One of Hollister’s most adored traditions returns Saturday, when the Lights On Celebration is scheduled for downtown.
It’s the 28th annual Lights On Celebration, which includes the signature parade, a car show, an array of entertainment throughout the day, pictures with Santa and more.
The theme this year is, “Through the Eyes of a Child.”
“The committee selected the theme and, actually, Santa and rs. Claus were part of the selection of the theme,” said Teri Escamilla, the event manager for the Hollister Downtown Association.
That theme is evident on the parade poster, which shows a child dragging a Teddy bear toward the celebration.
Escamilla went over some of the highlights of the event for San Benito Live, pointing out how the Salvation Army will once again provide hot chocolate for free at Fifth and San Benito streets. There will be music at Mars Hill Coffehouse at Sixth and San Benito streets and an opportunity to take photos with Santa after the parade at the Veterans Memorial Building.
Before all that, for the third straight year, the Street Festival & Car Show’s Trophy Car Club will get to display their vehicles from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Seventh Street. That honor goes to the club — this year, the Central Coast Muscle Cars & Classics group —with the most participation at the annual July Street Festival event also put on by the HDA, Escamilla said.
Additionally, there will be a holiday food court of vendors from 11 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.
If you’re looking for entertainment, Mr. O’s Academy of the Arts will perform at 3 p.m. in the veterans building plaza. Folklorico Juvenil will perform at 4 p.m. in the plaza and then at 4:30 on Fifth Street. Yamamoto Hula Ohana will perform at the plaza at 4:30 and then on Fifth Street at 4:45 p.m. Inspire Performing Arts will perform at 4:45 p.m. in the veterans plaza, and Zyllah will perform from 4:15-5:30 p.m. in the plaza. From 5-5:15 p.m. on Fifth Street, Folklorico Carisma Mexicano will perform with Mariachi Corazon Jalisciense.
As for the parade, it will include 78 entries this year — at least 10 more than 2017, Escamilla said. That will include “a lot of floats,” she said.
For more on the Lights On Celebration, go here: http://www.downtownhollister.org/holiday-lights-on-celebration/
Below is the flyer for Shop Small Saturday happening as well:
