An enormous crowd turned out to cheer on 49 parade entries, have
their pictures taken with Santa and start their holiday shopping
downtown Saturday at the annual Light’s On Celebration.
HOLLISTER
An enormous crowd turned out to cheer on 49 parade entries, have their pictures taken with Santa and start their holiday shopping downtown Saturday at the annual Light’s On Celebration.
“Everything came together to make this year’s Light’s On Celebration fantastic!” said Brenda Weatherly, executive director of the Hollister Downtown Association that runs the annual event featuring a parade, now in its 18th year.
Sharlene Van Rooy from HDA noted that there were more participants than any prior year in the procession.
“We just kept accepting them this year because we really didn’t want to turn anyone away.”
She also pointed out how there were plenty of people watching compared with prior years.
“The people were lined up for the parade six or seven deep from Fifth to Monterey Street,” she said.
The best of parade award went to A&N Plumbing – whose float resembled a giant sock monkey, Van Rooy said.
Business owner Tony Guaracha said he just sat down one day after work and sketched his truck and then “drew a funny face on it.”
“I was happy to win, but I was happier to just make people feel good about Christmas,” said Guaracha.
The parade entry winning best theme this year was the Tricounty Australian Shepard Fanciers, which featured many of the association’s dogs walking alongside the float.
The best lighting award this year, meanwhile, went to the Hollister Dual Language Academy. School Principal Delia Gomez said the float had a multicultural theme.
“We had piñatas, and papel picado, which are almost like streamers used in Latin American countries, and different colored lights galore,” she said. “The parents really came through on the lights.”
She added how the students provided large, hand-made wreaths as well.
“The students traced their hands, and we arranged them into wreaths,” explained Gomez.
Additionally, there was live music and photos with Santa, and Weatherly said the entire night went smoothly. She believes the community celebration just keeps getting more enjoyable for Hollister.
“The entire event just continues to improve year after year. The parade entries, the crowds, business participation all are getting better and better.”
