
From the Organizer
Festival of the Bells 5k
Date: Saturday, July 4, 2026 at 8:00 a.m.
Celebrate America’s 250 with the Festival of the Bells ‘Bells through the Ages’ 5k. This year’s race route begins in historic uptown Hillsboro- home of the beautiful oldest continuously operating courthouse in Ohio.
Participants and on-lookers are encouraged to view the C.S. bells that are on display around the uptown area. The C.S. Bell Company produced cast iron bells at the bell foundry in Hillsboro beginning in 1858.
This chip timed event will have awards for top finishers in age categories directly following the race. The route will be on paved surfaces throughout the City of Hillsboro. Pre-register by Monday, June 22, 2026 to order a shirt. Entries after this date will not receive a shirt.
A short course kids run appropriate for children 11 and under will be held at 9:30 a.m.
Packet pick-up and same day registration: 7:15-7:45 a.m. No late entries will be permitted due to safety reasons as this is a road race.
Cost: $25 (includes timing chip and shirt)
Shirt options:
Tank (ladies racerback) xs-3xl
Tank (unisex) xs-3xl
T-shirt xs-3xl
Kids Fun Run Details:
Share in the excitement of race day fun following the Festival of the Bells 5k.
Fun event for kids ages 11 & under
Location: Same as 5k
Cost: $5
Details: Check-in the day of the event at the registration table near the start / finish line. The short course length will be modified for varying skill levels and age groups.
Follow the official Festival of the Bells website and Facebook page for more details.
Link:https://www.thefestivalofthebells.com/
FB: https://www.facebook.com/festivalofthebells?mibextid=LQQJ4d
Events
Weather
It's too far out for a forecast, so here's what weather on this date is normally like in the area. A race day forecast will replace this as race week approaches.
Typical High
85°
Typical Low
62°
Chance of Rain
38%
Based on US Climate Normals data from Hillsboro, 5 mi from the venue.
Host City
Elevation
1,006 ft
Nearest Airport
LUK
Cincinnati Municipal Airport Lunken Field · 44 mi
Major Hub
CVG
Cincinnati Northern Kentucky International Airport · 57 mi
Time Zone
Eastern Time
From Endurance Grid
Line up lodging and travel early to lock in your race weekend.
Race Location
Your Next Start Line
Every finish line starts with a single decision. Claim your spot at Festival of the Bells 5k, put it on the calendar, and turn “someday” into a start date.
26
Days to train
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13 miles away
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25 miles away
From Endurance Grid
Endurance Grid is here to help you understand the sport, decide if it's the right fit, and learn how to prepare. For course distances, logistics, and race-day specifics, always defer to the race organizer's event page.
With running, there's a distance for every fitness level, a community at every start line, and nothing beats the feeling of crossing a finish line you trained for.
Running is an endurance sport that rewards consistency, and showing up every week compounds in ways that will surprise you.
From 5K to marathon, running races are the most accessible entry point into endurance sport. There's a distance for every fitness level and a community at every start line.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Festival of the Bells 5k
Jul 4, 2026