This year’s festival commemorates 175 years since the Hoover family purchased property at the corner of Market Avenue and Maple Street
The Fifth Annual Hoover Park Festival at Walsh University will take place on Sunday, July 27, from 1:00 to 5:00 p.m. in Hoover Park on the University’s north campus, located at 1875 E. Maple St., North Canton. Presented by the Hoover Historical Center, the event is free and open to the public and promises an afternoon of fun, education, and community celebration.
This year’s festival holds special significance as it commemorates 175 years since the Hoover family purchased the historic 82-acre property at the corner of Market Avenue and Maple Street in 1850. That land would go on to play a pivotal role in the development of North Canton, serving as a family retreat and later as the site of The Hoover Company’s International Sales Conventions during the 1920s.
At 1:30 p.m. in Hoover Hall, a special historical presentation by Megan Pellegrino, Walsh University’s Director of Museum Studies and Director of the Hoover Historical Center, will showcase rare photographs and stories from the estate’s past, including images of the original bunkhouse, a former fishing pond, and aerial views of the convention grounds.
The festival offers something for all ages, including live music by the Canton Concert Band, food trucks, tours of the Hoover Historical Center, engaging history exhibits from local organizations and libraries, a vintage base ball game, and children’s activities throughout the day.
Founded in 1870, The Hoover Company grew from a small leather goods shop into a global leader in floor care after introducing the first portable electric vacuum in 1908. The company remained headquartered in North Canton for more than 100 years, employing generations of Stark County families. Today, the Hoover Historical Center preserves that legacy as a public museum and a living classroom for Walsh University’s Museum Studies program.
The Hoover Park Festival continues to grow each year, bringing together families, alumni, and neighbors to celebrate a rich tradition of innovation, community pride, and local history.
