[Watch previous FOX 8 News coverage of last year’s Enshrinement Week in the player above.]
CANTON, Ohio — Less than three weeks away from enshrinement festivities, the Pro Football Hall of Fame revealed this year’s events will feature something old and something new — creating a bit of nostalgia for residents of the area.
This year’s activities begin in Canton on Thursday, July 31, featuring familiar events including first play, a grand parade and a fashion show.
While the ceremonies attract football fans from around the world, the Hall of Fame is also reaching out to invite people from surrounding communities.
That includes the theme used a generation ago referring to the ceremonies as “football’s greatest weekend.”
“I know what it was like when I was growing up and the excitement of the entire community and we are just trying to get that back again,” said Hall of Fame President and CEO Jim Porter, who grew up in Canton.
Also new this year will be a days-long, family friendly fan fest during which all activities will be free, except for food.
“For fan fest, Thursday is game-day tailgates, marching bands, drum lines, DJ, beer garden and we have Follow the Sun that’s going to be performing as well,” said Jake Ray of the Hall of Fame.
The Hall of Fame on Tuesday also announced that former Indianapolis Colts kicker Pat McAfee, now a talk show celebrity and analyst, will be doing his televised show from the Hall of Fame during enshrinement week, interviewing all four of this year’s enshrinees.
Visitors who have not been to the Hall of Fame in a while may also find the campus, with the separate Hall of Fame Village, far different than they remember.
And there is always the chance to see or interact with a Hall of Famer.
“Theres 382 Pro Football Hall of Famers — that’s it out of the 350 million who have played. There’s only 382 in the hall, 181 that are alive and of those 181, we expect about 115 to come back to Canton. That doesn’t happen anywhere else,” said Porter.
For more on activities or to buy tickets, visit the Enshrinement Week website.
