Entertainment, activities unveiled for 2026 City of Hillsboro Festival of the Bells July 2-4

Committee members announced plans for the 2026 City of Hillsboro Festival of the Bells, which is slated for July 2-4 in uptown Hillsboro with the theme “Bells Through the Ages.”

Along with a name change to demonstrate their official partnership with the City of Hillsboro, this year’s festival will see another change in location after being held at the Highland County Fairgrounds in 2025. This year, the festival will return to uptown Hillsboro, where it was held for many years before relocating to other areas, such as Crossroads Park and Southern State Community College.

“We are excited to once again have a presence uptown this year, bringing back a touch of the nostalgia and tradition of being downtown,” committee vice president Tiffany McCoy said. “While we are grateful for the opportunity to return uptown in some capacity, we continue to look forward with great anticipation to our permanent home at Crossroads Park, where the future of the Festival of the Bells will continue to grow and thrive.”

As previously reported, Friday’s “Rock the Bell” night will feature Thunderstruck: America’s AC/DC Tribute, with country artist Chris Cagle being the headliner Saturday.

Organizers announced that the annual Christian night to start the Festival will feature contemporary Christian headliners Caleb & John, along with opening artists the Zugg Family Singers. The event is sponsored by the Hillsboro Area Ministerial Association. 

“Caleb & John are proving that joy and hope belong at the center of Christian music,” according to their profile at jeffroberts.com. “Their blend of Caleb’s pop sensibilities and John’s raw edge has given them a signature sound: joyful, bold and soaked in truth.” 

Caleb & John’s hits include the No. 1 single “Somebody Like Me,” along with “Hallelujah Feeling” and “Finished,” with a new collaboration with Steven Curtis Chapman set to debut May 22. They are also known for their viral videos on social media. Caleb & John are currently wrapping up concerts on Megan Woods’ The Truth Tour. 

The Friday night concert, which was converted to a “Rock the Bell” format in 2025, will feature Thunderstruck, an AC/DC cover band. 

“Last year for the first time we introduced ‘Rock the Bell’ on Friday night,” McCoy said. “This was a huge hit and was such a fun night to be a part of. There were people all over the grounds up out of their chairs dancing.” 

The event will be sponsored by the Hillsboro Eagles 1161. Due to a fireworks show planned for the same evening, the concert will start an hour early, at 8 p.m., and conclude “earlier than normal” “to allow people to either move to the fairgrounds or a better location uptown to enjoy the fireworks,” McCoy said.

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.”

Saturday night’s headliner will be country artist Chris Cagle, with opening act Kyle Norris and Sean Poole & Buckin Krazy.

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 annual concert series, McCoy said visitors can expect “plenty of fun events and activities for the whole family to enjoy throughout the weekend.

“We are excited to bring back many of the other crowd-favorite events that families and visitors look forward to each year, including the Festival of the Bells 5K, car show, 3-on-3 basketball tournament, cornhole tournament, pet parade, baby parade, bingo, the Jake Lindsey illusion show and the main uptown parade,” McCoy said. “Along with these returning favorites, attendees can also look forward to even more entertainment, activities and new additions throughout the weekend. A schedule will be out next month with all of the new, exciting events.” 

The annual Festival of the Bells 5k will be held Saturday, July 4 at 8 a.m. Preregistration by Monday, June 22 is required to receive a shirt, although you can register up to the day of the event. The cost is $25, and registration can be completed online at https://runsignup.com/Race/OH/Hillsboro/FestivaloftheBells5k.

Following the 5K, there will also be a Kids Fun Run Saturday at 9:30 a.m. for runners 11 and under. The cost is $5, and preregistration can also be completed online at https://runsignup.com/Race/OH/Hillsboro/FestivaloftheBells5k.

The annual parade will also be held Saturday, July 4, with an updated start time of 4 p.m. instead of noon as in years past. The event is sponsored by All American Fire.

“This change will allow participants from the lake parade, as well as those involved in the car show, the opportunity to also join us uptown for the evening parade festivities,” McCoy said. “Parade entries are completely free, and we would love to see local businesses, churches, clubs, sports teams, Jeep clubs, antique tractors and anyone else interested take part in this community tradition. The parade is always a fun and memorable event for the many families and visitors who line the streets to watch each year.”

There will also be a variety of food and craft vendors, with craft vendor applications still available at https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1Cex4Ld7Cq. McCoy said event organizers are also “currently working with a ride company in hopes of once again bringing back carnival rides for all ages to enjoy.”

In addition to the sponsors already mentioned, McCoy thanked the City of Hillsboro and all of the individuals and businesses who are sponsoring the festival this year.

“We are especially grateful for our many long-standing sponsors who have faithfully supported this festival year after year, helping to make it a cherished tradition for our entire community,” McCoy said. “We also want to express our sincere appreciation to the City of Hillsboro for partnering with us this year to help bring this amazing festival to life — we are truly thankful for their support and collaboration, and we look forward to continuing this partnership in the future as we prepare for our final home at Crossroads Park.”

“Without the generosity of our sponsors and partners, we simply could not offer this event to the public free of charge,” McCoy said. “As costs continue to rise, sponsor support remains more important than ever. 

“Last year, we updated our sponsorship levels in hopes of providing more options, including more affordable opportunities, for businesses, families and individuals who would like to support the festival. If you are interested in becoming a sponsor, please reach out to one of our committee members or contact us through our Facebook page or email for more information.”

McCoy added that for additional updates on festival plans, please follow the committee’s Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/festivalofthebells/ or visit festivalofthebells.com. 

“As we look ahead to the 2026 City of Hillsboro Festival of the Bells, we are incredibly excited to welcome our community, neighbors and visitors back for another unforgettable year of celebration,” McCoy said. “We invite everyone to come out and enjoy the energy of the festival, support our amazing local vendors and talented entertainers and take part in the wide variety of free activities planned throughout the weekend. From family-friendly fun to live entertainment and community traditions, there will be something for everyone to enjoy. 

“Most of all, we encourage everyone to come be a part of what makes this festival so special — our community coming together to celebrate, connect and create lasting memories.”