Festival of the Bells Parade set for noon July 6

The Festival of the Bells Committee in conjunction with the Highland County Firefighters Association, are pleased to announce the Festival of the Bells Parade will be held at noon July 6. Lineup will be at the old Hillsboro High School, 358 West Main Street, and will begin at 10 a.m. Judging will be 10:30 a.m.-11:30 a.m. 

During the parade, candy must be handed out, not thrown.

The parade theme is “Small Town American Dream.”

If multiple units are in an entry, please try to arrive at same time, if possible. Persons with questions may email hcffa2008@yahoo.com or call (937) 403-3121 and leave a message.

The parade will enter West Main Street at Willettsville Pike and go to the center of town, then turn left on South High Street, right onto West Walnut Street, right on Oak Street and back to the old school location.

The Festival Committee will be judging non-fire/EMS entries on the theme and will also judge the most patriotic. Awards will be given in different categories to Fire and Life Squad entries only. 

Those categories will be:

Best Equipped and Maintained Engine
2014-24; 2001-13; 1981 to 2000; and 1980 and older;
Best Equipped and Maintained Pumper/Tanker;
Best Equipped and Maintained Aerial or Platform (Ladder Truck) Best Equipped and Maintained Field Unit;
Best Equipped and Maintained Rescue Best Equipped and Maintained BLS Unit Best Equipped and Maintained ALS Unit;
Best Equipped and Maintained Tanker/Tender Best Antique; and
Chief’s Choice.

Association members include: Paint Creek, Highland North, Lynchburg, Southern Highland, Brush Creek Fire, Marshall Fire, Bainbridge Fire Dept and Life Squad, Brush Creek Life Squad, Fayetteville, Clinton-Highland, Highland County Sheriff’s Office, Peebles, Winchester, Highland County EMA and Eastern Joint Fire District.

This year's Festival of the Bells is July 4-6 in Hillsboro. For information, go to https://www.thefestivalofthebells.com.