football Hall of Fame, and the dedicated team of more than 4,200 volunteers, will ensure the success of 18 diverse events over nearly two weeks from July 28 to Aug. 9, 2011. The Enshrinement Festival activities, attended by nearly 700,000 people, are expected to produce an economic impact of over $30 million for the Canton/Stark County area and $55 million for the State of Ohio. In addition, millions will experience aspects of the Enshrinement Festival as events are televised and covered by other media.
The central focus and highlight of this year&rsquo;s Enshrinement Festival will be the Aug. 6 induction ceremony for the 2011 Class of Enshrinees, comprised of defensive end Richard Dent, running back Marshall Faulk, linebacker Chris Hanburger, linebacker Les Richter, contributor Ed Sabol, cornerback Deion Sanders, and tight end Shannon Sharpe.]]></description>          <enclosure url="http://www.profootballhoffestival.com/uploads/249471300315332.jpg" length="68628" type="image/pjpeg" />          <enclosure url="http://www.profootballhoffestival.com/uploads/257741300315381.jpg" length="47531" type="image/pjpeg" />          <enclosure url="http://www.profootballhoffestival.com/uploads/265271300318485.jpg" length="60924" type="image/pjpeg" />      </item>      <item>          <title>HOF Enshrinement Festival names key committee chairs</title>          <link>http://www.profootballhoffestival.com/hof-enshrinement-festival-names-key-committee-chairs</link>          <pubDate>Wed, 25 May 2011 17:30:32 EDT</pubDate>          <description><![CDATA[The Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement Festival department of the Canton Regional Chamber of Commerce has named chairmen of three key committees: Dan Fuline, Steering Committee; William Schauer, General Chairman Alumni Association; and Ron Dougherty, Safety Management Committee.
Fuline, CEO and executive director of Community Services of Stark County, Inc., most recently served as 2010 general chairman of the Chamber&rsquo;s Enshrinement Festival committees. The function of the Steering Committee is to assist and facilitate as needed to successfully accomplish the Enshrinement Festival mission statement and goals. This committee&rsquo;s approval is required for crucial Enshrinement Festival issues, such as annual budget, ticket pricing changes and policy issues.
Fuline previously served on and chaired numerous Enshrinement Festival committees, including Security &amp; Logistics, Communications, Balloon Classic Invitational and Souvenirs. He received his Bachelor of Arts degree from Youngstown State University and master&rsquo;s degree in social work from The Ohio State University. He holds a Diplomate in clinical social work. He was honored in 1991 as Social Worker of the Year, received the Good Samaritan&rsquo;s Award in 1999, and was the Golden Dove Award recipient in 2001.
He is a past president of Canton Rotary Club and is a Paul Harris Fellow. He serves on the boards of the Sisters of Charity and the Austin-Bailey Health and Wellness Foundations. He is also a member of the Prescription Assistance Board and on the advisory boards of the Salvation Army and the Advisory Social Work Board for Malone University. Fuline has been married to wife Linda for 40 years, and together they have two sons and seven grandchildren.
Schauer was the 2006 general chairman of the Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement Festival. For the second consecutive year, he now oversees a committee comprised of past general chairmen, many of whom will offer assistance to the Enshrinement Festival in the areas of sponsor recognition, promoting community awareness and support in planning and producing Enshrinement Festival events.
Corporate Treasurer of Schauer Group, Inc. he is a Chartered Property &amp; Casualty Underwriter as well as Chartered Life Underwriter. He is past president of the Arthritis Foundation of Canton and has served as a member of Canton Palace Theatre Association board and Cultural Center for the Arts budget and marketing committees. In addition, he has participated in fundraising for the Downtown Canton YMCA, Malone and Walsh Universities, United Arts, United Way, and Ohio Foundation of Independent Colleges. He and his wife Bobbi have three sons.&nbsp;&nbsp;
Dougherty, of Krugliak, Wilkins, Griffiths &amp; Dougherty law firm, is serving his 16th term as chairman of the Safety Management committee. He also serves as chairman of the Joint Coordinating Committee that serves as liaison between the Enshrinement Festival department of the Chamber and the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
A Canton native, Dougherty graduated from Canton Lincoln High and was honored in 2000 as a Distinguished Alumnus. He graduated from Dartmouth College and the University of Virginia Law School, and served in the U.S. Air Force from 1954-1957 as a lieutenant and captain. He is the only Stark County lawyer to hold the office of president of the Ohio State Bar Foundation, and he served as chairman of the Stark County Public Defender Commission for 26 years and as Canton Assistant City Solicitor. Active in and chairman of various Enshrinement Festival activities since its beginning in 1963, Dougherty was the founder of the Enshrinement Festival General Chairman Alumni Association as well as its Individual Award of Merit recipient in 2000 and the 2002 Award of Merit recipient from Canton Regional Chamber of Commerce. Additionally, he was The Wilderness Center 2004 honoree and is the immediate past chairman of the board of the Pro Football Hall of Fame. He and his wife, the former Carole Stover, have one daughter, one son and three grandsons.&nbsp;
In 2011, the Pro Football Hall of Fame and Enshrinement Festival will mark the 48th anniversary of honoring the legends of professional football, which includes conducting a world-renowned festival celebrating the annual enshrinement of football players, coaches and contributors into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. The collaborative efforts of this leadership team, combined with the professional staffs at the Chamber of Commerce and the Pro Football Hall of Fame, and the dedicated team of more than 4,200 volunteers, will ensure the success of 18 diverse events over nearly two weeks from July 28 to Aug. 9, 2011. The Enshrinement Festival activities, attended by nearly 700,000 people, are expected to produce an economic impact of over $30 million for the Canton/Stark County area and $55 million for the State of Ohio. In addition, millions will experience aspects of the Enshrinement Festival as events are televised and covered by other media.&nbsp;
The central focus and highlight of this year&rsquo;s Enshrinement Festival will be the Aug. 6 induction ceremony for the 2011 Class of Enshrinees, comprised of defensive end Richard Dent, running back Marshall Faulk, linebacker Chris Hanburger, linebacker Les Richter, contributor Ed Sabol, cornerback Deion Sanders, and tight end Shannon Sharpe.]]></description>          <enclosure url="http://www.profootballhoffestival.com/uploads/72451306359019.jpg" length="22853" type="image/pjpeg" />          <enclosure url="http://www.profootballhoffestival.com/uploads/274821300209097.jpg" length="53541" type="image/pjpeg" />          <enclosure url="http://www.profootballhoffestival.com/uploads/274531300209433.jpg" length="33414" type="image/pjpeg" />      </item>      <item>          <title>HOF Enshrinement Festival names key committee chairs</title>          <link>http://www.profootballhoffestival.com/hof-enshrinement-festival-names-key-committee-chairs3</link>          <pubDate>Wed, 25 May 2011 17:27:37 EDT</pubDate>          <description><![CDATA[The Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement Festival department of the Canton Regional Chamber of Commerce has named the following key committee chairs: Scott Sanders, Balloon Classic Invitational, and Todd Hawke, Jackson-Belden Food Fest &amp; Fireworks; Vicky Sterling, Ribs Burnoff; and Eric Stasiowski, Timken Grand Parade.&nbsp;
Sanders is president of Kreighbaum-Sanders and Sanders Funeral Homes, Inc., and served as 2002 General Chairman of the Chamber&rsquo;s Enshrinement Festival committees. He came to that position with 12 years of leadership experience after having chaired the former Kickoff Sunday Parade and Race committees, as well as the Grand Parade and Marketing committees. He is a graduate of Canton South High School, The Ohio State University and Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science. A former East Canton Citizen of the Year and Jaycee Outstanding Citizen, Sanders has been active in a wide variety of community activities including East Canton Club, Ohio Funeral Directors Association, Osnaburg Township Citizens Fire Committee, and Stark County Fair Beef and Marketing Committees. He and wife Julie are the proud parents of three sons.&nbsp;
Assisting Sanders as vice chairman of the Balloon Classic Invitational committee is Randy Reed, as the event proudly celebrates its 25th anniversary this year.&nbsp;
Initiated in 1986 at the urging of Maury Sullivan and with the encouragement and help of his business partner, Tom Schervish (then the Enshrinement Festival&rsquo;s vice chairman), the event was initially known as the &ldquo;Balloon Fiesta&rdquo; and has since grown to levels well beyond those ever imagined possible during its formative years. What started with 25 balloons at Weis Park has grown to a capacity field of nearly 70 balloons on the campuses of Kent State University at Stark and Stark State College, with nearly 125,000 people enjoying the two-and-a-half day event.&nbsp;
The Balloon Luminary was added in 1993 and is currently known as the Night Glow, and a further milestone was marked in 1995 when the Jackson-Belden Food Fest &amp; Fireworks came under the umbrella of the Enshrinement Festival and joined forces with the Balloon Classic Invitational.&nbsp;
The Jackson-Belden Food Fest &amp; Fireworks committee is chaired this year by Todd Hawke, principal at GDK &amp; Company. He is a graduate of Kenton Ridge High School and Ohio Wesleyan University, and has served in various capacities on the Food Fest committee since 2002. He is actively involved in the community and serves on the boards of the Jackson-Belden Chamber of Commerce, Junior Achievement of East Central Ohio and American Cancer Society of Stark County. Todd and wife Tricia have one son and one daughter.&nbsp;
Hawke will be assisted in the planning and staging of the Food Fest by vice chairman Carles Moore.&nbsp;
This year&rsquo;s Balloon Classic and Food Fest activities will take place on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, July 29, 30 and 31, and will include a wide variety of food and beverage vendors, children&rsquo;s activity area, musical entertainment and a spectacular fireworks display.&nbsp;
Sterling, vice-president of sales and marketing for Pinnacle Press, Inc., is serving her first year as chairman of the Ribs Burnoff Committee after serving in a wide variety of sub-committee leadership positions since 1994. A graduate of Louisville High School, she also served on the security committees for the Balloon Classic and Enshrinement Ceremony. A past member of the board of the Canton Regional Chamber of Commerce, she is a past recipient of the Chamber&rsquo;s Community Salute Award of Merit, and also a recipient of the Canton Advertising Federation&rsquo;s Silver Medal Award. She also extends her time and resources to the Aultman Health Foundation and Aultman Women&rsquo;s Board, Leadership Stark County, Canton Blues Festival and J.R. Coleman Women in History Luncheon. The mother of two, Sterling is married to Todd and has four grandchildren.&nbsp;
Long-time Ribs Burnoff committee volunteer Brian Harbert has been selected to serve as vice chairman of the committee. Together, they will oversee all aspects of the Ribs Burnoff, which will take place Aug. 3 through 5 at the Stark County Fairgrounds. Special attractions include a wide variety of rib and specialty food vendors, beverages, children&rsquo;s entertainment area, fantasy football zone of interactive inflatables, an enormous sand sculpture and musical entertainment.&nbsp;
Stasiowski, director of communications for Akzo Nobel Paints, is a native of Massachusetts and received his MBA from Penn State University. A member of the Grand Parade committee since 2001, this is his second year as its chairman. An Eagle Scout, he remains active with the Boy Scouts of America as a member of the Buckeye Council&rsquo;s Marketing Committee, and also enjoys his duties as an official scorer for the Akron Aeros baseball team. He and his wife Donna are parents to one daughter.&nbsp;
Stasiowski will partner with vice chairman John Fehrenbach to attend to the myriad of details involved in staging this family event. The Timken Grand Parade will step off at 8 a.m., Sat., Aug. 6, and will be enjoyed by nearly 200,000 spectators along the 2.2 mile route, as well as by millions more via the television broadcast.&nbsp;The parade will feature the current Class of Enshrinees, many returning Hall of Famers, marching bands, giant helium balloons, fabulous floats, and animal and specialty units. Call (330) 458-2048 now to guarantee a bird&rsquo;s-eye view of all the units by purchasing reserved chairs or bleacher seats for only $8.50 each.]]></description>          <enclosure url="http://www.profootballhoffestival.com/uploads/68111306357954.jpg" length="17974" type="image/pjpeg" />          <enclosure url="http://www.profootballhoffestival.com/uploads/72771306358622.jpg" length="19774" type="image/pjpeg" />          <enclosure url="http://www.profootballhoffestival.com/uploads/293891302206794.jpg" length="10303" type="image/pjpeg" />          <enclosure url="http://www.profootballhoffestival.com/uploads/73811306358840.jpg" length="26885" type="image/pjpeg" />      </item>      <item>          <title>HOF Enshrinement Festival presents Drum Corps International Competition Aug. 9</title>          <link>http://www.profootballhoffestival.com/hof-enshrinement-festival-presents-drum-corps-international-competition-aug-9</link>          <pubDate>Fri, 29 July 2011 09:46:49 EDT</pubDate>          <description><![CDATA[The Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement Festival Drum Corps International Competition will be held at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 9, at Paul Brown Tiger Stadium in Massillon. The competition will be hosted by the Enshrinement Festival department of the Canton Regional Chamber of Commerce, in partnership with Canton&rsquo;s Bluecoats Drum and Bugle Corps. The stadium will open at 5:30 p.m., with a pre-show at 6:30 p.m., and the first corps stepping off at 7 p.m.&nbsp;
The Drum Corps Competition will feature eight corps, including six of the top twelve in the nation, and is truly a family event filled with pageantry, precision, and extraordinary musical talent. Competing against Canton&rsquo;s own Bluecoats&nbsp;will be&nbsp;some of the nation&rsquo;s top-ranked corps, including (in alphabetical order): Blue Knights from Denver, Colo., Boston Crusaders from Boston, Mass., The Cadets from Allentown, Pa., Crossmen from San Antonio, Texas, Phantom Regiment from Rockford, Ill., Santa Clara Vanguard from Santa Clara, Calif., and Troopers from Casper, Wyo.&nbsp;After winning the 2009 show for the first time in 21 years, the Bluecoats won again in 2010, and local fans are hoping for a &ldquo;three-peat&rdquo; this year. All corps will be at the peak of their performance just days away from the international championships to be held in Indianapolis.
Download 2011 competitor fact sheet
Tickets can be purchased in advance at the Canton Regional Chamber of Commerce, Canton and Massillon AAA offices, Dumont&rsquo;s Seed Company on 30th St. NW and Zampino&rsquo;s Drum Shop. Premium reserved seats are $24 in advance and $26 at the gate. Reserved seats are $19 in advance and $21 at the gate. General admission is $15 and $17 at the gate for adults, and $8 and $10 at the gate for children 12 and under. The stadium&rsquo;s box office will open at noon the day of the competition.&nbsp;
Ticket information can be obtained by calling the Canton Regional Chamber at (330) 458-2088.VISA, MasterCard, Discover Card and American Express are accepted.&nbsp;
