Welcome to the Hilltop
The Historic Hilltop Area of Columbus. We at the Hilltop Business Association are a group of business professionals dedicated to improving the Hilltop Area.

Bean Dinner Festival 2022

The festival is an 80 year old tradition being held every June in Columbus’ Westgate Park. Despite the name – we don’t sit around a table eating beans! The event is a family friendly festival remembering the history that made the Columbus west side. During the Civil War – the area now known as Westgate Park was a Civil War prison camp called “Camp Chase”. While Westgate is now a gorgeous neighborhood – it used to be a very feared place by the Confederate soldiers. The soldiers were fed a ration of beans twice a day. While we remember the nation divided during the Civil War – the Hilltop bean dinner unites people from all around Columbus in this one day of Music, a Variety of Food (including the famous beans), Arts and Craft Vendors, and an Antique Car Show.

Saturday June 25th
10am-5pm.
455 S. Westgate Ave,
Columbus, Ohio 43204.

We are still adding food trucks that have valid green City of Columbus Food Permit stickers. Please contact Nancy Rhynard This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Thank you for all who reached out. We expect a mighty high turnout this year. People are asking for food! NO ticket sales. Our customers like their Cash or Card option best

Vendors are expect to have their food service permit in place for City Event inspector prior to event opening. We are also attempting to not duplicate food items in effort to help YOU have a successful event. We expect 5 thousand to 8 thousand people and have walk ins from the Westgate Garage sales along with walk ins from a local church function. Those events people have also asked if we are hosting food trucks. We said YES!

Please reach out to Nancy if you have any questions or concerns.

The feedback has been awesome and we thank you. Another question was "trash clean up" We have ample close but "slightly hidden from view" dumpsters that are easy to access.
Our awesome volunteers will empty cans regularly and help keep the areas clean. Great Question!

Chuck Patterson

Master of Ceremonies

Chuck Douglas Patterson, a lifelong resident of the Greater Hilltop area and someone that is shamelessly connected to his "beloved westside".
He has been a voice on Central Ohio radio stations for over three decades and has been in your ears as the voice of numerous radio and television commercials. These days he occupies himself mostly as a residential REALTOR.
Chuck has served the community as an elected member and chairman of the Greater Hilltop Area Commission, president of the Greater Hilltop Resource Center, president and elected trustee of Southfield Village Homeowners Association and in numerous other capacities.
In service to the city of Columbus, Chuck was a member of the Columbus Commission on Ethics and Values and the publicity chair for the inaugural year of the Columbus Midnight Basketball League. Somewhere along the way he managed to raise four children and today is the grandfather of six. He is quick to tell you that he was younger and stronger and needed less sleep back then, but here he is again today as the Historic Hilltop Bean Dinner Festival returns to the face-to-face, family-friendly tradition, it has been for so many years.

Large Cart $200
Drinks/small cart $150.
We are still adding food trucks that have valid green City of Columbus Food Permit stickers. Please contact Nancy Rhynard This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

CLICK FOR APPLICATIONS

About the Hilltop

The “Greater Hilltop Area” (as defined by the City of Columbus) is bounded by I-70 on the north, I-270 on the south and west, and the railroad track just west of Harrisburg Pike/Central Avenue/3C.

Commercial Revitalization

The City of Columbus has selected the Highland West section of West Broad Street as one of six Neighborhood Commercial Revitalization districts eligible for economic incentives. The incentives for business and property owners include low-interest loans and matching grants for exterior improvements.

Opportunities

The Greater Hilltop area of Columbus Ohio hosts a diverse multicultural environment. With our diversity comes excellent opportunity for both small and large businesses. Our economic base is an even split of white collar and blue collar occupations and family households hold a majority. We have a population density of 20% more per square mile than overall Columbus statistics.

The Hilltop Business Association was founded in 1926 as the Hilltop Businessmen’s Association. The HBA has hosted events such as the Historic Hilltop Bean Dinner, the Greater hilltop Open, the Annual Fall Celebration, Deck the Hilltop, National Night Out Events. The HBA offers a way for business people in the Hilltop and the Westside to network and build cohesiveness among themselves.
The Hilltop Business Association was organized in 1926 with the purpose of developing and improving the hilltop area of Columbus, Ohio. At the time, most of the members were located in the business districts of West Broad Street and Sullivant Avenue. Originally known as the “hilltop Businessmen’s Association”, the group voted to include women in the mid 1950’s, and changed the name to what it is today. The interests of the community are served through involvement in community needs and concerns.
The group involves itself with the city government as well as neighborhood, social and charitable events. The HBA is working with other organizations toward economic development on the Westside.
In 2007, the HBA began receiving a Neighborhood Commercial Revitalization (NCR) grant from the City of Columbus for economic development of the Highland West Area of West Broad Street.

COVID-19 Information

COVID-19 Emergency Loan Guide PDF

Bean Dinner Festival Applications

The Bean Festival will be held on Saturday June 25th, 2022.
Below are the applications for booth space, right click to download each.
Fill them in and return to
Hilltop Business Association – Bean Dinner
PO Box 44217
Columbus OHIO 43204
or
Email to Nancy at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

For Online Applications & Payments Go Here

Booth Space Application
Arts and Crafts Vendor
Food Vendor Agreement
Car Show Entry

Join the HBA

Learn more about the HBA HERE

JOIN The HBA

Existing HBA Members can make a payment through the website or renew their Membership. We use Paypal for payments, if you do not have a Paypal account please go through the checkout process as a guest.