CANTON ‒ This year was Jordan Appleman's first time at the annual Community Parade. His wife, also named Jordan Appleman, came last year.
Both were on hand as the 2024 Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement Festival got underway on Sunday afternoon under overcast skies.
The Community Parade kicked off at 2:30 p.m. across from the Civic Center on Market Ave. N and disbanded at Third Street SW. It featured over 100 units ranging from marching bands to costumed characters to antique cars.
Both Applemans, age 24 and 23, are from Canton. With them was 43-year-old Stark County resident Jason Beck, who attends the parade every year.
Beck, who works for Crown Holdings, was most excited for the marching bands and drums. He notably cheered for the Massillon Tiger Swing Band, whose mascot Obie the Tiger gave him a high-five.
Appleman said she was most excited for the bands as well, her husband having more of an affinity for the selection of luxury cars that drove through downtown.
"This is my second time coming, but I've been in the parade before as one of the pageant court queens on a float," Appleman said.
Appleman was not the only person with firsthand experience being in the parade. Mindy Bergmann, a 44-year-old registered nurse from Canton, had most of her family in the parade for Ziegler Bolt, including her IT worker husband Jesse, 8-year-old daughter, Brooke, and 5-year-old son, Logan.
Madeline Harris, a Canton 69-year-old substitute teacher for Canton City Schools, said her great-granddaughter was in the parade with the Tyler Scott Lancaster Foundation. She frequents the parades and her favorite events are the marching bands.
"I've been looking forward to it," said Harris's daughter Dionne, who had also brought her boy,Lee.
The parade is first of many events happening this week and next for the 2024 Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement Festival. The Canton Repository Grand Parade will take place on Aug. 3.
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