For questions or ticket inquiries, please contact Kim Miller, ticket manager, at (330) 458-2048.]]></description>          <enclosure url="http://www.profootballhoffestival.com/uploads/254121311947016.pdf" length="308690" type="application/pdf" />      </item>      <item>          <title>HOF Enshrinement Festival wins IFEA Pinnacle awards</title>          <link>http://www.profootballhoffestival.com/hof-enshrinement-festival-wins-ifea-pinnacle-awards</link>          <pubDate>Sat, 5 November 2011 19:45:05 EDT</pubDate>          <description><![CDATA[The Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement Festival was recently recognized by the International Festivals &amp; Events Association (IFEA) with several Pinnacle Awards, all in categories for events with budgets over $1.5 million, as follows: Gold Pinnacle Award for &ldquo;Best Event Video,&rdquo; Silver Pinnacle Award for &ldquo;Best Commemorative Poster,&rdquo; and Bronze Award for &ldquo;Best Miscellaneous Printed Materials.&rdquo;Awards were presented in 69 different categories, and winners were announced on Oct. 3 at the IFEA/Haas &amp; Wilkerson Pinnacle Awards Ceremony during the IFEA&rsquo;s 56th Annual Convention &amp; Expo at The Worthington Renaissance Fort Worth Hotel in Fort Worth, Texas.Joanne Murray, director of the Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement Festival, expressed appreciation to Larry Schock and Zachary Piette of PYEcom Home Video, who developed the promotional video from hundreds of hours of footage shot by the PYEcom team. She further expressed gratitude to Jessica Bennett, Director of Marketing, and her team at the Canton Regional Chamber of Commerce, for their outstanding design of the commemorative poster and Enshrinement Festival &ldquo;Official Playbook&rdquo; which won the silver and bronze awards respectively. &ldquo;The Enshrinement Festival is fortunate to work with such creative and talented people who help us share our message that the Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement Festival is indeed a one of a kind celebration,&rdquo; noted Murray.The professional competition drew entries from among the world&rsquo;s top festivals and events with winning entries coming from organizations as varied as the 500 Festival, Indianapolis, Ind.; Bayou City Art Festival in Houston, Texas; Dublin Irish Festival, Dublin, Ohio; MAIN ST. Fort Worth Arts Festival, Fort Worth, Texas; Issaquah Salmon Days, Issaquah, Wash.; Portland Rose Festival, Portland, Ore. and the Pasadena Tournament of Roses, Pasadena, Calif.International contenders included such diverse event organizations as Canada Place, Canada; Ham Pyeong Butterfly Festival, South Korea; World Gourmet Summit, Singapore; Edmonton Heritage Festival, Canada; Ludwig Van Beethoven Easter Festival, Poland; Rotterdam Festivals, The Netherlands; Festival Lent, Slovenia and Sentosa Development Corporation, Singapore.&nbsp;&ldquo;The IFEA/Haas &amp; Wilkerson Pinnacle Awards Competition recognizes the outstanding accomplishments by festivals and events around the world,&rdquo; said IFEA President &amp; CEO, Steven Wood Schmader, CFEE. &ldquo;Striving for the highest degree of excellence in festival and event promotions and operations in every budget level and every corner of the globe, this competition has not only raised the standards and quality of the festivals and events industry to new levels, but also shows how event producers can use innovation and creativity to achieve a higher level of success.&rdquo;Headquartered in Boise, Idaho, the International Festivals &amp; Events Association (IFEA) is The Premiere Association Supporting and Enabling Festival &amp; Event Professionals Worldwide. In partnership with global affiliates, the organization's common vision is for "A Globally United Industry that Touches Lives in a Positive Way through Celebration.&rdquo; The Association offers the most complete source of ideas, resources, information, education and networking for festival and event professionals worldwide and can be accessed via www.ifea.com.]]></description>      </item>      <item>          <title>HOFEF Queen Pageant applications available Feb. 14</title>          <link>http://www.profootballhoffestival.com/hofef-queen-pageant-applications-available-feb-14</link>          <pubDate>Mon, 14 February 2011 08:45:36 EST</pubDate>          <description><![CDATA[Kara Abbott named 2011 Queen Pageant chairman&nbsp;
CANTON, OHIO (Feb. 10, 2011) &ndash; The Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement Festival Queen Pageant applications and tickets will be available beginning Monday, Feb. 14, at the Canton Regional Chamber of Commerce, Enshrinement Festival department, 222 Market Ave. N., in downtown Canton, weekdays from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.&nbsp;
The deadline to submit the application and $68 fee is Monday, March 14, by 5 p.m. Candidates cannot be younger than a high school senior and 18 years old by May 1, or more than 23 years of age before Sept. 1. Candidates must reside and, if employed, work within a 30-mile radius of Stark County.&nbsp;
While not mandatory, all potential candidates are invited and encouraged to attend the third annual "Screen the Queen Pageant" session, which will take place Saturday, Feb. 26, at the Canton Regional Chamber of Commerce from 9 to 11:30 a.m. This session will help young ladies decide if they would like to enter the Pageant, and will give them a better idea of what to expect if they do. Participants will have the opportunity to review the 2010 Queen Pageant DVD, learn about the judging experience from past years' judges, hear from a past queen who will share her memories and ask questions about the process. This informative, informal session is FREE, but reservations must be made in advance by calling Tonya Stuck, event manager, at (330) 458-2052.
The Queen Pageant will take place Thursday, May 5, at The Canton Palace Theatre. All seats are reserved at $18 each, and tickets can be purchased at the Canton Regional Chamber, Canton AAA and Massillon AAA.&nbsp;
At the conclusion of the Pageant, a Queen and court members will have been selected based on personality, poise, beauty, communication skills, academic achievement and service to the community. The number of court members selected will coincide with the number of members of the 2011 Class of Enshrinees into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. The Queen and her court will serve as role models and goodwill ambassadors throughout the community, and one of their most memorable experiences will be their ride on a float in the 2011 Timken Grand Parade.&nbsp;
Kara Abbott has been named chair of the 2011 Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement Festival Queen Committee. A 10-year committee member, this is her first year in this leadership role, serving as vice chair for the past two years. As the 1995 Enshrinement Festival Queen, she has a unique perspective on the process and qualifications necessary to attain the crown. Assisting her with leadership responsibilities will be Crystal McLendon, committee vice chair.&nbsp;
A Canton native, Abbott is a graduate of Canton Central Catholic High School and Kent State University. In addition to her service on the Queen Committee, she volunteered for ten years on the Jackson-Belden Food Fest &amp; Fireworks Committee and has modeled in the Enshrinement Festival Fashion Show for the past five years. Community activities include past service as a United Way coordinator, and current service at St. Mary&rsquo;s School in Massillon as coordinator of the Spirit Window, member of PTO and the Auction Committee. She and husband Steve are the proud parents of four children, and are expecting a fifth in June.&nbsp;
The Queen Committee is responsible for working with Enshrinement Festival staff in coordinating all activities relating to the Enshrinement Festival Queen and court, and serving as chaperones during their community service activities and official event appearances.&nbsp;
For more information regarding applications, tickets or sponsorship opportunities, contact Tonya Stuck at (330) 458-2052.]]></description>          <enclosure url="http://www.profootballhoffestival.com/uploads/23321297691014.jpg" length="14850" type="image/pjpeg" />      </item>      <item>          <title>IT'S A ONE OF A KIND CELEBRATION!</title>          <link>http://www.profootballhoffestival.com/index</link>          <pubDate>Tue, 14 February 2012 16:45:54 EST</pubDate>          <description><![CDATA[JOIN US FOR A&nbsp;"ONE OF A KIND CELEBRATION!"&nbsp;
Jack Butler, Dermontti Dawson, Chris Doleman, Cortez Kennedy, Curtis Martin, and Willie Roaf will soon call Canton, Ohio, their home.&nbsp; With their induction on August 4, 2012, they&nbsp;will join&nbsp;267 other players, coaches and contributors as members of the Pro Football Hall of Fame, "America's Premier Sports Museum and Showplace!"&nbsp; 
The Enshrinement Ceremony is the marquee event that together with 17 other diverse events comprise the annual Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement Festival, enjoyed by nearly 700,000 people.&nbsp; The professional staffs of the Pro Football Hall of Fame and Canton Regional Chamber of Commerce are collaborating&nbsp;with a team of 4,200 extraordinary community volunteers to plan and stage these events over a two-week period, all meeting our traditional standard of excellence as we celebrate our 49th anniversary.&nbsp; We can promise that you will create memories to last a lifetime!
Check out the details on our Web site, then join us this summer as we celebrate and pay tribute to the 2012 Class of Enshrinees:
JACK BUTLER:&nbsp;Cornerback, 6-1, 200 pounds, 1951-1959 Pittsburgh Steelers, 9 seasons, 103 games
DERMONTTI DAWSON:&nbsp;Center, 6-2, 288 pounds, 1988-2000 Pittsburgh Steelers, 13 seasons, 184 games
CHRIS DOLEMAN:&nbsp;Defensive end/linebacker, 6-5, 270 pounds, 1985-1993, 1999 Minnesota Vikings, 1994-1995 Atlanta Falcons, 1996-1998 San Francisco 49ers
CORTEZ KENNEDY: Defensive tackle, 6-3, 298 pounds, 1990-2000 Seattle Seahawks, 11 seasons, 167 games
CURTIS MARTIN: Running back, 5-11, 207 pounds, 1995-1997 New England Patriots, 1998-2005 New York Jets, 11 seasons, 168 games
WILLIE ROAF: Tackle, 6-5, 300 pounds, 1993-2001 New Orleans Saints, 2002-2005 Kansas City Chiefs, 13 seasons, 189 games
THE PRO FOOTBALL HALL OF FAME ENSHRINEMENT FESTIVAL. . .
TRULY A "ONE OF A KIND CELEBRATION!"
&nbsp;
]]></description>          <enclosure url="http://www.profootballhoffestival.com/uploads/110881328558085.gif" length="6842" type="image/gif" />          <enclosure url="http://www.profootballhoffestival.com/uploads/100141328557357.jpg" length="13953" type="image/jpeg" />          <enclosure url="http://www.profootballhoffestival.com/uploads/93811309182232.jpg" length="23118" type="image/jpeg" />          <enclosure url="http://www.profootballhoffestival.com/uploads/307241302105908.jpg" length="347137" type="image/jpeg" />          <enclosure url="http://www.profootballhoffestival.com/uploads/191781278602869.jpg" length="322870" type="image/jpeg" />          <enclosure url="http://www.profootballhoffestival.com/uploads/323061278602958.jpg" length="322371" type="image/jpeg" />          <enclosure url="http://www.profootballhoffestival.com/uploads/323231278603003.jpg" length="466043" type="image/jpeg" />          <enclosure url="http://www.profootballhoffestival.com/uploads/196121278603054.jpg" length="424407" type="image/jpeg" />          <enclosure url="http://www.profootballhoffestival.com/uploads/191781278603106.jpg" length="334895" type="image/jpeg" />          <enclosure url="http://www.profootballhoffestival.com/uploads/260181308145359.png" length="16273" type="image/png" />      </item>      <item>          <title>Jackson-Belden Food Fest & Fireworks FAQ</title>          <link>http://www.profootballhoffestival.com/jackson-belden-food-fest-fireworks-faq</link>          <pubDate>Fri, 25 June 2010 09:17:37 EDT</pubDate>          <description><![CDATA[THIS SECTION IS STILL UNDER CONSTRUCTIONPLEASE CHECK BACK SOON]]></description>      </item>      <item>          <title>Key chairs named for Hall of Fame Enshrinement Festival</title>          <link>http://www.profootballhoffestival.com/key-chairs-named-for-hall-of-fame-enshrinement-festival</link>          <pubDate>Mon, 25 April 2011 19:03:47 EDT</pubDate>          <description><![CDATA[Fashion Show Luncheon &bull; Enshrinees Dinner &bull; Enshrinees GameDay Roundtable&nbsp;
&nbsp;CANTON, OHIO (April 25, 2011) &ndash; The Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement Festival department of Canton Regional Chamber of Commerce has named the following key committee chairs for the indoor events held at the Canton Memorial Civic Center and Cultural Center for the Arts: Angela Dimos, Fashion Show Luncheon; Charlene Corlett, Enshrinees Dinner; and Nancy Jedel, Enshrinees GameDay Roundtable.
Dimos is a graduate of Perry High School and Kent State University, with a bachelor of science in fashion merchandising. A busy homemaker, she is a community and Jackson Schools volunteer and a Girl Scout troop co-leader. Dimos is serving her second and final year as chairman of the Fashion Show Luncheon Committee after serving on the committee for 15 years. She has been a longtime Enshrinement Festival volunteer and is proud of being selected as a member of the Queen&rsquo;s Court in 1991. She and husband Jeffrey are the proud parents of one daughter and two sons.
The Fashion Show Luncheon on Friday, Aug. 5, is themed &ldquo;Lights&hellip; Camera&hellip; Fashion!&rdquo; It will feature lively musical entertainment, generous door prizes, and state-of-the-art sound, lighting and video to showcase professional models featuring the season&rsquo;s hottest his and her fashions. Doors will open at 11 a.m. with festivities beginning at 11:30 a.m. Great tickets are still available, as are a variety of fantastic sponsorships offering excellent promotional and branding opportunities. Assisting Dimos with the massive details for this event is vice chairman Sherri Mosnot.
High fashion trends will definitely be seen on the runway and off with Fashion Show Luncheon attendees vying to win the fourth annual Westfield Belden Village &ldquo;Fan Fashion Favorite&rdquo; contest. Ladies, and gentlemen, are encouraged to come dressed in their finest as a winner in each dining room will receive a $50 Westfield Belden Village gift card. The grand prize winner will receive a $250 Westfield Belden Village gift card.
Corlett, vice president of United Way of Summit County, is a graduate of The University of Akron and an adjunct instructor in the Public Services Division at Stark State College. She also serves as a member of the advisory board of Walsh University. A longtime Enshrinement Festival volunteer, she has served on and chaired several committees including the Queen Pageant committee (1995 to 2002) and Special Services committee (1996 to 1999). She was an Enshrinees Dinner hostess for several years prior to joining the committee, and this is her second and final year as chairman. Corlett is married to husband Bob.&nbsp;
The Enshrinees Dinner will be held with activities beginning at 5:15 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 5, and limited tickets may still be available. The program will feature an emcee of national acclaim, the presentation of the Hall of Fame/NFL Alumni gold jackets or Lifetime Achievement Awards to the 2011 Class of Enshrinees, and introduction of a large number of returning Hall of Famers. Serving as vice chairman of the committee this year is Rich Wilder.&nbsp;
Jedel recently retired after serving as an officer with several banks, including the former Society/Harter Banks, KeyBank and First Merit. She has been on the Enshrinees GameDay Roundtable Committee for five years, with 2011 her first as chairman. She is a longtime volunteer for the Enshrinement Festival, having served for several years on the former Mayor&rsquo;s Breakfast Committee and 20 years on the Enshrinees Dinner Committee. Jedel is a graduate of Perry High School, Chicago School of Interior Design and Malone University. Her community involvement is extensive, including service with Quota International, Quota Breakfast Club, Women&rsquo;s Initiative, East Central Ohio March of Dimes, Easter Seals, and United Way, as well as assisting on fund drives for Walsh University, Cultural Center for the Arts and American Heart Association. Jedel is married to husband Robert.&nbsp;
The Enshrinees GameDay Roundtable will be held at 12:30 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 7, and features a center stage roundtable presentation featuring members of the 2011 Class of Enshrinees just hours after their emotional induction ceremonies. The roundtable will feature an unscripted, up close and personal format where they share stories and memories of their careers. Tickets are available. Todd Ascani is assisting Jedel as committee vice chairman.&nbsp;]]></description>          <enclosure url="http://www.profootballhoffestival.com/uploads/129381303772414.jpg" length="26083" type="image/pjpeg" />          <enclosure url="http://www.profootballhoffestival.com/uploads/132721303772472.jpg" length="29392" type="image/pjpeg" />          <enclosure url="http://www.profootballhoffestival.com/uploads/134051303772548.jpg" length="19283" type="image/pjpeg" />      </item>      <item>          <title>Media</title>          <link>http://www.profootballhoffestival.com/media</link>          <pubDate>Tue, 17 January 2012 11:05:28 EST</pubDate>          <description><![CDATA[
CREDENTIALS FOR 2012 ENSHRINEMENT FESTIVAL 


