Driving through downtown yesterday morning, I watched the annual
(after last year’s hiatus) biker festival rev up again, vendor by
vendor.
Driving through downtown yesterday morning, I watched the annual (after last year’s hiatus) biker festival rev up again, vendor by vendor.
This celebration of the motorcycle T-shirt – that’s what it’s about, right? – is back and allegedly more organized than ever. Who knows, our city may even not lose money over the weekend.
One thing that struck me on my morning drive was how welcoming Budweiser is to bikers. The “Welcome Bikers” signs sponsored by the King of Beers are hanging outside nearly every mini-mart and gas station in town, reminding everyone to drink and drive. Some houses are even sporting the signs. Bud Light and Miller Lite rolled out the welcome as well, as did Monster energy drink.
Let’s hope there are enough restroom facilities for all of these beer drinkers. Lynn’s Liquors has placed two Port-A-Potties outside its store, wisely anticipating bathroom requests from its thirsty patrons.
I always enjoy seeing the various motorcycles that locals wheel out of storage and onto the front lawn during biker weekend. That might be as far as those bikes travel all year, but we Hollisterites are showing our guests that the Birthplace of the American Biker welcomes them (apparently with a Budweiser.)
The Granada Theater on Fifth Street is playing it smart, advertising on its marquee showings of “The Wild Ones,” “Easy Rider,” “The World’s Fastest Indian,” and “Chopper Town.” Note to Granada: The movie is actually “The Wild One” – singular – but it’s still a good marketing effort. Event organizer Horse Power Promotions has even renamed the venue “Granada Biker Theater” in its promotional material.
Salinas television station KSBW was in town doing a remote on Thursday morning, probably talking about this year’s “invasion.” It’s interesting to think back to the late 1990s when half of Hollister was worried that we truly were going to be invaded by bikers. Car dealers cleared their lots, numerous stores shut down, and a number of residents hit the road so they wouldn’t be kidnapped by wild bikers.
I stayed around because I had to cover the event for the newspaper. I’ll admit to a little trepidation as I walked through the sea of bikers for the first time, but like most everyone else, I realized most bikers were here to check out each other’s motorcycles, buy a T-shirt, have a beer and hit the road.
The event put Hollister on the map and is now ranked among the most popular rallies in the United States. Many people still dread the noise or threat of violence or inconvenience of a clogged downtown, but not me.
I’m too much of a chicken to actually ride a motorcycle, though I hear they get great gas mileage and I know they look cool. Our town’s biker guests have been mostly behaved over the years and they certainly help local businesses – particularly downtown – who choose to stay open and cater to the crowd.
I’m looking forward to the stunt shows and live music and food. It’s a great people-watching opportunity; the clothing (or lack thereof) choices are eye-opening. There are attractive people to watch, and then there are the shirtless beer-bellies riding or walking with their old ladies, who aren’t getting enough support from their clothing.
Like our friends at Anheuser-Busch say, “Welcome Bikers.” Ride free, drink freely (and drive wisely), and spend liberally while you are here. Many of us are glad you came back.
