Committee releases official schedule for 2026 City of Hillsboro Festival of the Bells

Committee members Tuesday released the official schedule for the 2026 City of Hillsboro Festival of the Bells, which will be held July 2-4 in uptown Hillsboro with the theme “Bells Through the Ages.”

The annual festival kicks off Thursday, July 2 at 4:30 p.m. with opening ceremonies, followed by the queens contest on the main stage at 5 p.m. The festival queen will later be crowned at 8 p.m.

Craft and food vendors open Thursday at 4:30 p.m., followed by rides at 5 p.m. A meet and greet with contemporary Christian artists Caleb and John starts at 8 p.m.

The concert series begins with opening act The Zugg Family Singers Thursday at 7 p.m., followed by Thursday’s headliners Caleb and John at 9 p.m.

On Friday, July 3, food vendors open at 11 a.m., with craft vendors opening at noon. Also at noon, the Highco flag team will be performing.

Friday afternoon activities begin at 1 p.m. with the Highland County Visitors Bureau sponsoring bingo at the food tents, followed by a kids and adults coloring contest at the tents at 2 p.m. The annual Battle of the Banks will follow at 3 p.m. on the courthouse lawn, then free kids games will be offered at 3:30 p.m.

At 5 p.m., rides will open for the evening, while Jake Lindsey will present an illusion show. The annual armed service and veteran recognition will follow at 6 p.m.

The second annual “Rock the Bell” night, sponsored by the Hillsboro Eagles, will be the highlight of Saturday night’s concert series, starting with local band Blue Steel at 6:30 p.m. The headliners, the AC/DC tribute band Thunderstruck, will hold a meet and greet at 7 p.m., then the band will take the stage at 8 p.m.

For the Fourth of July festivities, registration for the Bells Through the Ages 5K Walk/Run starts at 7:15 a.m., followed by the event at 8 a.m. A kids dash will take place at 9:30 a.m., with registration starting at 9:15.

Car show registration at the old school grounds will be held from 9 a.m.-noon. The car show and judging will take place at noon at the old school grounds, with awards being presented at 3 p.m.

Craft vendors will open at 9 a.m. as well.

Also at 9 a.m., registration for a 3-on-3 basketball tournament sponsored by State Farm will begin at Hillsboro High School, as play starts at 9:30 a.m.

Registration for the annual pet parade sponsored by Merchants National Bank starts at 9:30 a.m. with the parade to follow at 10 a.m. The baby parade, sponsored by NCB, will begin accepting entries at 10:30 a.m., with the parade at 11 a.m.

Also at 11 a.m., food vendors open, with rides starting at noon Saturday. Free kids games will again be offered starting at 1 p.m.

Participants will begin lining up for the Bells Through the Ages parade at 2 p.m. at the old school grounds. The parade, sponsored by All American Fire Equipment, will start at 4 p..m.

At 4:30 p.m., registration for a cornhole tournament sponsored by the Highland County Peace Officers Association starts, with competition kicking off at 5 p.m.

The concert series will conclude with three shows Saturday night, starting with Kyle Norris at 6 p.m. Sean Poole & Buckin’ Krazy will take the stage at 7:30 p.m.

After a meet and greet at 8 p.m., headliner and country music artist Chris Cagle will close out the 2026 festival on the main stage at 9 p.m.

For more information on any of these activities, please follow the committee’s Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/festivalofthebells/ or visit festivalofthebells.com. 

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