Thank you for your interest in the 2012 Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement Festival.&nbsp; This annual event is truly a &ldquo;One of a Kind Celebration!&rdquo; that draws nearly 700,000 guests to enjoy 18 diverse events over two weeks in Canton, Ohio.&nbsp; The professional staff and dedicated team of more than 4,200 community volunteers will do everything possible to accommodate your needs and make your Enshrinement Festival experience an exciting one.
As the dates draw nearer, we will be posting full information on the credential process, so please check back periodically.&nbsp; If you have an immediate need or question, please contact Jessica Bennett: jessb@cantonchamber.org



]]></description>          <enclosure url="http://www.profootballhoffestival.com/uploads/28121303852581.png" length="37905" type="image/png" />          <enclosure url="http://www.profootballhoffestival.com/uploads/266281310741636.pdf" length="364211" type="application/pdf" />      </item>      <item>          <title>Mission Statement</title>          <link>http://www.profootballhoffestival.com/hofef</link>          <pubDate>Mon, 6 February 2012 14:44:35 EST</pubDate>          <description><![CDATA[To work in a spirit of cooperation with the Pro Football Hall of Fame to annually organize and present the Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement Festival in order to celebrate the induction of new Enshrinees, encourage continuing support for the Pro Football Hall of Fame Museum, provide a positive economic impact, and promote the spirit of our community and its people.]]></description>          <enclosure url="http://www.profootballhoffestival.com/uploads/264811318890163.doc" length="108544" type="application/msword" />      </item>      <item>          <title>Mounted Memories Autograph Sessions FAQ</title>          <link>http://www.profootballhoffestival.com/mounted-memories-autograph-sessions-faq</link>          <pubDate>Fri, 25 June 2010 09:45:15 EDT</pubDate>          <description><![CDATA[THIS SECTION IS STILL UNDER CONSTRUCTIONPLEASE CHECK BACK SOON]]></description>      </item>      <item>          <title>News</title>          <link>http://www.profootballhoffestival.com/news</link>          <pubDate>Mon, 19 September 2011 14:02:03 EDT</pubDate>          <description><![CDATA[&nbsp;
&nbsp;]]></description>      </item>      <item>          <title>NFL/Hall of Fame Game FAQ</title>          <link>http://www.profootballhoffestival.com/pro-football-hall-of-fame-game-faq</link>          <pubDate>Fri, 22 July 2011 11:22:42 EDT</pubDate>          <description><![CDATA[THE 2011 NFL/HALL OF FAME GAME HAS BEEN CANCELLED, but the other world-class Enshrinement Festival events will go on as planned.&nbsp; 
Full refunds will be given&nbsp;to fans who already purchased their Game tickets.&nbsp; Get full details on the Hall of Fame Web site: www.profootballhof.com
&nbsp;]]></description>      </item>      <item>          <title>Official 2011 Playbook</title>          <link>http://www.profootballhoffestival.com/official-playbook</link>          <pubDate>Tue, 17 January 2012 11:00:59 EST</pubDate>          <description><![CDATA[All the excitement of this &ldquo;One of a Kind Celebration&rdquo; and a complete schedule of events are captured in the 2011 &ldquo;Official Playbook&rdquo; of the Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement Festival.
The Official Playbook contains comprehensive information about each of the 18 events comprising the 2011 Enshrinement Festival, highlights the 2011 Class of Enshrinees &ndash; Richard Dent, Marshall Faulk, Chris Hanburger, Les Richter, Ed Sabol, Deion Sanders, and Shannon Sharpe..&nbsp; The 2012 Official Playbook is currently in the design process and will be posted soon after we have complete information on the 2012 Class of Enshrinees and the teams selected to play in the 2012 NFL/Hall of Fame Game.&nbsp; Please check back mid-Spring for the 2012 Official Playbook!







&nbsp;
Download a PDF of the Enshrinement Festival 2011 Official Playbook
&nbsp;]]></description>          <enclosure url="http://www.profootballhoffestival.com/uploads/327511305830226.pdf" length="10449956" type="application/pdf" />          <enclosure url="http://www.profootballhoffestival.com/uploads/23261305834433.jpg" length="76909" type="image/jpeg" />      </item>      <item>          <title>Party at the Ribs Burnoff with Southside Johnny</title>          <link>http://www.profootballhoffestival.com/party-at-the-ribs-burnoff-with-southside-johnny</link>          <pubDate>Thu, 14 July 2011 10:43:14 EDT</pubDate>          <description><![CDATA[The Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement Festival department of the Canton Regional Chamber and Mix 94.1 are pleased to announce that party band Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes, with special guest Joe Grushecky and the House Rockers, will join the musical line-up during this year&rsquo;s Ribs Burnoff. The band will rock the Emergency Medicine Physicians Stage on Friday, Aug. 5, beginning at approximately 7 p.m.&ldquo;There&rsquo;s one thing I&rsquo;ve always wanted to do,&rdquo; Southside Johnny confesses, &ldquo;and that is to sing.&rdquo; And he has been doing just that for over a third of a century. In a business where success is defined as getting a second single and longevity measured in nanoseconds, just surviving for 30-plus years is a rare accomplishment. But Johnny and the Jukes have not just survived, they have flourished: over thirty albums, several EPs and a box set; thousands of live performances around the globe; a legion of dedicated and enthusiastic fans; dozens of classic songs; and the record &ldquo;Hearts of Stone&rdquo; that Rolling Stone called one of the &ldquo;top 100 albums of the 70&prime;s and 80&prime;s.&rdquo; The story continues as the band releases its newest studio album, &ldquo;Pills and Ammo,&rdquo; full of new material that is already getting rave reviews from fans who are excited about its rock and roll feel, described as a harder edge for harder times. Tunes like &ldquo;Umbrella in My Drink&rdquo; with guest vocals by Gary Bonds; &ldquo;Keep on Movin&rsquo;&rdquo; an homage to Jerry Lee Lewis and the early rockabilly sound; and &ldquo;One More Night to Rock&rdquo; all place the band in their classic, jubilant &ldquo;let&rsquo;s play all night&rdquo; mood. And the band has never sounded better. For more information about Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes, visit http://bit.ly/southsidejohnny.
Playing with Southside Johnny at the Ribs Burnoff will be Joe Grushecky, who from 1979 to 1983 played in his first band, Iron City Houserockers, an homage to his beloved steel city of Pittsburgh. When the band broke up, Grushecky returned to Pittsburgh where he took a day job as a special education teacher, a job he still holds. In the ensuing years, he produced several singles. Then in 1995, he began a decade-long collaboration with another hard-rocking storyteller, Bruce Springsteen. In 1998, Grushecky released &ldquo;Coming Home&rdquo;; in 1999 &ldquo;Down the Road a Piece Live&rdquo;; and in 2002 &ldquo;Fingerprints.&rdquo;
To accommodate even more fans at the concert, chairs or seating of any kind will not be permitted anywhere on the track area; all track admission will be free, standing room only. Those wishing to have a reserved seat in the grandstands can purchase tickets for only $9 each. Tickets are available for walk-in purchase at the Canton Regional Chamber of Commerce (222 Market Avenue North in downtown Canton) from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. each weekday. Phone orders will be accepted at (330) 458-2088.
In addition to the national musical acts in the evenings on the main stage, attendees can enjoy activities all day, including free musical entertainment on the daytime stage featuring The Brighter Side Band on Wednesday, Aug. 3, Wild West Band on Thursday, Aug. 4, and Mr. Trick on Friday, Aug. 5, all beginning at 5:15 p.m. Other family activities include an expansive children&rsquo;s entertainment area with face painting, caricaturists, balloon twisters, Fantasy Football Zone of interactive inflatables powered by AEP Ohio, a master sand sculptor, Lowe&rsquo;s Build &amp; Grow, 2012 Ford Focus Tour and much more.
The Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement Festival Ribs Burnoff will run Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, Aug. 3, 4 and 5, beginning at 11 a.m. and concluding at 10:30 p.m. each day, at the Stark County Fairgrounds. In addition to fantastic ribs, a wide variety of other food will be showcased, including ice cream, buffalo wings, funnel cakes, apple dumplings, bloomin&rsquo; onions, Italian sausage and other delicious midway fare!
Admission to the Ribs Burnoff is free. Onsite parking at the fairgrounds will be free each day until 4 p.m., after which time a fee of $5 per vehicle will be charged. For more information, contact Laura Perry, event manager, at (330) 458-2054.&nbsp;]]></description>          <enclosure url="http://www.profootballhoffestival.com/uploads/300011310654443.jpg" length="100922" type="image/pjpeg" />      </item>      <item>          <title>Photo Contest FAQ</title>          <link>http://www.profootballhoffestival.com/photo-contest-faq-s</link>          <pubDate>Fri, 13 January 2012 11:48:06 EST</pubDate>          <description><![CDATA[Who can participate? Anyone 18 or older can participate in either the professional or non-professional category.&nbsp;
What constitutes a &ldquo;professional&rdquo; photographer? For the purpose of this contest, a professional photographer is defined as a person who earns more than one-fourth of&nbsp;their income from photography, or someone who has obtained a media press pass at the event being photographed.
How do I submit a photo to the photo contest?&nbsp;&nbsp;Download the Photo Contest brochure, read through it, and attach the completed entry form to each photo you submit.&nbsp; Then deliver or mail all required elements to the Pro Football HOFEF Photo Contest, 222 Market Avenue North --Canton, Ohio, 44702, no later than August 24, 2012.
What is the entry fee?&nbsp; The entry fee is $10 for up to ten (10) photos.&nbsp;
How many photos can I submit? You can submit as many photos as you like.&nbsp; If you want to submit more than ten, an additional $10 is required for each ten (10) photos submitted.
How do I pay the entry fee?&nbsp; You can pay by check made payable to CRCC or by cash or credit card.
What size photograph should be entered?&nbsp;&nbsp;Photographs can be as&nbsp;small as 5 x 7 and no larger than 8 &frac12; &nbsp;x 11.
How will my photograph be judged? There are three (3) photographic expert judges.&nbsp; &nbsp;Judging consists of eight (8) rounds of evaluation in each event category in the professional and non-professional divisions. The judges will select a first place winner in each category for each division (professional and non-professional)&nbsp;from among all eligible entries, based on the following criteria: (1) photographic quality including focus, lighting, color and sharpness; (2) creativity; and (3) the ability to capture the spirit of the Enshrinement Festival. &nbsp;The Best of Show award is selected from all photographs entered in the contest.
When will the winners be announced?&nbsp; Winners will be chosen on or around September 3rd, and&nbsp;each winner&nbsp;will be notified by mail soon thereafter.
What are the prizes?&nbsp; The first-place winner in each category will receive a $100 cash prize.&nbsp; One &ldquo;Best of Show&rdquo; winner will receive $250, and each honorable mention will receive a $25 cash prize.&nbsp;
Will my photography be seen on-line?&nbsp; Selected entries and the entrants' names may be published on the Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement Festival Web site.
Is image manipulation allowed in the Photo Contest?&nbsp; We want to see the Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement Festival through your eyes, not the tools of Photoshop. We trust our users to submit unaltered files. We cannot research every photo entry. However, if a photo is chosen, it will be scrutinized for possible alterations.&nbsp; Minor burning, dodging, and color correction are acceptable. Hand tinting is acceptable, as is cropping. Fish-eye lenses are acceptable. Any changes to an original photograph not itemized here are unacceptable and will render the photograph ineligible for a prize.
When I submit a photo to the Photo Contest, what rights does the Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement Festival have to my submission?&nbsp;&nbsp;We will have the non-exclusive, perpetual right to use your image in connection with the contest and promotion of the contest as well as in any media now or hereafter known, including, but not limited to: display at a potential exhibition of winners and in any media publications.]]></description>      </item>      <item>          <title>Photo Gallery</title>          <link>http://www.profootballhoffestival.com/photo-gallery</link>          <pubDate>Sat, 23 July 2011 11:13:17 EDT</pubDate>          <description><![CDATA[Thank you for visiting our photo gallery! Please enjoy a few photos from the Enshrinement Festival!




]]></description>          <enclosure url="http://www.profootballhoffestival.com/uploads/208511309202875.jpg" length="375985" type="image/jpeg" />          <enclosure url="http://www.profootballhoffestival.com/uploads/209591309202887.jpg" length="495845" type="image/jpeg" />          <enclosure url="http://www.profootballhoffestival.com/uploads/209361309202973.jpg" length="450647" type="image/jpeg" />          <enclosure url="http://www.profootballhoffestival.com/uploads/215421309203435.jpg" length="710563" type="image/jpeg" />          <enclosure url="http://www.profootballhoffestival.com/uploads/216361309203565.jpg" length="334874" type="image/jpeg" />          <enclosure url="http://www.profootballhoffestival.com/uploads/64511311433722.jpg" length="107960" type="image/jpeg" />      </item>      <item>          <title>Queen Pageant FAQ</title>          <link>http://www.profootballhoffestival.com/queen-pageant-faq</link>          <pubDate>Fri, 6 January 2012 18:14:44 EST</pubDate>          <description><![CDATA[What can I do to prepare myself to participate?&nbsp; We would strongly encourage you to attend the "Screen the Queen Pageant" session at the Canton Regional Chamber of Commerce on Saturday, Feb. 25 from&nbsp;9 to 11:00 a.m. This session will help you decide if&nbsp;you would like to enter the Pageant, and give you a better idea of what to expect if&nbsp;you do. Participants will have the opportunity to review the 2011 Queen Pageant DVD, learn about the judging experience from past years' judges, hear from a past queen who will share her memories, and ask questions about the process. This informative, informal session is FREE, but reservations must be made in advance by calling Kathy Lindenberger at (330) 458-2056.&nbsp;
When can I get an application?&nbsp;&nbsp;Applications and tickets&nbsp;are available&nbsp;at the Canton Regional Chamber of Commerce, Enshrinement Festival department, 222 Market Ave. N., in downtown Canton, weekdays from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. beginning Monday, Feb. 13. The deadline to submit the application and a $68 fee is Monday, March 12, by 5 p.m. Candidates cannot be younger than a high school senior and 18 years old by May 1 or more than 23 years of age before Sept. 1. Candidates must reside and, if employed, work within a 30-mile radius of Stark County.&nbsp;
How are contestants judged?&nbsp; It's important to note that this is&nbsp;far more than&nbsp;just a beauty pageant.&nbsp; Contestants are also judged on the basis of personality, poise, communication skills, academic achievement, and service to community. Prior to Pageant night, contestants have a face-to-face interview with a panel of impartial judges.&nbsp; At the Pageant, all contestants participate in a production number and are featured in evening gowns.&nbsp; The field is then&nbsp;narrowed to 25 semi-finalists, all of whom express their platform issue in not more than 30 seconds.&nbsp; The judges then select the 15 finalists, each of whom draws a random question to answer, allowing the judges to see how their poise and personality shines through.&nbsp; Judges&nbsp;then submit their final vote for a Queen and Court members to coincide with the number of Enshrinees in this year's Class of Enshrinees.&nbsp; However, we can say without reservation that all contestants are true winners and outstanding examples of the quality of today's younger generation!
What is the Pageant&nbsp;ticket price?&nbsp; All seats are reserved at $18 each.&nbsp; Tickets can be purchased after February 13th at the Canton Regional Chamber of Commerce, Canton Auto Club and Massillon Auto Club.
What should I wear if I plan to attend the Pageant?&nbsp; Most patrons wear business attire to this event.
Where do I park?&nbsp; There should be ample on-street parking, as well as at nearby surface parking lots.
What time should I arrive and how long does the Pageant last?&nbsp; Doors open at 6:30 p.m., the Pageant begins promptly at 7:00 p.m,, and&nbsp;festivities should conclude approximately 9:45 p.m.
QUESTIONS OR NEED FURTHER INFO -- CONTACT KATHY LINDENBERGER:&nbsp; 330.458.2056 or kathyl@cantonchamber.org 
&nbsp;]]></description>      </item>      <item>          <title>Ribs Burnoff FAQ</title>          <link>http://www.profootballhoffestival.com/ribs-burnoff-faq</link>          <pubDate>Tue, 1 November 2011 17:55:29 EDT</pubDate>          <description><![CDATA[Is parking available? Yes, parking is available. Parking is $5.00 after 4:00 p.m. at the Stark County Fairgrounds. Disabled parking is available to those who present their disability parking permit. Parking entrance on Wertz Avenue at 4th St. NW and 7th St. NW.
What bands are playing? Announcements will be made closer to the event. Please keep an eye on our website for updates.
How much are concert tickets? Free standing room is available on the track area in front of the stage. No chairs are permitted in this area. Tickets for grandstand seating&nbsp;will be very reasonably priced&nbsp;and will go on sale closer to the event. Please check back for announcements.
Can I bring Fido? Sorry -- no. Pets are not permitted at the Ribs Burnoff. We love our pets too, but&nbsp;it's not a place for them, so please keep them at home. Service dogs welcome.
What&nbsp;activities are available at the Ribs Burnoff? Eat ribs and more ribs&nbsp;&ndash; of course!&nbsp; If you&rsquo;re not a rib fan, there are plenty of other tasty sensations to satisfy your taste buds. Enjoy ribs, stromboli, pulled pork, hot dogs, pizza, funnel cakes and ice cream &ndash; there is something for everyone!
Entertain&nbsp;your ears with music and entertainment from the day stage in its&nbsp;central location&nbsp;&ndash; front and center in the vendor area! Children will enjoy face painting, balloon twisting and inflatable bounce houses! Keep an eye out for more announcements regarding daily entertainment.&nbsp;Traveling commercial&nbsp;units also provide entertaining fun for the whole family!
Nightly Concerts:&nbsp; Each night, quality musical artists will take to the main stage approximately 8:00 p.m.&nbsp; Check back periodically -- we'll be announcing the acts just as soon as contracts are finalized!
Where can I eat and stay during the Enshrinement Festival events? Please check out www.visitcantonstark.com for more information.
QUESTIONS OR NEED FURTHER INFO -- CONTACT LAURA PERRY: 330.458.2054 or laurap@cantonchamber.org
&nbsp;]]></description>      </item>      <item>          <title>Schedule</title>          <link>http://www.profootballhoffestival.com/schedule</link>          <pubDate>Wed, 8 February 2012 10:15:13 EST</pubDate>          <description><![CDATA[18 EVENTS ENJOYED BY NEARLY 700,000 PEOPLE, ALL CELEBRATING THE INDUCTION OF THE 2012 CLASS OF ENSHRINEES:
Jack Butler, Dermontti Dawson, Chris Doleman, Cortez Kennedy, Curtis Martin, Willie Roaf
2012 SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
(This schedule is tentative and subject to change.&nbsp;Times listed are general event start times.&nbsp;
Please check back for detailed information on the timing of activities within each event.)



