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North Canton outlines yearlong America 250 festival with gala, parade and drone show
Summary
Economic development specialist Trisha Aste laid out a yearlong America 250 program including a May 1 gala, July 3 movie-in-the-street, July 4 race, parade and community picnic, a 9:30 p.m. drone show instead of fireworks, and additional programs through October; tickets for the gala go on sale March 2.
Trisha Aste, the city's economic development specialist, told the North Canton City Council that the city will host a yearlong America 250 celebration with a slate of ticketed and free events intended to engage residents and raise funds.
Aste said the season will open with a gala at Arrowhead on Friday, May 1, featuring a Thomas Jefferson impersonator as guest of honor and a mix of individual, VIP and table ticketing. "Tickets will go on sale for that March 2nd," she said, and the evening will include a silent auction and raffle to support the program.
The large public weekend will center on July 3'4. On July 3 the city will show the musical Hamilton as a movie-in-the-street. On July 4 the schedule includes an 8 a.m. YMCA race, a 10:30 parade, a community picnic on the Hoover lawn with a Canton Symphony brass quintet, awards for art and writing contest winners, a DJ and a live band that will play into the evening.
Aste acknowledged recent public debate about replacing traditional fireworks with a drone show. "The drone show will be super exciting," she said, and explained the city's rationale: limited suitable launch areas, debris concerns, added safety staffing needs and considerations for veterans and animals. She also noted drone displays allow the city to include sponsor logos in the presentation.
The program includes additional offerings later in the year: a longer Lady Liberty presentation by local historian MJ Albetti on Sept. 16 and an Oct. 28 first-responders dinner, presented by the Patriot Project, free to North Canton first responders. Aste said Hoover High School will help produce a series of history videos with the North Canton Heritage Society.
Aste listed committee volunteers and early sponsors, and said organizers had sent 320 letters to Chamber members to solicit sponsorships. "If we can prove to the community that we can raise the money to do things like this, we can continue to do things like this," she said.
Mayor [role: Mayor] and several council members praised the scope of the plan and Aste's early outreach. Council members and the mayor said they expect some criticism but expressed optimism that the slate of events will bring residents and visitors to Main Street.
The council did not take action on America 250 funding during the meeting; Aste encouraged additional community sponsorship to support the events.
