Entertainment
Canton Rep entertainment writer crafts his ‘must-dos’ in 2025. See what’s on his list
A new year always holds the promise of good times and stress relief — music, concerts, amusement parks, the outdoors, local art, tasty eats and more.
2024 was chock-full of personal highlights, from a trip abroad with my 18-year-old daughter as she embarked on her post high school life to meeting one of my rock ‘n’ roll heroes backstage — Gary Cherone, who briefly fronted the mighty Van Halen, one of my all-time favorite bands.
Next year has the potential to please, too, from snagging tickets to a sold-out concert to anticipating the insanity of a new thrill ride to carving up the slopes. Here are the top 10 things I’m looking forward to in 2025, although whittling down the list wasn’t easy.
1. Finney’s Arcade in downtown Canton
Finney’s Arcade & Parlor checks my box for nostalgia.
Ryan Miller, owner of the successful Deli Ohio in downtown Canton, said Finney’s Arcade, 417 Market Ave. N, will be retro in character and vibe, as well as in the rotating video game and pinball inventory.
Old souls will appreciate Skee-Ball and Pop-A-Shot! Newer video and pinball games are also planned such as Avatar and John Wick.
Besides the games, Finney’s Arcade is partnering with UnHitched Brewing Co. and its downtown spot The Woodshop to create a custom brew — Finney’s Brew Skee Ball Cream Ale, described as light, crisp and refreshing.
The arcade is scheduled to open in the first quarter of next year. And I’m rooting for Miller and his business partner, Micah Dorward, to pull off another entrepreneurial triumph and inject a cool new entertainment option downtown.
2. Hail, Hail Pearl Jam
That’s a reference to a song from Pearl Jam’s 1996 album, “No Code.”
Back when Pearl Jam were bona fide rock stars and pioneers of the grunge rock scene and Seattle sound. Fast forward to 2024, and Pearl Jam is remarkably and impressively still intact and musically potent.
Other grunge bands sadly have lost their frontmen. Nirvana and Kurt Cobain. Soundgarden and Chris Cornell. Alice In Chains and Layne Staley. Stone Temple Pilots and Scott Weiland.
Vocalist Eddie Vedder and bandmates have transitioned into elder statesmen of the modern rock scene. Pearl Jam is also a highly successful touring act, selling out shows and curating a new setlist for each concert while playing for around three hours.
Pearl Jam is hitting the road next year, but announced only 10 concerts. That’s why I’m stoked to have snagged tickets to the first of two Pittsburgh dates in May. Seats are in the upper deck, but just being there is the point.
3. Pizza Palooza in North Canton
A food fest arrives early with North Canton’s new Pizza Palooza on Feb. 2.
Pizza Palooza will be in the cafeteria of Hoover High, 525 Seventh St. NE.
My only disappointment is the timing. Pizza Palooza screams summertime and outdoors. Casting that quibble aside, count me in. Pizza is my No. 1 favorite food. All types, all shops, all countries.
Pizza masters will include Luigi’s in Akron, who I consider to be the Cadillac of za. Nothing compares to its robust, distinctive flavor. The dough, the sauce, the cheese baked a beautiful golden brown. It’s pizza perfection.
Canton shops also will be showcasing their pizza prowess. Lots of standouts, including the OGs of the local scene − Pizza Oven and Italo’s. Also excellent are Park City Pizza and SOL Pie Pizza. Zepp’s also has a loyal legion of fans.
Too many to choose from? Don’t fret. A passport ticket allows you to indulge in multiple pizzerias.
Tickets can be purchased at https://ticketscandy.com/e/2025-pizza-palooza-7254.
4. Siren’s Curse at Cedar Point
Cedar Point has been a summertime tradition with my daughter since she was a toddler.
We’re ride warriors no matter the month. Busy times, slow times, sweltering August days … and even a few years ago on Nov. 1 when snowflakes were falling.
Each summer, Paige advanced to more thrilling rides. Until the insanity stage hit in her teenage years. All the biggies — Magnum XL−200, Millennium Force, Steel Vengeance, Maverick, Valravn and Top Thrill 2, which is scheduled to reopen in 2025. But Cedar Point is once again trying to top itself with the introduction of Siren’s Curse in 2025.
The newest scream machine will be the tallest, fastest and longest tilt coaster in North America, the amusement park boasts.
Highlights include a 160-foot tower, 90-degree vertical position, and plunging and zooming on nearly 3,000 feet of track before reaching a top speed of 58 mph. And there’s more — 13 weightless airtime moments and two 360-degree, zero-gravity barrel rolls.
Yowza! My daughter undoubtedly will be game. I’ll take some convincing.
