Old Hilliard Day started somewhere in the murky past about the middle 80's. By some accounts, as in most small towns in the U.S., there was a street fair long before this. Bingo tents, carnival games and home cooked food for sale by every church and women's group in town. Colorful thrill rides spinning way into the coolness of the night with every kid in town taking at least one turn. A time for all neighbors to fill the otherwise busy street w/greetings and 'catching up'. Local businesses brought tables to the curbs in front of their door, welcoming old friends and hoping to make a few new ones. What other day could bring so many potential shoppers to your door?

The Old Hilliard Merchant's Association was formed about this same time in the 80's and with help from the City Hall kept the day alive as Old Hilliard Day through most of the 90's. When interest and membership was impossibly low, the last remaining members gave notice that the end was near for the Old Hilliard Merchants and as a group would not be able to conduct the fair. In 1999, the Hilliard Chamber of Commerce came forward to carry the festival, renamed Hilliard Fest, into the 21st century. The last three years the Chamber hosted a growing event and with the help of a new troupe of volunteers and a renewed interest in Main Street, the festival grew bigger than ever. The following year the Hilliard Civic Association was created by a few of the top Hilliard Fest volunteers and continues today as the Hilliard Street Fair.