&nbsp;

THURSDAY, MAY 10



7:00 p.m.
QUEEN PAGEANT &bull; Canton Palace Theatre


&nbsp;

FRIDAY, JULY 20



4:00 p.m.
JACKSON-BELDEN FOOD FEST &bull; KSU at Stark/Stark State Campuses


4:00 p.m.
BALLOON CLASSIC&nbsp;&amp; NIGHT GLOW&nbsp;&bull; KSU at Stark/Stark State Campuses


&nbsp;

SATURDAY, JULY 21



6:00 a.m.
BALLOON CLASSIC &bull; KSU at&nbsp;Stark/Stark State Campuses


4:00 p.m.
JACKSON-BELDEN FOOD FEST&nbsp;&amp; FIREWORKS &bull;&nbsp;KSU at Stark/Stark State Campuses


4:00 p.m.
BALLOON CLASSIC&nbsp;&bull; KSU at&nbsp;Stark/Stark State Campuses


&nbsp;

SUNDAY, JULY 22



6:00 a.m.
BALLOON CLASSIC &bull; KSU at&nbsp;Stark/Stark State Campuses


&nbsp;

SATURDAY, JULY 28



6:00 p.m.
CONCERT &amp; FIREWORKS&nbsp;&bull; Downtown Canton - Cornerstone Square


&nbsp;

SUNDAY, JULY 29



8:00 a.m.
2-MILE AND 5-MILE RACES &bull; Pro Football Hall of Fame


2:30 p.m.
COMMUNITY PARADE &bull; Downtown Canton


&nbsp;

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 1



11:00 a.m.
RIBS BURNOFF &bull; Stark County Fairgrounds


&nbsp;

THURSDAY, AUGUST 2



10:00 a.m.
FIRST PLAY 2012 &bull; Downtown Canton


11:00 a.m.
RIBS BURNOFF &bull; Stark County Fairgrounds 


&nbsp;

FRIDAY, AUGUST 3



11:00 a.m.
RIBS BURNOFF &bull; Stark County Fairgrounds 


11:30 a.m.
FASHION SHOW&nbsp;LUNCHEON&nbsp;&bull; Memorial Civic Center and Cultural Center


5:15 p.m.
ENSHRINEES DINNER&nbsp;&bull; Memorial Civic Center and Cultural Center


&nbsp;

SATURDAY, AUGUST 4



8:00 a.m.
GRAND PARADE &bull; Downtown Canton


Noon
MOUNTED MEMORIES AUTOGRAPH SESSION (HALL OF FAMERS) &bull; Pro Football Hall of Fame


4:00 p.m.
ENSHRINEMENT CELEBRATION FAN PARTY &bull; Pro Football Hall of Fame


7:00 p.m.
ENSHRINEMENT &bull; Fawcett Stadium


&nbsp;

SUNDAY, AUGUST 5



12:30 p.m.
ENSHRINEES&nbsp;GAMEDAY ROUNDTABLE&nbsp;&bull; Memorial Civic Center and Cultural Center


3:00 p.m.
PANINI CLASS OF 2012 AUTOGRAPH SESSION &bull; Pro Football Hall of Fame


5:00 p.m.
FAN APPRECIATION TAILGATE PARTY &bull; Pro Football Hall of Fame


8:00 p.m.
NFL/HALL OF FAME GAME&nbsp;&bull; Hall of Fame Field at Fawcett Stadium 


&nbsp;

MONDAY, AUGUST 6



6:30 p.m.
DRUM CORPS INTERNATIONAL COMPETITION &bull; Paul Brown Tiger Stadium


]]></description>      </item>      <item>          <title>Sponsorship</title>          <link>http://www.profootballhoffestival.com/sponsorship</link>          <pubDate>Mon, 20 February 2012 13:28:52 EST</pubDate>          <description><![CDATA[Nearly 700,000 people from across Ohio and the United States experienced a &ldquo;One of a Kind Celebration&rdquo; &nbsp;during the 2011 Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement Festival in Canton, Ohio. This&nbsp;nearly two-week&nbsp;festival is comprised of 18 unique events offering quality entertainment and drawing diverse crowds from local, regional, and national markets. &nbsp;Be sure to mark your calendars for the 2012 Enshrinement Festival. &nbsp;The fun &nbsp;will begin on May 10 with the Queen Pageant and continues with a wide variety of exciting events from July 20 through August 6 -- all celebrating the induction of the 2012 Class of Enshrinees. &nbsp;Be sure to check back after the 2012 Super Bowl to see who will be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame on Saturday, August 4th!
Celebrating our 49th anniversary in 2012, we invite you to learn more about sponsorship opportunities for each of our events. We would be glad to meet with you to discuss opportunities and develop a customized sponsorship proposal to meet your company's marketing objectives. We look forward to welcoming you to our team!
For more information call or write: 



Chris GumppSponsorship Manager222 Market Ave., NorthCanton, OH 44702330.458.2055800.533.4302chrisg@cantonchamber.org
&nbsp;
&nbsp;
&nbsp;
&nbsp;
&nbsp;
&nbsp;]]></description>      </item>      <item>          <title>Staff </title>          <link>http://www.profootballhoffestival.com/staff</link>          <pubDate>Thu, 26 January 2012 14:21:25 EST</pubDate>          <description><![CDATA[





Joanne MurrayDirector330-458-2050joannem@cantonchamber.org
Words to live by:
&nbsp;Proper planning prevents poor performance.
Shared joy is doubled joy.
No matter where you go, there you are!



&nbsp;
&nbsp;
&nbsp;                         





&nbsp;

Chris GumppSponsorship Manager330-458-2055chrisg@cantonchamber.org
Do you have a hobby?&nbsp;I love to cook, which isn't a good thing for my husband who loves to eat!
What do you do every day? I try to always smile even when I don't feel like it, say hi first and offer to help when needed.
What is important to you?&nbsp;I believe in the importance of family traditions and encourage my children to share them with their children.



&nbsp;
&nbsp;
&nbsp;                         





&nbsp;

Karen KhoureyAdministrative Specialist/Event Coordinator330-458-2053karenk@cantonchamber.org
What is your favorite gadget?&nbsp; My iPad, without a doubt.&nbsp; I have to make myself turn it off when I am in bed playing on it so I can get some sleep.
Do you have pets?&nbsp; Yes, I have a Miniature Schnauzer named Allie.&nbsp; She has the most amazing personality and always makes me happy&hellip; except when she is running from the bathroom with the toilet paper in her mouth stringing it through the house.
What is your favorite guilty pleasure? &nbsp;That would be ice cream and not just any ice cream because I am an ice cream snob.&nbsp; My favorite flavors are chocolate/peanut butter and birthday cake ice cream with brownies.



&nbsp;
&nbsp;
&nbsp;                         





&nbsp;

Kathy LindenbergerSouvenir &amp; Event Manager330-458-2056kathyl@cantonchamber.org
Do you have a hobby? Antiques - I love the memories and history attached to them.
Do you have pets? Yes, a Teddy Bear puppy named Beau - he has ME trained very well.
Where would we find you on the weekends? At the mall - I love shopping especially for my grandchildren.



&nbsp;
&nbsp;
&nbsp;                         





&nbsp;

Kim MillerTicket &amp; Event Manager330-458-2048kimm@cantonchamber.org
Do you have a hobby? Scrap booking
Have you traveled outside of the U.S.? &nbsp;I have been to India and I would love to visit again!
What is your favorite stark county restaurant?&nbsp; Desert Inn or any Middle Eastern food.
What is your favorite season? Spring time!



