Car enthusiasts will be revving up downtown Hollister July 21 for the 26th annual Street Festival and Car Show, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The week before the event, Hollister Downtown Association event planner Denise Cauthen-Wright said there were 104 cars registered for the show. She was still getting calls of inquiry. Car owners can also register the day of the event.
Last year there were 219 cars on display, though Cauthen-Wright expected the numbers might be lower this year since last year was the 25th anniversary.
“We are thinking we will get 175 to 200,” she said. “A car club called that is bringing 20 to 30 cars. We encouraged them to register in advance.”
She said at least half the people registered so far are San Benito County residents.
“Its people supporting their own local events,” she said.
This year the committee has changed the way trophies will be awarded. Voting ballots will be given out to the owners of cars registered in the show so that they can vote for their favorites. Cauthen-Wright said with the input of some people who regularly show cars around the region, they decided to have 15 classifications. They will give out 18 award trophies this year, including best interior, best paint and best of show.
Though the main attraction may be the cars, the street festival offers other activities for families who are looking for a fun afternoon downtown. There will be three stages with entertainment.
Isaiah Pickett, a singer and guitar player, will perform with the Beer Nutz as his back up band. His father, Robert, said he has performed at Paine’s Restaurant and other nearby venues.
“He’s 18 and he’s been playing since he was 7,” Pickett’s father said.
Pickett’s style is blues and R&B.
Joe Ostenson and Mr. O’s Jazz band will also perform at the event, as will a variety of school music groups. A community stage will feature dance performances as well.
Cauthen-Wright said there will be a variety of merchants selling their wares downtown, including some vendors that cater to classic car fans. Others will sell arts and crafts or jewelry. Local restaurants and shops will be open during the festival, some running specials and sales to coincide with the event. There will be a few food booths selling items as part of a fundraiser. Swank Farms has again donated watermelon that will be given out to visitors free of charge.
The kids can enjoy the kids’ zone at the corner of Fourth and San Benito streets, in the grassy lot.
“We will have a bounce house and face painting,” Cauthen-Wright said. “St. Luke’s (Espiscopal Church) will have free activities, and the Youth Alliance and Girl Scouts.”
Specialty vehicles will also be on display near the kids’ zone, such as fire trucks and police cars.
“The kids all like to see those,” she said.
Cauthen-Wright said the committee members have been active on planning the event and recruited a couple new sponsors. The new sponsors include Hemmings Motor News, a classified magazine that offers classic car fans a way to find rare and unique parts, and San Benito Auto Wreckers, which offers recycled car parts from its San Juan Road location.
“It’s a good committee that worked really hard,” Cauthen-Wright said. “We’ve got quite a line up and we are still getting more.”
Street Festival and Car Show entertainment schedule
Main stage:
10 to 11 a.m.: Flashbacks
11:20 a.m. to 12:20 p.m.: Beer Nutz featuring Mark Jeghers
12:40 to 1:40 p.m.: Beer Nutz featuring Isaiah Pickett
2 to 3 p.m.: Donald Elvis and the Hound Dogs
3:20 to 4:20 p.m.: One Direction
South stage:
10 to 11 a.m.: Summer band camp and Hollister elementary travel band
11:15 a.m. to 12:30 pm.: Mr. O’s jazz band
1 to 2 p.m.: Rancho-Maze Middle School band
2 to 3 p.m.: San Benito High School choir and San Benito Stage Company cast members from “Big River”
3 to 4 p.m.: Local world beat band Somos
Community stage:
11:20 to 11:50 a.m.: San Benito Dance Academy
Noon to 12:30 p.m.: West Coast Music & Dance FX, Limelight Productions and La Roux Dance Company
1:20 to 1:50 p.m.: JJ’s Hip Hop
2:40 to 3:10 p.m.: Ballet Folklorico Maripoza
