• Each summer, the Pro Football Hall of Fame Festival is head in Canton, Ohio
• At almost every one of these football festivals, new members are enshrined in the Hall of Fame
• The festival includes many events in addition to those involving enshrinement of the new Hall of Fame Members

Overview

The Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement Festival is a summer event in Canton, Ohio. “Enshrinement” refers to the addition to the Hall of Fame of new members chosen during the previous year. These members include both players and other people association with the NFL, including coaches, owners, and broadcasters.

Festival Events

Here is a rundown of the major events included in the ten-day Hall of Fame Enshrinement Festival:
The festival opens with several days of hot air balloon competitions. In 2009 these will run from Friday, July 31, through Sunday, August 2.
A five-mile and a two-mile race are held on the morning of the first Sunday, along with a fun run. In 2009 these will be held on August 2.
On this same Sunday, a community parade is held in the afternoon in downtown Canton. In 2009 this parade will be on August 2.
On the next day, Monday, an international drum corps competition is held. In 2009 this will take place on August 3.
The next event is a barbecue competition called the Ribs Burnoff that takes place from Wednesday through Friday. In 2009 it will be on August 5-7.
On Thursday there is a children’s event called First Play. Kids line up along a two-mile route and pass a football from one end to the other. In 2009 First Play will be on August 6.
On Friday there is a Fashion Show Luncheon featuring Miss Ohio. In 2009 this will be on August 7.
Activities directly related to the enshrinement get under way that same Friday, with the Enshrinees Dinner at night. The dinner will be on August 7 in 2009.
A second parade, this one featuring the enshrinees and based near the Hall of Fame, take place on Saturday morning. This Timken Grand Parade will be on August 8 in 2009.
The enshrinement itself takes place at Hall of Fame Field in Fawcett Stadium on Saturday evening. In 2009 the event will occur on August 8. A concert and fireworks follow the ceremony. Wide receiver Bob Hayes, guard Randall McDaniel, defensive end Bruce Smith, linebacker Derrick Thomas, owner Ralph Wilson, and defensive back Rod Woodson make up the Class of 2009 Pro Football Hall of Fame enshrinees.

The final major event is the first preseason game of the NFL season: the Hall of Fame Game. Prior to the game the enshrinees will participate in a media roundtable at the stadium. In 2009 the game will feature the Buffalo Bills against the Tennessee Titans. It will be a Sunday night game on August 9 in 2009.

Ticket Prices for Some of the Events

Prices given are for 2009. Ticket availability is not guaranteed.
The Drum Corps Competition has pre-sale prices of $22 for premium seats and $17 for reserved.
The Fashion Show Luncheon tickets are $53.
For the Enshrinees Dinner, tickets are $105.
Bleacher seats for the Timken Grand Parade are $8.50.
Ticket information is available online at http://www.profootballhoffestival.com/tickets.asp

As an electronic scoreboards continue to light up.