&nbsp;
&nbsp;
&nbsp;                          





&nbsp;

Laura PerryEvent Manager330-458-2054laurap@cantonchamber.org
What is your best Enshrinement Festival memory? My first year as event manager, all six flights were a success at the Balloon Classic. It was amazing to be able to watch the whole thing come together in a way I never imagined. I cannot describe the feeling of seeing thousands of people enjoy the event from a whole new perspective. &nbsp;
What is your favorite season? My favorite season is spring because I love to watch everything come alive again and hear the birds sing in the morning!
Are you patient? Not even close! I stop the microwave before the last five seconds or take a longer route just to get around a slow driver!



&nbsp;
&nbsp;




]]></description>          <enclosure url="http://www.profootballhoffestival.com/uploads/60371326749714.jpg" length="30336" type="image/jpeg" />          <enclosure url="http://www.profootballhoffestival.com/uploads/280891326812274.jpg" length="63391" type="image/jpeg" />          <enclosure url="http://www.profootballhoffestival.com/uploads/283761326812297.jpg" length="55793" type="image/jpeg" />          <enclosure url="http://www.profootballhoffestival.com/uploads/283651326812320.jpg" length="60260" type="image/jpeg" />          <enclosure url="http://www.profootballhoffestival.com/uploads/283261326812518.jpg" length="61026" type="image/jpeg" />          <enclosure url="http://www.profootballhoffestival.com/uploads/205371327418175.jpg" length="38803" type="image/jpeg" />          <enclosure url="http://www.profootballhoffestival.com/uploads/234371320772328.jpg" length="32983" type="image/pjpeg" />      </item>      <item>          <title>Street closings for Enshrinement Festival 2-Mile and 5-Mile Races</title>          <link>http://www.profootballhoffestival.com/street-closings-for-enshrinement-festival-2-mile-and-5-mile-races</link>          <pubDate>Fri, 29 July 2011 09:52:39 EDT</pubDate>          <description><![CDATA[To accommodate the Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement Festival Races, several streets will be closed, either partially or entirely, to traffic Sunday morning, July 31, from 7:30 a.m. until approximately 10:30 a.m. &nbsp;According to Lt. Linda Brown of the Canton City Police Traffic and Accident Bureau, the following streets will be closed:

Monument Rd. NW from 23rd St. to Seventh St. NW 
Seventh St. NW from McGregor Ave. NW to Elgin Ave. NW 
12th St. NW from Mercy Dr. NW to Ridge Rd. NW 
Harrison Ave. NW from 17th St. NW to Park Dr.
In the event of an emergency, vehicles will be allowed to travel on 12th St. NW 

The various races include the 2-Mile Race, 5-Mile Race, 5-Mile Competitive Walk, and Kids Fun Run.&nbsp; Delays may occur due to anticipated heavy traffic and construction activities on the grounds of the Hall of Fame, so participants are strongly encouraged to allow plenty of time for arrival and parking.&nbsp; Parking will be available at McKinley High School parking lots for both packet pick-up on Saturday and the races on Sunday.&nbsp; Parking will not be available anywhere on the grounds of the Pro Football Hall of Fame.As a reminder, there is no Race day registration, so those still wishing to register can do so in several ways:

On-line at www.bit.ly/2011races until 2 p.m. on Friday, July 29 
At packet pick-up at the Pro Football Hall of Fame on Saturday, July 30 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. 

Cash and/or other prizes will be awarded to top finishers in the 2-Mile and 5-Mile events, and both serious and recreational runners are welcome to participate. In the second annual Competitive Walking Division in the 5-Mile Race, prizes will be awarded to the top three finishers; the walkers in this division must be able to maintain an 18-minute pace. Starting the morning&rsquo;s activities will be the seventh annual free, 400 meter, Kids Fun Run for youngsters six and under, where everyone is a winner!&nbsp; All races finish at the steps of the Pro Football Hall of Fame, offering great photo opportunities and the chance to visit the museum. ]]></description>      </item>      <item>          <title>Timken and McFarlane named to leadership roles for 2011 Enshrinement Festival</title>          <link>http://www.profootballhoffestival.com/timken-and-mcfarlane-named</link>          <pubDate>Mon, 14 February 2011 09:07:27 EST</pubDate>          <description><![CDATA[CANTON, OH (November 15, 2010) &ndash; The Canton Regional Chamber of Commerce and Pro Football Hall of Fame have named two long-time community volunteers to leadership positions for the 2011 Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement Festival. The world-renowned festival will celebrate the annual enshrinement of football players, coaches, and contributors into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, &ldquo;America&rsquo;s Premier Sports Museum and Showplace!&rdquo;
&nbsp;
Robert R. Timken, managing director of Cormony Development, LLC, will serve as general chairman of the Enshrinement Festival activities planned by the Enshrinement Festival department of the Canton Regional Chamber of Commerce. Robert J. McFarlane, national sales director of outdoors products division for Bruce Foods Corporation of New Iberia, La., will serve as general chairman of the Enshrinement Festival activities planned by the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
&nbsp;
With the 2010 Enshrinement Festival just a few months behind them, strategic planning for the 2011 Enshrinement Festival is already well underway. The collaborative efforts of this leadership team, combined with the professional staffs at the Canton Regional Chamber and the Pro Football Hall of Fame, and the dedicated team of more than 4,200 extraordinary community volunteers, will ensure the success of 18 unique and diverse events over an 11-day period, tentatively scheduled for July 28 through Aug. 9, 2011. A tentative schedule of events is available online at www.profootballhofef.com. The Enshrinement Festival activities, attended by nearly 700,000 people, are expected to produce an economic impact of over $30 million for the Canton/Stark County area and nearly $55 million for the State of Ohio. In addition, millions will experience aspects of the Enshrinement Festival as events are televised and covered by other media. With a record of success for the past 47 years, the Enshrinement Festival has earned its reputation as &ldquo;A One of a Kind Celebration!&rdquo;
&nbsp;
Timken will lead the chairmen of 26 Canton Regional Chamber of Commerce committees, who hold in excess of 350 meetings throughout the year, to attend to the massive details of planning and staging several Enshrinement Festival events. He comes to this position after serving last year as general vice chairman, coupled with extensive involvement in civic life in Canton, Ohio, where he&nbsp;previously served on the board of the Canton Regional Chamber of Commerce, Canton Country Day School, and Canton Tomorrow, Inc., and as chairman of the Fund for the Arts, ArtsinStark&rsquo;s annual fund drive. His civic involvement has also included participation on the committee engaged in analyzing the local environment for attraction and retention of young professionals, now functioning as ystark! His current activities include service on several boards, including The Downtown Canton Land Bank, Mercy Medical Center and ArtsinStark, the County Arts Council. He is a member of the advisory council for the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad.
&nbsp;
Timken graduated with a bachelor&rsquo;s degree in political science from The College of Wooster and previously served as congressional aide to U.S. Representative David Hobson (OH) and as director of federal government affairs at McGough &amp; Associates, Inc. He and his wife Sara reside in Canton with their three daughters.
&nbsp;
McFarlane will lead the chairmen of 10 Pro Football Hall of Fame committees in planning and implementing other Enshrinement Festival events, including the central focus of the entire festival, the Enshrinement Ceremony itself, as well as the NFL Hall of Fame Game and the First Play event. McFarlane also will lead the support committees that assist the Pro Football Hall of Fame in providing hospitality to the 2011 Enshrinees, returning Hall of Famers and their families. He is a 20-year veteran of the Hall of Fame Hospitality Committee and served as its chairman for the 11th year in 2010.
&nbsp;
In addition to his volunteer work with the Hall of Fame committee, McFarlane is past-chairman of the Enshrinement Festival Balloon Classic Invitational Committee, past-president of Wishes Can Happen, Inc.,&nbsp;co-founder and past-president of Jackson Township Jaycees and JCI Senator and Ambassador, and was included in &ldquo;Outstanding Young Men of America.&rdquo; A retired football official after 26 years, McFarlane has been very involved in Jackson Township, where he resides, and has served as a volunteer fireman and was involved in the formation of the Jackson Township Police Department. He is a graduate of Capital University with a bachelor&rsquo;s degree in management. He and wife Sharon are proud of daughter Kelly and son-in-law Scott.
&nbsp;
While nearly 21,000 men have played in at least one National Football League game, there are only 260 members of the Pro Football Hall of Fame; this number will be increased by not more than seven and not fewer than four when the 2011 Class is announced Feb. 5 during Super Bowl weekend. The central focus and highlight of the festivities will be the induction ceremony for the 2011 Class of Enshrinees, tentatively scheduled for Saturday, Aug. 6 at Fawcett Stadium.]]></description>          <enclosure url="http://www.profootballhoffestival.com/uploads/234971297868202.jpg" length="33911" type="image/jpeg" />          <enclosure url="http://www.profootballhoffestival.com/uploads/231451297868226.jpg" length="51473" type="image/jpeg" />      </item>      <item>          <title>Timken Grand Parade 2011 float winners announced</title>          <link>http://www.profootballhoffestival.com/timken-grand-parade-2011-float-winners-announced</link>          <pubDate>Mon, 19 September 2011 14:30:26 EDT</pubDate>          <description><![CDATA[Timken Grand Parade Chairman Eric Stasiowski has announced the 2011 float award winners as selected by the following panel of judges: Jason Klipa, WalMart Stores Inc., Hummelstown, Pa.; Randy Stautzenback, Whitemyer Advertising, Zoar, Ohio; and Robin VanLear, Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, Ohio.&nbsp;
There were a total of 10 float entries this year, and all of them will be seen in Saturday morning&rsquo;s Timken Grand Parade beginning at 8 a.m. in downtown Canton.&nbsp;
The following is a complete list of the 2011 Timken Grand Parade float award winners:&nbsp;

GRAND PRIZE &ndash; Best overall entry in the paradeBuckeye Council, Boy Scouts of America 


BUILDERS&rsquo; AWARD &ndash; Best professional builder entryState Farm Insurance Companies 


OHIO STATE AWARD &ndash; Best non-professional builder entry5 Point Parish


ENSHRINEES&rsquo; AWARD &ndash; Most effective use of color harmonyLouisville Constitution Day Committee 


MAYOR&rsquo;S AWARD &ndash; Best display of animationKenan Advantage Group, Inc.


