Downtown Hollister will rev its engine Saturday for one of the biggest local events of the year.
The 32nd annual Street Festival & Car Show is set for 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday on San Benito Street and other side streets in downtown Hollister.
It will feature over 200 classic vehicles taking part in a car show competition, but it includes a lot more with vendors, raffle prizes, live music and, of course, free watermelon.
“It’s actually the oldest event we have,” said Jeana Arnold, Hollister Downtown Association executive director. “And it is actually a year older than we are. We started off as the Hollister Merchants Association before we were the HDA.”
One of the expected elements that won’t be included this year is the chili cookoff. That’s because the local firefighters union that partnered on the cookoff had to pull out due to busy fire conditions throughout the region and state.
“Fire season kind of seems to be, according to them, happening earlier and earlier in the year,” Arnold said. “When they first proposed the idea, it didn’t seem like a problem.”
There will, however, be plenty of other entertainment with the cars, two entertainment stages and a vendor row, which will be on Fifth Street. Arnold said a stage on the south end of downtown will include community groups like dancers, singers and a martial arts demonstration while the north stage will include five different local bands.
Free watermelon provided at the Street Festival will be donated by Pinnacle Organic Farms, Bertuccio’s and Swank Farms.
As for the classic vehicles, there are 18 different trophy categories.
“Kind of the cool part about our show that’s different, the best of show winner gets to go on the following year’s T-shirt and posters,” Arnold said.
Additionally, the festival with free admission will include a kids area with bounce houses, face painting, a bookmobile and a Hollister Hills exhibit.
