Canton
Around Canton
Photo: Mdand5 · CC BY 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Metro area · Ohio · 400k people
Canton
Locals say Stark County · “Hall of Fame City”
Canton · Massillon
Local rooms for Stark County.
BlackGold
Welcome to Stark County, where football history runs deep and the community is as friendly as a Friday night under the lights. Whether you're here for the Hall of Fame or just passing through, you'll find a warm welcome and plenty of local pride.
Clubs for Canton
No clubs for Canton yet.
The room
One room for everyone around Canton. It never closes; when it's busy it splits into tables. Once you're in, you stay until you leave.
Ask the neighbours
AllA good plumber, the best tacos, a lost cat: nobody has asked yet. Be the first.
Coming up
No events in the next month. Events made in the room show up here.
Marketplace
Things for sale, free and wanted, and rooms for rent, from people around Canton. Sign in to sell something.
Things to do
- Pro Football Hall of Fame The shrine of pro football with bronze busts and interactive exhibits.
- McKinley National Memorial The final resting place of President William McKinley, with a grand staircase.
- Palace Theatre Historic downtown Canton theater hosting concerts and events.
- Lincoln Theatre Another historic downtown Massillon theater.
- Paul Brown Tiger Stadium The legendary high school football stadium in Massillon.
- Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium Home of the Hall of Fame game and enshrinement ceremonies.
- Outdoors Walk or bike the Ohio & Erie Canal Towpath Trail
- Outdoors Fish or kayak at Sippo Lake
- With kids Visit the Pro Football Hall of Fame
- With kids Explore the McKinley Presidential Library & Museum
- Evenings Bar hopping in downtown Canton
- Evenings Live music at the Palace Theatre
- Locals love High school football stadiums
- Locals love Local pizza parlors
Through the year
- Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement Festival August Week-long celebration with parades, concerts, and the enshrinement ceremony.
- Stark County Fair September Traditional county fair with livestock, rides, and local food.
- Alliance Carnation Festival August Community festival celebrating the city's flower heritage with a parade and carnival.
- Hall of Fame Marathon April Full and half marathon through Canton and Massillon.
- Massillon's Art in the Park August Outdoor art show and craft fair at a local park.
Canton-Massillon has four distinct seasons, with cold, snowy winters and warm, humid summers. Best: Late spring and early fall are the best times to be out, with mild temperatures.
Talk like a local
- “The Hall”
- The Pro Football Hall of Fame
- “The Tiger”
- Massillon's football team
- “The Bulldog”
- McKinley's football team
- “Stark”
- Stark County
Getaways
- Akron Visit the Akron Art Museum and the Cuyahoga Valley National Park.
- New Philadelphia Explore Schoenbrunn Village and the Tuscarawas River.
- Salem Known for its antique shops and small-town charm.
- Wooster Known for the College of Wooster and local wineries.
Local flavour
Teams
- Canton Charge NBA G League
Eat and drink
- Canton-style pizza Cracker-thin crust with a sweet sauce, a local specialty.
- Buckeyes Peanut butter and chocolate candy, an Ohio classic.
- Pierogies A regional favorite in Northeast Ohio.
- Kielbasa Common at local gatherings and festivals.
- Sauerkraut balls A classic appetizer in Ohio bars.
Where people go
- Pro Football Hall of Fame The iconic museum honoring football's greatest.
- McKinley National Memorial The grand tomb of President William McKinley.
- Historic downtown theaters The Palace Theatre in Canton and Lincoln Theatre in Massillon.
- High school football stadiums
Heritage and traditions
Canton-Massillon is proud of its deep football roots, from the Pro Football Hall of Fame to the storied Massillon-McKinley rivalry, and its rich immigrant heritage that shaped local food and festivals.
This time of year in Canton
- High school football season Fall Friday nights in fall are a community ritual.
- Fall foliage drives October Scenic routes through Stark County parks.
Say it like a local: “Buckeye” — A small, round candy made with peanut butter and chocolate
Festivals
- Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement Festival August Week-long celebration with parade, concert, and induction ceremony.
- Canton Italian-American Festival June Celebrates Italian heritage with food, music, and games.
- Alliance Carnation Festival August Honors the state flower with parades, arts, and fireworks.
- Massillon's Art in the Park June Juried art show in a scenic park setting.
- Canton Blues Festival July Free blues concerts in downtown Canton.
- Stark County Polish-American Festival September Pierogies, polka music, and cultural displays.
Landmarks with a story
- McKinley National Memorial Grand tomb of President McKinley in Canton.
- Pro Football Hall of Fame Shrine to football's greatest players and coaches.
- First Ladies National Historic Site Honors America's first ladies, located in Canton.
- Massillon Museum Local history and art in a former post office.
- Spring Hill Historic Home Underground Railroad stop in Massillon.
- Hoover Historical Center Childhood home of Hoover Company founder, now a museum.
Food traditions
- Canton-style pizza Thick, chewy crust, sweet sauce, and square-cut; local favorite.
- Buckeyes Peanut butter and chocolate confection, named after Ohio's state tree.
- Pierogies Eastern European dumplings, often served with onions and sour cream.
- Kielbasa Smoked sausage from Polish and Slovak heritage, grilled or in stews.
- Sauerkraut balls Fried appetizer with sauerkraut and sausage, a local bar snack.
Music and arts
- Polka music scene Reflects Eastern European heritage, played at festivals and clubs.
- Blues and rock venues Downtown Canton has a lively live music scene.
- Community theater Historic theaters like the Palace and Lincoln host productions.
- Pottery and craft traditions Local artisans continue pottery and woodworking crafts.
A little history
- 1963 Founding of the Pro Football Hall of Fame
- 1901 McKinley assassination and memorial
- 1920s Canton's role in early professional football
- 19th century Massillon's industrial and canal heritage
- 1908 Hoover vacuum cleaner company founded in North Canton
Rivalries
- Massillon Tigers vs McKinley Bulldogs The legendary high school football rivalry.
- Canton vs Massillon City pride and friendly competition.
- Game day Massillon-McKinley football game
- Game day Friday night lights
- Outdoors Walk or bike the Ohio & Erie Canal Towpath Trail
- Outdoors Fish or kayak at Sippo Lake
- With kids Visit the Pro Football Hall of Fame
- With kids Explore the McKinley Presidential Library & Museum
Locals speak with a Midwestern accent, often dropping the 'g' in '-ing' words. They use 'pop' for soda, and have a friendly, direct manner. Some older residents may use terms from the area's German and Italian heritage.
Only here
- The Pro Football Hall of Fame is in Canton, the birthplace of the NFL.
- The McKinley National Memorial is the final resting place of a president.
- Canton-style pizza is a unique local creation.
- The Massillon-McKinley football game is one of the oldest rivalries in Ohio.
New here? A few tips
- Learn to love the winters; snow can be heavy, so invest in a good shovel.
- Traffic is manageable, but avoid I-77 during rush hour.
- Try a Canton-style pizza early—it's a local staple.
- Get into football culture; even if you're not a fan, it's a big part of social life.
- Explore the Towpath Trail for a scenic walk or bike ride.
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Canton-Massillon, OH. Areas from the US Census Bureau and Statistics Canada; places from GeoNames. Local flavour was written with a model and may have mistakes. Team names identify teams; no endorsement.