Black College Football Fun Fest features marching bands, gospel singer and celebrity chef

CANTON − Marching bands and popular gospel singer Fred Hammond will highlight Saturday's events in downtown Canton as part of the Black College Football Hall of Fame Classic.

A Fun Fest begins at 11 a.m. at Centennial Plaza followed at 5:30 p.m. by a Faith, Family and Football Gospel Concert headlined by the Grammy Award-winning Hammond. The plaza is along Market Avenue N and Court Avenue NW.

Food, games, prizes, karaoke, a talent show and vendors also will be part of the Fun Fest. Canton native and 2019 "MasterChef" television show winner Dorian Hunter will be a featured guest.

From 3 to 4 p.m., attendees of the Fun Fest will be treated to a performance by the marching bands of Ohio's Central State University and North Carolina's Winston-Salem State University.

The event and concert are free. However, a limited number of $25 reserved seats are available for purchase online for Hammond's show.

The gospel concert is presented by The Good Feet Store and Fun Fest is sponsored by PNC.

More:Here's the Black College Football Hall of Fame Classic schedule

HBCU marching bands will put on grand show

Event planners said Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) are known for their marching bands. Saturday's performance will tease the full-blown spectacle showcased at Sunday's 4 p.m. football game.

"It's going to be absolutely exciting," said Krista Allison, a member of the committee coordinating the Fun Fest. "These are the bands and the cheerleaders, so the bands will come down to Centennial Plaza, and they will perform maybe a few songs."

Both bands will perform at halftime of Sunday's Black College Football Hall of Fame Classic, as well as following the game during what is known as the "Fifth Quarter."

Winston-Salem's band is called the "Red Sea of Sound." Central State's band is named the "Invincible Marching Marauders."

Lucas Pindell, another Fun Fest committee member, said the "Fifth Quarter" will feature dueling performances between the two bands.

"It's something that we hear about or see in movies that kind of highlights the culture of HBCUs," he said. "But many people never actually get to experience something like that."

Taylor Banks, the Black College Football Hall of Fame liaison at the Pro Football Hall of Fame, said "Fifth Quarter" performances can last around an hour.

"People will sit and watch that like they're watching a tennis match go back and forth because it's that exciting," she said.

Black College Football Classic events are meant to bring the community together

Saturday's event is meant to impart a community spirit, both locally and for those visiting Stark County for the Black College Football Hall of Fame Classic.

"It's an opportunity for the community to come together as one," Allison said. "So that's what I think I'm really excited about."

Hammond is 'historically great gospel singer'

Hammond, a singer, songwriter and musician, is another marquee attraction, organizers said. Thousands of concertgoers are expected.

Popular songs of his include "Let the Praise Begin," "Jesus Be a Fence Around Me," "You Are The Living Word," "Glory To Glory To Glory," "This Is the Day" and "I'm Grateful."

"Fred Hammond is historically a great gospel singer," Pindell said. "He is arguably a pioneer of a generation of gospel singers that helped bring gospel music into the mainstream.

More:5 Questions with Fred Hammond on 'God, Love and Romance'

"It went on in churches around the country for generations," he said. "There were people who brought it to mainstream radio and television, and Fred Hammond is certainly one of those, if not the one who broke through. He's just an amazing artist and an amazing performer with an amazing message."

Allison described Hammond as legendary.

"He has the unique ability of blending that R&B and that hip-hop, all of those different genres of music," she said. "He brings that together in this gospel form.

"... It's just powerful," she added. "Whether (concertgoers) are believers and they're walking in that faith of knowing God and Jesus Christ (or not), it will resonate with them."

Homecoming for celebrity chef

Hunter, meanwhile, will be returning to her hometown for Saturday's event.

She received an associate degree of science and her Le Courdon Bleu certification in culinary arts from McIntosh College in Dover, New Hampshire.

The first Black female winner of "MasterChef," Hunter specializes in elevating Southern food without losing that traditional Southern taste.

More:Canton native Dorian Hunter proud to be 'MasterChef' champ

The televised culinary competition featured accomplished chefs and television personalities Gordon Ramsay and Aarón Sánchez. Hunter was also featured on "Beat Bobby Flay" on the Food Network.

"She will be coming and paying us a visit throughout the Fun Fest," Banks said.

Reach Ed at 330-580-8315 and ebalint@gannett.com

On Twitter @ebalintREP

If you go

What: Black College Football Hall of Fame Classic Fun Fest Powered by PNC

When: 11 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Saturday and the Faith, Family and Football Gospel Concert featuring Fred Hammond from 5:30 to 8 p.m. Saturday

Where: Centennial Plaza on Market Avenue N and along Court Avenue NW in downtown Canton

Admission: Fun Fest and gospel concert are free but $25 reserve concert tickets can be purchased online.

This article originally appeared on The Repository: Fun Fest features HBCU marching bands, Fred Hammond and celebrity chef