North Canton's Biggest Street Party Set for Aug. 18-19

What started nearly two decades ago as a small Octoberfest event has morphed into a huge community celebration that brings generations together for “the last hurrah of summer.”

The 16th Annual Main Street Festival, organized by , is sure to draw more than 10,000 area residents to downtown North Canton during its two-day run on Aug. 18-19, according to Doug Lane, chamber president.

Lane said it’s impossible to credit just one aspect of the festival as the main draw for attendees, which have numbered as high as 15,000 some years.

“There’s a huge variety of food because we try to limit duplicates – everything from very healthy foods to foods that aren’t so healthy but are very good to eat. There are (attractions and entertainment) for adults, for little kids and things that fill the spectrum in between,” Lane said.

“It’s just a really fun community event that brings generations together. It’s kind of like the last hurrah of summer,” he added.

In addition to free performances by numerous entertainers throughout the weekend, there are also rides, games, art and craft sales, a classic car cruise-in and – inside the Expo Tent on the former Hoover Co. lawn – booths representing about 40 area businesses and organizations.

“The Expo Tent is a real meeting place where people can get out of the sun or rain by stopping in,” Lane said. “It’s really an opportunity to kick the tires on the community because … you have a chance to meet people from a lot of churches, community organizations and businesses all in one location.”

The booths range from simple displays showcasing what a group or business does to services such as a diaper-changing station and fund-raisers, like football boosters selling T-shirts to help their cause.

A huge debut hit last year that’s returning this year is the pet adoption area sponsored by on behalf of the Stark County Humane Society. “Last year I believe there were 20 kittens and 15 to 20 puppies adopted that weekend. It was a huge attraction for people,” said Lane.

And he speaks from personal experience: The chamber’s “mascot,” Theodore the cat, was adopted by Lane during the 2011 festival. Since then, Theodore has maintained a fairly regular weekday presence in the office (he goes home with Lane nights and weekends) and has been pictured in several chamber newsletters.

Also making a return festival appearance will be the free bicycle valet service offered by the Stark County Bicycle Club. The service – designed to encourage festival-goers to use green transportation – will be offered from noon to 6 p.m. Aug. 18 and 1 to 5 p.m. Aug. 19 in the parking lot at Maple and McKinley, right next to Bitzer Park.

The Main Street Festival hours are 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Aug. 18 and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Aug. 19. Accompanying this story in .pdf form is the most up-to-date schedule of events.

Oh, and about that Octoberfest event that kickstarted the Main Street Festival: This will be the third year the chamber hosts “Brews After Five,” a networking event revolving around world beers slated for Oct. 3 at Hoover Park. “So, really, we’ve come full circle,” Lane said.