Santa Claus waves to the crowd as he comes down San Benito st. to end the Lights On Celebration parade last Saturday night.

Helped by pleasant weather and boosted by larger-than-usual
crowds, the 19th annual Lights On Celebration was a success
Saturday and kicked off the holiday shopping season on the right
note for downtown merchants.
HOLLISTER

Helped by pleasant weather and boosted by larger-than-usual crowds, the 19th annual Lights On Celebration was a success Saturday and kicked off the holiday shopping season on the right note for downtown merchants.

With the down economy and plenty of inexpensive options during the four-hour event, it was a quintessential family atmosphere. This year in particular, though, there were more float entries – 64 – and more activities and entertainment offerings than ever before.

“We were very pleased because the entries were outstanding,” said Geri Johnson, Hollister city clerk and chairwoman of the Lights On Celebration.

Johnson noted how the Hollister Downtown Association’s goal is to “not have a really long parade so people can go into the merchants and see what’s available.”

Gaining attention for the downtown merchants, after all, is the overriding intention of the traditional event, which always falls on the first Saturday after Thanksgiving. Again this year, there was a “Merchants’ Open House” to get customers noticing what local shops have to offer.

This year’s theme was “Candy Cane Lane,” and that was evident in the many floats in the 5:30 p.m. parade that followed the topic.

For the full story see the Free Lance on Tuesday. Below are a list of winners from the Lights On festifities:

Parade

Best of Parade: A&N Plumbing

Lighting: Ace Hardware

Theme: Intero

Community Group: Nan Pipestem Wildlife Rehabilitation

Best Drill: Hollister Martial Arts

 

Window Decorating

Theme: Serene Home

Display Window: Drapoel-Teezerz

Window: Edward Jones

 

Dec-A-Tree 

First: Native Daughters of the Golden West

Second: Zandra Kelley

Third: Sunnyslope School Student Council

Honorable Mention: South Bay Blue Stars Moms

Honorable Mention: YMCA of San Benito County

Honorable Mention: Juli Veira

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A staff member wrote, edited or posted this article, which may include information provided by one or more third parties.

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