2024 Festival of the Bells concludes with annual auction, concert by headliner Tyler Braden
Tyler Braden performs in the closing concert at the 2024 Festival of the Bells. (HCP Photos/Stephen and Caitlin Forsha)
Three days of music, activities, rides, food and mostly favorable weather concluded Saturday night, as the 2024 Festival of the Bells wrapped up with the annual auction and concerts by Lecade and Tyler Braden.
After a busy morning and afternoon activities that included balloon art, a concert by Blue Steel, a cornhole tournament and other yard games, Lecade performed in concert Saturday evening.
Prior to the annual auction, Festival of the Bells committee president Tom Zile invited representatives of the Harvested Here Festival committee and the Hillsboro Eagles to the stage to promote their event. The Harvested Here Festival, modeled after the successful Farm to Bottle Festival in Wilmington, will be held Aug. 24 in uptown Hillsboro (Governor Trimble Place) from 8 a.m.-11 p.m. The Harvested Here Festival will promote local food producers and vendors, while there will also be live music. Learn more at: https://farmtobottlefest.com/harvested-here-festival.
The event is sponsored in part by the Hillsboro Eagles FOE 1161, who noted that they have already donated $139,000 to local community so far this year, including contributing $2,500 to the Festival of the Bells.
Also invited to the stage were members of the 2024 Festival of the Bells Committee, who were introduced and thanked by Zile. Along with Zile, the committee includes Alex Butler, Jamie Chaney, Taylor Eversole, Tiffany McCoy, Jodi Murarescu, Mary Roades, Diana Setty, Dustin Siders, Mirl Willey and John Willis.
The 2024 Festival of the Bells court —queen Kensley Mathias, first runner-up Kora McCarty, second runner-up Kathryn Ogden and third runner-up Jenna Canada — were both recognized and called on to assist with the auction, as they took turns modeling items.
Former longtime Festival of the Bells committee chair Rick Williams of Rick Williams Auction Company conducted the annual auction, with Rick Kisling of Rick’s Hometown TV & Appliance Center being the top bidder on the night. Among the items won by Kisling was a working No. 3 CS Bell restored by the Harsha Monument Company, autographed by all three headlining artists from the festival.
Other items auctioned off included a guitar, state of Ohio art and baskets autographed by Festival of the Bells concert performers; Highland County history books; and a Cincinnati Reds package that included game tickets and an autographed Johnny Bench photo.
The event concluded with a concert by headlining artist Tyler Braden, a country singer who said he spent the first 27 years of life in Slapout, an unincorporated community in Alabama.
Braden performed a mix of previously released songs, including “She Don’t Care,” “Try Losing One,” “Friends,” “Better Off” and “Devil You Know,” as well as new music. Braden, who told the crowd that he hoped to release a new album early next year, sang several new songs including “Just the Whiskey” and “More Than a Prayer.”
Several covers were also featured in Braden’s setlist, such as Coldplay’s “Fix You” and NEEDTOBREATHE’s “Brother.”
Braden’s concert capped off three full days of activities at the 2024 Festival of the Bells. For more photos from Saturday, go to: https://highlandcountypress.com/news/scenes-2024-festival-bells-pet-par…
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For story and photos from Thursday, go to: https://highlandcountypress.com/news/riley-clemmons-rings-2024-festival….
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