Monday, August 6, 2012

STRIKE UP THE BAND…THE PARADE IS IN TOWN

Monday, August 6 - The Hall of Fame Grand Parade was this past Saturday, and Marsha was up front and center…really three rows back on the hill but she had a great view. Each year her brother, Rick, gets free tickets to sit at the Civic Center. They have a free buffet breakfast before, during and after the parade. Rick, Chris and Marsha sit, eat, and watch the parade pass-by.

flags

The HOF Grande Parade started in 1963. That first year, an estimated 40,000 spectators gathered on the three-mile parade route. That first parade in 1963 featured 93 units, including 17 bands.

football player float

In 2006, the Timken Co. assumed the sponsorship role for the parade. It is now called the Timken Grand Parade.

Tmken Grande Parade

Today, nearly 200,000 spectators lined the 2.2 mile route. The 2012 parade featured over 100 units.

The South Shore Drill Team from Chicago entertained the crowd. There were great!
HOF parade3

The Timken Grand Parade has something for everyone!

Class of Enshrinees. There were six.
Chris Doleman

Curtis Martin

Willie Roaf

Many returning Hall of Famers.
DSC09435

Floyd Little

Giant Helium Balloons
HOF parade balloons

Floats
HOF Queen and Court
HOF queen and court

HOF float

12th man float

Animal Units
This one was interesting.
zebra

camels

Bands, cheerleaders and majorettes.
bands

cheerleaders and majorettes

We had two nieces (one a cheerleader; one a band member) and one cousin (majorette) who marched in the parade.

Our niece, Laura plays the quad drums for Canton South High School.
Laura playing drums.

Many more unique and fun specialty units.

Boy Scout group

clowns

Thomas the Train

It was a super parade. Everyone did a great job. Our hats off to all the volunteers.

Thanks for stopping by. Hope to see y'all back real soon. Have a great day!

 

21 comments:

  1. Sounds like a wonderful day. However, you seem to have great days no matter where you are. Good for you!! Go enjoy yourselves some more.

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  2. Gee, you guys return home and they throw a huge parade. That was sure a nice gesture.

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  3. I love a parade and this looks like a great one.!!

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  4. I love a parade and this looks like a great one.!!

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  5. Wow! What an event...had no idea. Looks like a parade well worth the effort to watch!

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  6. You'll have to forgive me ... none of the names of the enshrinees or the past HFers mean anything to me :-( ... but I love the zebra.

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  7. Best parade I've been to all year. Thanks for bringing us along.

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  8. I love a parade. No bagpipes? They make me cry. Must be a culture thing.

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  9. Great parade, have not seen camels in one for a long time:)

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  10. I'll add my 2 cents worth - great looking parade.

    Gayle Sayers looks like he could still play - the best running back I ever saw!

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  11. I had to show that picture of the referee and zebra to my husband--he's a football official.

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  12. Somehow I never associated camels and zebras with football. But I do love a great parade. And what did Paul do while you guys were viewing and eating?

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  13. That was fun -- fun for you being there, and fun for us to share it. Our local parade for the 4th of July is usually not much to see. Suzy and I helped build a float one year (for the Knights of Columbus) and got to ride in it for the parade. Fun!

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  14. Nothing like a good ol' fashion parade with bands, floats, balloons, animals, celebrities and specialty groups!

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  15. The only guy I recognized was Gayle Sayers, but I suppose that's because he played for the Bears. :)

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  16. It looks like a great day and a wonderful parade. Thanks for sharing!

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  17. We love a good parade and this one looks great

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  18. Not being much of a sports fan, I didn't recognize most of the people on the cars. However, I did recognize thosse balloon folks.

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  19. What a great parade. Loved the picture of the Zebra leading the zebra!! Enjoyed the photos. Haven't seen a good parade in quite a few years.

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