5. Snowboarding in the … spring
Learning how to snowboard was knocked off my bucket list years ago. And it’s become a passion and way to spend quality time with my daughter for more than a decade.
We frequently take to the slopes of the Cuyahoga Valley. For more challenging terrain, we day trip to Seven Springs in Pennsylvania. And we recently took advantage of an early-season discount in rates at The Inn at Holiday Valley in Western New York.
But what I love perhaps even more than carving the hills in December, January and February is doing so in March. Spring skiing and snowboarding can be sloppy due to warming temperatures. But it’s still glorious to slay the slopes in early spring under a sunlit blue sky while wearing a fleece sans a bulky jacket.
6. Mural Fest 2
Canton Mural Fest was a vibrant new addition to Stark County’s roster of summer events last year.
Around a dozen artists created eye-catching and inspired murals in the Cherry and Walnut Avenue NE area. Standouts include a sprawling, multi-colored peregrine falcon at the Strauss Studios building, and a racoon in Boy Scout attire near Deli Ohio.
Another is a gorgeous tribute to The O’Jays, the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame singing group hailing from Canton. Imparting a throwback and classic vibe, it’s a beauty, created by Northeast Ohio artist Derrin Fletcher and stretching 40 feet.
Fellow art lovers can look forward to the second Canton Mural Fest in 2025. Maureen Ater, CEO of ArtsinStark, said the goal is to have the follow-up event in September.
“We don’t expect that in our second year we will unveil 14 murals like we did this year,” she said. “But continuing to grow the number of murals from this original 14 was always part of our goal.”
7. More food discoveries like Liebermann’s Bakery
I’m embarrassed to admit it took me this long to discover the legend of Liebermann’s Bakery
Not only are the baked goods scrumptious, but the friendliness of the staff was exemplary on a recent visit to Liebermann’s, 49 First St. SE, in downtown Massillon.
Liebermann’s raspberry-filled doughnuts are sublime. A ginormous pastry combined elements of a cinnamon roll and glazed doughnut, topped with a generous amount of peanut butter icing. Wow! Flaky and light and originally delicious, I loved it. There’s nothing else quite like it.
Liebermann’s awakened the need to be a culinary adventurer. And I look forward to more local food finds in 2025.
8. Canton area music festivals and concerts
Each summer, I anticipate Stark County’s big music events that draw nationally touring performers.
I’m eager to learn who will be headlining the Concert for Legends during the Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement Festival. The Hall of Fame Village hasn’t disappointed the last three years, booking Journey, Zac Brown Band and Carrie Underwood.
Alive Music Festival, The Country Fest and Neon Nights are also highly recommended for even casual fans of their respective genres. The relaxed, welcoming and festive atmosphere at each event is as good as the music.
Neon Nights is an increasingly stellar sister event to The Country Fest, mixing country and classic rock. Foreigner, Brooks & Dunn, Night Ranger and Bret Michaels should make for a rousing, raise your drink in the air affair in August.
9. More Civic Center concerts
Another big concert is coming to the Canton Memorial Civic Center.
CeCe Winans, a Grammy-winning gospel singing legend, will open her tour at the 73-year-old downtown arena on Feb. 12.
While working on an extensive series of articles about the future of the Civic Center, I gained a new appreciation for its rich history and continued relevance as a concert venue.
Both the Brantley Gilbert and Chris Tomlin shows were outstanding in 2024, far exceeding my expectations for a concert at the 5,200-seat arena. Acoustics, atmosphere and the view were tremendous.
I’m eager to see what else the Civic Center books in 2025.
10. Tent camping
Tent camping is another family favorite.
Beach vacations are fun. European adventures are amazing. But camping in the wilderness at a state or national park is in a class of its own.
There’s a lot of work and preparation — loading a cargo box on the roof of an SUV; going through a detailed checklist of camping and cooking supplies and other essentials; and then unpacking it all and setting up camp while hoping it doesn’t rain.
But it’s well worth the effort and inconveniences. Rewards include falling asleep to the sound of wind blowing through towering pines; gazing up at the glitter of a star-filled night sky; and campfire breakfasts with crispy bacon, fried potatoes and scrambled eggs that can’t be replicated at restaurants.
Finding new camping spots is part of the fun. This past summer, we experienced Letchworth State Park in Western New York. And what a prize it is, adorned with waterfalls, ravines, creeks and woodlands.
Another camping gem awaits discovery in 2025. High on my list are Blackwater Falls State Park in West Virginia and Indiana Dunes National Park in Indiana.
Reach Ed at ebalint@gannett.com. On X (formerly Twitter) @ebalintREP and Instagram at ed_balint
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