Car show and festival draws a crowd
Hollister residents gathered downtown Saturday, Aug. 9, for the
22nd annual Street Festival. The main draw of the event is the
classic car show. San Benito Street was blocked off to traffic to
allow the cars a prominent position on the main drag. Last year’s
winner for Best of Show, an orange 1948 Chevy coupe with pink
flames owned by Peter Burges, was displayed between Sixth and
Seventh streets. But there were plenty of other cars to see and
other things to do.
Car show and festival draws a crowd
Hollister residents gathered downtown Saturday, Aug. 9, for the 22nd annual Street Festival. The main draw of the event is the classic car show. San Benito Street was blocked off to traffic to allow the cars a prominent position on the main drag. Last year’s winner for Best of Show, an orange 1948 Chevy coupe with pink flames owned by Peter Burges, was displayed between Sixth and Seventh streets. But there were plenty of other cars to see and other things to do.
At Sixth Street, a stage offered a place for tired visitors to rest while listen to one of several bands in the line-up. At midday, Soul Kiss took the stage with a mix of country and pop songs. Outside Veteran’s Memorial Hall a variety of performers used the pavement as a venue. San Benito Dance Academy students showed off their stuff in pink tutus, with older students leading the youngest ones who liked to be about 4. After they finished up the ballet routines, West Coast Dance FX members treated the audience to more modern dance moves. Other performers waited in the wings.
A handful of nonprofits set up booths – the local Democrat and Republican parties set up a block apart to talk about their candidates of choice and register voters – and the few food booths available drove visitors into local restaurants. Many visitors chose to end their time downtown with a wedge of free yellow or red watermelon, handed out by the Hollister Downtown Association volunteers.
Sponsors of the event included San Benito Bank, DMB El Rancho San Benito, Hollister Downtown Association, Presidential Protective Services, The Weekend Pinnacle and the Hollister Free Lance.
