The 24th annual Old HilliardFest returns to downtown Hilliard next month, complete with live music, car shows and rides. The two-day event includes an art fair, street vendors, live local bands and a wide variety of food offerings, according to Dave Obenour of Musical Earth, which is performing some of the festival's marketing.

"It's a traditional main street fair; we're one of the last street fairs in the area that closes down the main street, and it has a nice home town feeling to it," said Ed Daniel, president of the Hilliard Civic Association, which puts on the festival each year.

Daniel said he is glad HilliardFest is returning home.

"We moved (to the fairgrounds) three years ago because of construction that was going on along Main Street, but the city finished that construction and we wanted to return the festival to its original location," Daniel said. "It feels really good to be moving back, a lot of the comments we've received in the past were that the festival just wasn't the same at the fairgrounds."

Old HilliardFest kicks off Friday, Sept. 11, with a 7 p.m. performance of the Hilliard-based Greater Columbus Community Orchestra, along with an 8 p.m. performance by local rock-n-roll band the Scioto Mudcats. The performances will take place next to Otie's, at Main and Center streets. The Hilliard Youth Council will also host an event for high school students, with a deejay and other events as part of the Friday evening festivities, Daniel said.

The festival will continue on Saturday with an eclectic art fair, street vendors, carnival rides, an antique, classic and hotrod car show, as well as a car show at the Norwich Township Fire Department, Daniel said. The fire department and Hilliard Division of Police will also offer demonstrations during the festival, Daniel said.

Started about 25 years ago on the streets of Old Hilliard, a small group of local volunteers founded the Hilliard Civic Association in 2000 to take over the festival, according to Daniel's history of the event. While a small core of about five volunteers kept Old HilliardFest alive for several years, more volunteers than ever are now getting involved, Daniel said.

"Finally this year we've started reaching out to the right people, and the people of Hilliard have really gotten involved," he said.

The festival could still use additional vendors and artists, Daniel added. More information about the festival is available online at www.oldhilliardfest.org.

Old HilliardFest is a free event for all ages, taking place on Sept. 11 and 12 on Main Street in the hart of Old Hilliard. Attendees are encouraged to follow signs for free parking near the event.

lrice@thisweeknews.com

Sept. 12 schedule