HOF BOARD OF TRUSTEES&rsquo; AWARD &ndash; Most original conceptThe Home-Town Health Plan 


NFL AWARD &ndash; Best use of flowers or natural coveringMcDonald&rsquo;s (Queen&rsquo;s Float) 


JANICE C. MEYER AWARD &ndash; For exceptional meritOhio Lottery 


EXCEPTIONAL MERIT AWARD &ndash; For exceptional meritAkron Children&rsquo;s Hospital 

The Timken Grand Parade has been a tradition since 1963 when 40,000 spectators attended the first parade. Since then, it has grown to a crowd of 200,000 lining the 2.2 mile parade route each year and millions more viewing it via television broadcast.&nbsp;
The Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement Festival Timken Grand Parade is one of the largest in the nation, and the Enshrinement Festival has been voted one of the top 100 attractions in North America by the American Bus Association. The parade typically features approximated 115 entries, including spectacular floats, marching bands, helium balloons, clowns and costume characters, unique specialty units, returning Hall of Famers, and the current class of Enshrinees and their presenters.&nbsp;]]></description>      </item>      <item>          <title>Timken Grand Parade FAQ</title>          <link>http://www.profootballhoffestival.com/timken-grand-parade-faq</link>          <pubDate>Tue, 1 November 2011 17:59:11 EDT</pubDate>          <description><![CDATA[When and where is the Timken Grand Parade? The parade steps off at 8:00 a.m. in downtown Canton, Ohio -- on Cleveland Avenue approximately 5th Street SW.&nbsp; Units travel north on Cleveland Avenue to 25th St. NW where&nbsp;the parade&nbsp;begins to disband.
Are reserved seats available? Yes. Reserved seats are $8.50 and can be purchased by contacting Kim Miller, ticket manager, at 330-458-2048 or 800-533-4302. Bleachers and chairs are provided ONLY to ticket holders so purchase soon!
What if I don&rsquo;t want to purchase reserved seats? Reserved seating is the best way to go to guarantee a great view of the units. If you wish to bring your own seats for viewing, plan to go early, stake out a good spot and remember to pick up donuts!
How long is the parade route? The parade route is 2.2 miles long. As a spectator, expect&nbsp;almost two&nbsp;hours of fanfare from the first unit to the last!
What kind of units will I see in the parade? The Timken Grand Parade has something for everyone!

The&nbsp;current Class of Enshrinees
Returning&nbsp;Hall of Famers
Giant Helium Balloons
Floats
Animal Units
Bands
&hellip; plus many more unique and fun specialty units!

I have a relative in a band &ndash; will I see them on T.V.? Unfortunately we cannot guarantee television coverage for all units. We could not put on this event without our sponsors who receive priority for television coverage.
I can&rsquo;t find my seats! What should I do? Look for someone in orange! Our parade marshals will be wearing orange shirts and will be able to direct you to your seats on parade morning.
Can participants in the parade throw candy or other items to the spectators, or approach spectators to distribute goodies or information?&nbsp; Sorry, this is strictly prohibited for safety and liability reasons.
QUESTIONS OR NEED FURTHER INFO -- CONTACT LAURA PERRY: 330.458.2054 or laurap@cantonchamber.org
&nbsp;]]></description>      </item>      <item>          <title>Visitor Info</title>          <link>http://www.profootballhoffestival.com/visitor-info</link>          <pubDate>Thu, 3 February 2011 11:21:23 EST</pubDate>          <description><![CDATA[The greater Canton/Stark County community is proud to host the annual Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement Festival. Join nearly 700,000 people at 18 diverse events over a nearly two-week&nbsp;period as they honor the induction of football heroes into the Pro Football Hall of Fame located in Canton, Ohio! A dedicated staff, team of more than 4,200 volunteers, generous sponsors and governmental entities give the support necessary to plan and stage these action-packed festivities.
&nbsp;

Convention and Visitors' Bureau
Canton Regional Chamber of Commerce
Local Weather
Map
Pro Football Hall of Fame

&nbsp;]]></description>      </item>      <item>          <title>Volunteers</title>          <link>http://www.profootballhoffestival.com/volunteers</link>          <pubDate>Tue, 17 January 2012 10:21:55 EST</pubDate>          <description><![CDATA[
MESSAGE FROM CANDY WALLACE, 2012 GENERAL CHAIRMAN, CHAMBER COMMITTEES&nbsp;
The momentum for choosing Canton as the home for the Pro Football Hall of Fame began with an article written by Chuck Such in the December 1959 Canton Repository. He stated many reasons why Canton should be the selected site, ending his article with a challenge to the community: &ldquo;The project will require a combined Herculean effort on the part of civic and sports leaders, business, industry and perhaps, more important, just plain fans.&rdquo;
The community became engaged. The Chamber of Commerce joined service groups, local banks, businesses and citizens to select a site, develop building and operation plans, and begin raising money. Canton was selected as the official site in April 1961. Only 90 days later, $378,026 had already been raised. Ground was broken in August 1962, and the 17 member charter class of Enshrines was selected. The Herculean effort had begun in full force.
What began only as an enshrinement and exhibition game has now become a world renowned festival consisting of 18 diverse events.&nbsp; What began with nearly $400,000 has grown to a priceless two weeks of entertainment, staged by a dedicated group of 4,200 volunteers.
More than 21,000 men have played professional football but only 267 have been recognized with a spot in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.&nbsp; Over the past 48 years, the Hall itself has grown from 19,000 square feet to 83,000 square feet, and the $27 million Future 50 Project set for completion in 2013 will expand the square footage to 124,000 while enhancing the visitors&rsquo; experience at &ldquo;America&rsquo;s Premier Sports Museum and Showplace.&rdquo;
All&nbsp; the festivities would not happen without the staffs of the Canton Regional Chamber of Commerce and Pro Football Hall of Fame who provide support and guidance for the volunteers, along with the many community sponsors&nbsp;and in-kind donors all working to make the events the best ever .
I am honored to serve as volunteer chair for this 2012 Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement Festival.&nbsp; Over 700,000 fans participate in the annual events, and I encourage you to try each and every one.&nbsp; It surely is a &ldquo;One of a Kind Celebration!&rdquo;
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&nbsp;]]></description>          <enclosure url="http://www.profootballhoffestival.com/uploads/145841277824155.png" length="22290" type="image/png" />          <enclosure url="http://www.profootballhoffestival.com/uploads/65161288862429.jpg" length="6484" type="image/pjpeg" />          <enclosure url="http://www.profootballhoffestival.com/uploads/173721322689168.jpg" length="164741" type="image/jpeg" />          <enclosure url="http://www.profootballhoffestival.com/uploads/289741326813607.jpg" length="67780" type="image/jpeg" />      </item>      <item>          <title>Wallace and Ruda Named General Vice-Chairs for 2011 Enshrinement Festival</title>          <link>http://www.profootballhoffestival.com/ruda-and-wallace-named-general-vice-chairs</link>          <pubDate>Mon, 14 February 2011 08:52:30 EST</pubDate>          <description><![CDATA[CANTON, OH (January 3, 2011) &ndash; The Canton Regional Chamber of Commerce and Pro Football Hall of Fame have named two long-time community volunteers to leadership positions for the 2011 Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement Festival.
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Candy Wallace, community volunteer extraordinaire, will serve as general vice chairman of the Enshrinement Festival activities planned by the Enshrinement Festival department of the Canton Regional Chamber of Commerce. Guy Ruda, sales associate for R. Z. Marketing Group, will serve as general vice chairman of the Enshrinement Festival activities planned by the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
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Wallace has been deeply involved in Enshrinement Festival activities for many years, including prior service on the Fashion Show Luncheon committee, as well as previously serving as chairman of the Food Committee and Enshrinees Dinner Committee. Elsewhere in the community, she is a member of the Aultman Hospital Women&rsquo;s Board and provides volunteer service to Stark Community Foundation, Stark Education Partnership, Sisters of Charity, SPARK, Plain Local Schools and Leadership Stark County. She and her husband William reside in Canton and have four children and two grandchildren.
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During the 2010 Enshrinement Festival, Ruda completed his tenth year as chairman of the Enshrinement Committee. He previously served for 18 years as a member of the committee, as well as three years as chairman of the former NFL Experience Committee. Ruda and his wife Gail are the proud parents of David and Danielle.
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Enshrinement Festival leadership will work together with the professional staffs at the Canton Regional Chamber of Commerce and Pro Football Hall of Fame, as well as a team of more than 4,200 dedicated community volunteers, as they plan and stage the 2011 Enshrinement Festival, slated for July 28 through Aug. 9, 2011. The Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement Festival features a total of 18 unique and diverse events over a nearly two-week period, expected to be enjoyed by nearly 700,000 people.
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The central focus and highlight of the festivities will be the Aug. 6 induction ceremony for the 2011 Class of Enshrinees, who will be announced on Feb. 5 during Super Bowl weekend activities.]]></description>      </item>  </channel></rss>
