It didn’t take long for thousands to line up along San Benito
Street for the Lights On Celebration, the county’s traditional
welcoming of the Christmas season. Accompanying beautiful floats
dressed in color and lights were marching bands, baton twirlers,
strolling carolers and plenty of cartoon characters to entertain
everyone during the Hollister Downtown Association’s annual holiday
event.
It didn’t take long for thousands to line up along San Benito Street for the Lights On Celebration, the county’s traditional welcoming of the Christmas season.
Accompanying beautiful floats dressed in color and lights were marching bands, baton twirlers, strolling carolers and plenty of cartoon characters to entertain everyone during the Hollister Downtown Association’s annual holiday event.
Winnie the Pooh made an appearance as did Spongebob Squarepants, who was soaking up attention given by the trail of young people following close behind.
“I’ve never seen so many people in one spot,” said Brandi Reeder of Aromas. “A person could get lost in the crowd. The whole county is here.”
Retired Superior Court Judge Tom Breen drove his historic GMC farm truck, leaving kids guessing whether it belonged to Old MacDonald’s Farm.
“This is a lot of fun. I love it,” Breen said.
Betty Boop made an appearance, but nearly lost her head when a reporter rushed up to her little love-bug car demanding a quote.
However, when it comes to a show-stopper, no one can beat the main attraction – Santa Claus and his jolly chuckle.
“Merry Christmas,” he shouted as children’s faces lit up, anxiously anticipating things to come on Dec. 25.
When the parade participants began arriving to take their positions, not everyone read the instructions provide in their parade packets, but the HDA’s Carol Thomas kept everyone in line.
“You have to go down to Haydon Street and check in, then come up and park in your space,” she said.
“Other than that, all the floats were phenomenal,” said HDA Executive Director Liz Kresky. “Everyone was excited and the weather was wonderful.”
When it was all said and done, after months of preparation and planning, the Lights On Parade was over in an hour, but the fun was just beginning.
Downtown merchants kept their doors open late, greeting crowds that enter their shops with hot cider and hot chocolate to go along with along with cookies and other treats.
Children played on the lawn, darting in and around Santa’s Village, while parents clung tightly to the younger children.
The scent of chestnuts roasting at Dorothy McNett’s Place drew crowds, and the sound of holiday music filled the air enticing people to sing along as they strolled along San Benito Street.
And more often than not, people were wishing strangers a merry Christmas.
“This has more of a community atmosphere,” said Mike Nehme, who recently moved to Hollister from San Jose and was comparing that city’s event to Saturday night. “You can still find it here. That’s what makes Hollister unique.”
