Name: Back to Opening Night – Reliving November 22, 1926
Start: 2026-11-22T16:00:00+00:00
End: 2026-11-22T18:00:00+00:00

The Canton Palace Theatre, one of Ohio’s most treasured historic performing arts venues, will celebrate its 100th Anniversary with an unforgettable weekend of entertainment, history, and community celebration November 20–22, 2026.

Exactly 100 years after the Palace first welcomed audiences, guests will experience a remarkable recreation of opening night as it unfolded in 1926. The afternoon will feature authentic vaudeville entertainment inspired by original opening night Palace programs, including:

Olivia Befus and her Dogs – Finalist on “America’s Got Talent”
Ruiz and Bonita in “Their Dances Supreme” portrayed by Jordon Matthew and Lacy Kraszewski
Burns and Allen in “Lambchops” portrayed by Justin Edenhofer and Amanda Medley
Heidi Swinford in “A Cycle of Songs”

Audiences will also enjoy a rare screening of College Days, the second motion picture ever shown at the Palace in 1926 and believed to be making its first public screening in more than 90 years.

Completing the experience will be live accompaniment by Jay Spencer on the Palace’s historic Kilgen Wonder Organ, joined by the 16-piece Palace Concert Orchestra under the direction of Joseph N. Rubin, recreating the grandeur of the original opening celebration.

Centennial Experience:

Join us for a very special Centennial Experience through downtown Canton as we celebrate the Palace Theatre’s 100th anniversary. 1920’s costumes encouraged!

Your Centennial Experience includes:

A Centennial Ticket to the show. Ticket includes admission in Centennial Experience seating.
Vintage Trolley Ride: Travel in style through downtown Canton as we make our way to our first stop.
Brunch and 1 Cocktail at the McKinley Tavern. Enjoy brunch, cocktails and Palace Trivia with prizes!
Exclusive Tour of the Vault. Take a quick look inside the fascinating vault in the historic Mills Tower.
Champagne Reception at the Palace. Return by trolly for a special champagne reception in the Mezzanine.
Centennial Swag Bag. Take home a collection of fun retro snacks and special Palace Theatre keepsakes.

Centennial Experience starts at 1:30PM. Tickets are $106 and are limited. Brought to you by: SARTA, Fromage du Monde and other participating sponsors.

A Century of Community

Completed in 1926, the Canton Palace Theatre remains one of Ohio’s finest examples of atmospheric theatre architecture and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Today, the Palace welcomes more than 300 events annually, including concerts, films, educational programming, theatrical-style productions, and community performances, serving as a cultural cornerstone for Northeast Ohio.

The Centennial Celebration Weekend is both a tribute to the theatre’s remarkable past and an invitation for the community to help launch its next 100 years.