The Hollister Farmers Market will have a new home on Fifth
Street this summer because the city decided it no longer will allow
vehicle traffic on the lawn at the corner of Fourth and San Benito
streets. City Manager Clint Quilter stressed that officials are
willing to allow use of the Briggs Building plot, but that the
number of events put on at the location during the summer would not
allow for proper watering to help keep the grass healthy.
HOLLISTER
The Hollister Farmers Market will have a new home on Fifth Street this summer because the city decided it no longer will allow vehicle traffic on the lawn at the corner of Fourth and San Benito streets.
City Manager Clint Quilter stressed that officials are willing to allow use of the Briggs Building plot, but that the number of events put on at the location during the summer would not allow for proper watering to help keep the grass healthy. He noted how the Hollister Downtown Association added the movie nights for Thursdays this summer – the HDA also oversees the farmers market – meaning crews would lose another day of watering with those two events on back-to-back days.
The city’s concern is that halfway through the summer, residents would be watching movies during the HDA’s series on a “big, dry, dirt area,” Quilter said. He noted how the city spent $10,000 last year to repair the same area and said vehicles driving over the grass cause ruts that lead to water spreading unevenly.
The market’s focus will be on the entire block of Fifth Street between San Benito and Monterey streets – near Hollister City Hall – which will be blocked off from traffic. This year, it is set to open 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. May 13 and each Wednesday for 16 weeks until Aug. 26.
The move from the lawn space to Fifth Street “shouldn’t affect anybody,” including the businesses in that area, said Tammy Jackson, the market’s new coordinator.
“A majority of the surrounding businesses were for it,” she said.
She continued: “We would have been able to have the market there, but we needed to rotate vendors and couldn’t have vehicle traffic. It would have created a logistical nightmare.”
Jackson did note that the market still would have had access to the lawn at Fourth and San Benito streets – just without the vehicles.
“We have access to the lawn, just no vehicle access. It works out better because we have more space.”
For the vendors that need parking, spaces will be available behind The Vault.
Market rundown
The first market will feature bluegrass music by the Fog Valley Drifters from 4:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. on the lawn area. And for the first time, there will be an artisan and craftsmanship area featuring cards, candles and jewelry from tri-county vendors.
There also will be a food court area in The Vault parking lot featuring both Paine’s Restaurant and Mansmith’s BBQ items.
The Future Farmers of America will be selling produce and flowers. Additionally, students from the school will be filming a project, which will be aired on YouTube.
The Hollister Farmers Market is set up to accept Electronic Benefit Transfer cards and Women, Infants and Children coupons.
The market still is seeking various live entertainment and vendors. If you would like to apply to be a vendor or for more information on the market, call Jackson at (408) 804-1234 or e-mail Sharlene Van Rooy at [email protected].
Editor Kollin Kosmicki contributed to this report.
