Festival of the Bells to return to uptown Hillsboro in 2026

Hillsboro Festival of the Bells Committee President Tom Zile announced several changes for this year’s festival, including a return to the uptown district, during the Thursday, Feb. 12 Hillsboro City Council meeting.

Zile — who also serves as the city treasurer — was invited to speak by Mayor Justin Harsha and safety and service director Shawn Adkins, as there was no other public participation on Thursday’s agenda.

After a one-year move to the Highland County Fairgrounds in 2025 due to ongoing construction at the site of Crossroads Park, Zile and city leaders announced the festival will return once again to uptown Hillsboro, primarily in the 100 and 200 blocks of North High Street.

“We decided to allow the festival to be uptown for one last year because of the Crossroads construction,” Harsha said. “We decided to keep Route 50 open, so everything from Merchants Bank down to the first alley before UDF is pretty much going to be the festival, kind of way it used to be when I was younger. If they need some of Beech Street, we'll have that, and then our new parking lot [by the Armory]. 

“I think that allows them ample amount of room, and then also [Governor] Trimble [Place], where the farmers market usually is. I think there's plenty of room to have a successful festival, and we look forward to it.”

Zile added that he has reached out to affected businesses in the area and has received positive feedback.

“We are looking forward to being uptown, and especially this being the 250th-year celebration [America250],” Zile said. “I appreciate the mayor and Shawn helping us and allowing us to do that this year until the Crossroads Park is open, and that will be our final home.”

The 2026 festival will take place July 2-4. Zile said that the opening day of the festival, which typically features a contemporary Christian artist sponsored by the Hillsboro Area Ministerial Association, falls on the same night as the annual “Booming in the 'Boro” fireworks show.

“We are going to shorten our Friday evening program so that it will be finished by 10,” Zile said. “That way, people can be part of the fireworks as well.”

Although the Thursday night entertainer is yet to be announced, Zile said the Friday night concert, which was converted to a “Rock the Bell” format in 2025, will feature Thunderstruck, an AC/DC cover band. Saturday night’s headliner will be country artist Chris Cagle.

Based in Louisville, Ky., Thunderstruck is known as “America’s AC/DC tribute” and has been touring the nation together since 2015. According to their website, “They are five guys completely united and driven by their own passion for AC/DC's music. It is because of this passion that every member of Thunderstruck obsesses over the tones and structures of each song, the energy of each live AC/DC performance, as well as every piece of gear, to bring the power and entertainment of a genuine AC/DC show. 

“Their goal is to provide ‘The Spirit of AC/DC’ to the fans, and to bring the fans on a nostalgia road trip through the discography of AC/DC. They want the music and energy of AC/DC to live on for many years to come.”

Cagle will be returning to the Festival of the Bells for a third performance, as he previously headlined the 2002 festival, then returned again in 2003. According to his website, Cagle is embarking on his “Play It Loud 25th Anniversary Tour” in 2026, as he celebrates the anniversary of his debut album. 

Cagle is known for such hits as “Laredo,” “I Breathe In, I Breathe Out,” “Chicks Dig It,” "What a Beautiful Day,” “Miss Me Baby” and “Got My Country On.”

Along with the location, another change is that the Festival of the Bells is now officially a city-sanctioned event, according to Zile.

“Part of the reason for that is that by doing that, we come under the city's insurance,” Zile said. “It doesn't cost the city any more, and it saves us $15,000, so we appreciate the city allowing us to do that.”

Other plans, plus the Thursday night entertainment and other activities, will be announced in the coming months, but Zile said visitors can expect many of the usual activities.

For updates on this year’s Festival, please follow the committee at https://www.facebook.com/festivalofthebells.

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