2008 Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement Festival Schedule

QUEEN PAGEANT
Thursday, May 8, 7:00 p.m., Palace Theatre
Tickets available: 330.458.2048
The queen and court serve as goodwill ambassadors and role models for youngsters in the community while volunteering their time for many civic organizations, and also as escorts in welcoming the current Class of Enshrinees to Canton, Ohio.

BALLOON CLASSIC INVITATIONAL/JACKSON-BELDEN FOOD FEST & FIREWORKS
Friday, July 25, 4:00 – 11:30 p.m. | Saturday, July 26, 6:00 a.m. and 4:00 – 11:30 p.m. | Sunday, July 27, 6:00 a.m., Kent State University Stark Campus
Free Event
More than 70 giant hot air balloons take flight to the delight of approximately 130,000 spectators who can also enjoy dozens of food vendors, live music, children’s activities, an illuminating Balloon Night Glow, and spectacular fireworks display.

5-MILE AND 2-MILE RACES
Sunday, July 27, 8:00 a.m., Pro Football Hall of Fame
Entry fee; register at www.signmeup.com/58664
More than 1,600 people of all ages walk or run, with participants crossing the finish line in front of the Pro Football Hall of Fame Museum. Costumed characters accompany children six and under as they race to the finish in the 400-meter free Kids Fun Run, where everyone is a winner!

COMMUNITY PARADE
Sunday, July 27, 2:30 p.m. Downtown Canton
Free Event
A wide array of community youth groups, marching bands, antique vehicles, specialty units and a giant helium balloon participate in this true community parade held in the heart of the revitalized downtown.

NATIONAL RIBS BURNOFF
Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, July 30 and 31, August 1, 11:00 a.m. – 10:30 p.m. daily, Stark County Fairgrounds
Free Event; evening concert tickets 330.458.2088
More than 135,000 people enjoy ribs from local and national vendors, plus a variety of specialty foods, and concerts each evening by national recording artists. Families can also enjoy interactive inflatables in the Fantasy Football Zone, a master sand sculptor, face painting, and many other fun activities.

FIRST PLAY 2008
Thursday, July 31, 10:00 a.m., Downtown Canton
Free Event; Info will be posted here in June; For more information, please email EducationalPrograms@Profootballhof.com
Nearly 2,000 enthusiastic youngsters take part in this ceremonial “kickoff” to a weekend of football. An official NFL football is passed through the 3-mile child link chain from the site in downtown Canton where the NFL was founded in 1920 to the front steps of the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

FASHION SHOW LUNCHEON
Friday, August 1, 12:00 p.m., Memorial Civic Center and Cultural Center
Tickets available: 330.458.2048
This fabulous luncheon and runway show is arguably the largest and finest fashion show in Ohio! State-of-the-art sound, lighting, and video combine to showcase 35 professional models featuring the season’s hottest male and female fashions in a high energy production.

ENSHRINEES DINNER
Friday, August 1, 6:30 p.m., Memorial Civic Center and Cultural Center
Limited tickets available: 330.458.2048
Nearly 4,000 guests enjoy a cocktail party and fabulous dinner followed by an exciting program featuring returning Hall of Famers, NFL team owners, and sports celebrities, all joining to honor the incoming Class of Enshriness as they receive their Hall of Fame/NFL Alumni gold jackets.

TIMKEN GRAND PARADE
Saturday, August 2, 8:00 a.m., Downtown Canton
Reserved chair or bleacher seats available: 330.458.2048
This nationally televised event showcases the current Class of Enshrinees and a large contingent of returning Hall of Famers, along with giant helium balloons, fabulous floats, marching bands, antique vehicles, and specialty units – all enjoyed by nearly 200,000 spectators along the 2.2-mile route.

CLASS OF 2008 ENSHRINEMENT
Saturday, August 2, 6:00 p.m., Fawcett Stadium
Tickets available! Click here>>>
The center of the entire celebration is the emotional enshrinement ceremony where the newest members of the Pro Football Hall of Fame – Fred Dean, Darrell Green, Art Monk, Emmitt Thomas, Andre Tippett, and Gary Zimmerman - take their rightful place among football’s greatest players, coaches, and contributors enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. More Info on the Class of 2008>>>

CONCERT AND FIREWORKS
Saturday, August 2, 6:00 p.m., Downtown Canton
Free Event!
Food, fun and fireworks can all be found in downtown Canton during this family event beginning with a rousing military band concert, face painting for the kids, and delectable treats, and concluding with an extraordinary fireworks display choreographed to music.

ENSHRINEES GAMEDAY ROUNDTABLE
Sunday, August 3, 12:30 p.m., Memorial Civic Center and Cultural Center
Tickets available (330.458.2048)
An enthusiastic crowd of 3,500 football fans enjoy lunch, followed by a center stage roundtable presentation featuring the newly inducted Class of Enshrinees. It’s an unscripted, up-close-and-personal format where the Enshrinees share stories and memories of their careers.

HALL OF FAME GAME
Sunday, August 3, 8:00 p.m., Hall of Fame Field at Fawcett Stadium
Fan Packages: 888.310.4255
The Indianapolis Colts and Washington Redskins kick off the 2008 NFL preseason from Fawcett Stadium, adjacent to the Pro Football Hall of Fame, in front of a capacity crowd. More>>>

DRUM CORPS INTERNATIONAL COMPETITION
Monday, August 4, 6:30 p.m., Paul Brown Tiger Stadium
Tickets available: 330.458.2048
Drum Corps fans can enjoy the pageantry of eight of the best corps in America, including five of the top twelve, and all at the peak of their performance just one week before the world championships.