After the success of its first ticketed concert featuring Niko Moon in September 2025, Centennial Plaza in downtown Canton is continuing to expand its entertainment offerings this summer with a lineup headlined by country music group Parmalee.
The July 23 concert is expected to be one of the marquee events of the summer at the downtown Canton venue and represents another step in the city’s effort to attract nationally recognized entertainment acts.
Blake Schilling, general manager of the Canton Memorial Civic Center, said the response to the Niko Moon concert demonstrated the potential for ticketed events at Centennial Plaza and helped establish the venue as a destination for larger acts.
“The atmosphere that night was incredible,” Schilling said. “The weather was perfect, the crowd was engaged and it showed what Centennial Plaza can become.”
The Niko Moon concert, which drew more than 1,500 paying attendees, marked the first ticketed event held at Centennial Plaza. Schilling said the success of that show provided organizers with confidence as they planned future concerts and explored opportunities to bring additional national acts to Canton.
Parmalee, known for hit songs including “Carolina,” “Take My Name,” “Girl in Mine” and “Just the Way,” is among the biggest acts scheduled to perform at the venue this year.
Schilling said bringing nationally recognized performers to Centennial Plaza requires significant planning because the venue lacks some of the amenities available at traditional concert facilities, including permanent backstage dressing rooms and a covered stage. But he added that those upgrades are planned for the near future.
Despite those challenges, officials believe the venue is continuing to gain credibility among artists, promoters and concertgoers.
“If we want bigger names, there has to be a way to support those costs,” Schilling said. “We’re trying to keep ticket prices affordable while still bringing quality entertainment to the community.”
Wendy Heslink, who oversees events at Centennial Plaza, said organizers were encouraged by the overwhelming response to the Niko Moon concert, which exceeded expectations and attracted visitors from both Stark County and beyond.
“We were overwhelmed by the response,” Heslink said. “It definitely exceeded our expectations and set a high bar for what we knew was possible at the plaza.”
While free concerts remain a staple of the venue’s programming, officials said ticketed events help make it possible to attract larger touring acts and continue expanding entertainment offerings downtown.
This year’s ticketed concert lineup includes Red Wanting Blue on June 27, the inaugural R&B MusicFest featuring Brownstone, an act discovered by the late Michael Jackson, and Sunshine Anderson on July 18, and Parmalee on July 23. Buy One Get One (BOGO) tickets will be available for the ticketed events which can be purchased by clicking here:
Officials said one of the primary goals of the concert series is to bring people into downtown Canton and encourage them to visit local restaurants, bars and businesses before and after events.
“Our goal is to bring people downtown,” Heslink said. “We want them to enjoy the concert, but also explore everything else the city has to offer.”
According to organizers, the Niko Moon concert attracted visitors from outside the Canton area, generating additional activity for nearby businesses and helping demonstrate the economic impact major events can have on downtown Canton.
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Schilling said city leaders view the venue’s growth as a long-term effort that will continue to evolve as more residents and visitors become familiar with the downtown space.
“This is a marathon, not a sprint,” Schilling said. “We’re continuing to build awareness and show people what Centennial Plaza has to offer.”
To encourage attendance throughout the summer, Centennial Plaza launched a buy-one, get-one-free ticket promotion June 21 for all remaining ticketed concerts, including Red Wanting Blue, the R&B MusicFest and Parmalee.
In addition to the ticketed shows, the Summer Concert Series includes free performances by Whiskey Loco on June 20, Chris Higbee on June 26, New Wave Nation on Aug. 21 and Wishgarden on Sept. 18.
Beyond the concert series, Centennial Plaza’s calendar includes weekly wellness programs, Palace Movies at the Plaza, Family Fun Day, the African/American Festival, Blues & BBQ Festival, First Friday events, Oktoberfest and numerous community gatherings through the fall.
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Summer Concert Series
Free concerts
- June 20 — Whiskey Loco
- June 26 — Chris Higbee
- Aug. 21 — New Wave Nation
- Sept. 18 — Wishgarden
Ticketed concerts
- June 27 — Red Wanting Blue
- July 18 — R&B MusicFest featuring Brownstone and Sunshine Anderson
- July 23 — Parmalee
