Here Comes the Parade!

Tomorrow evening (Thursday, June 26, 2014) at around 6:15 PM, the 81st San Benito County Saddle Horse Show and Rodeo begins with its annual parade down San Benito Street.

For details about the three-day event (Friday through Sunday), head over to the San Benito County Saddle Horse Show and Rodeo website.

Festa do Espirito Santo

2010 Festa do Espirito Santo
Click here to see more photos

This weekend, June 6 and 7, will be the Festa do Espirito Santo (The Holy Ghost Festival), an event that the Portuguese American community of San Benito County holds every year. This traditional Portuguese festival is celebrated by Portuguese communities throughout the world on Pentecost Sunday.

The celebration honors the life of Queen Isabella, the wife of King Denis who ruled Portugal in the late 1200s. At the time, a severe drought caused widespread famine. According to one story, Queen Isabella snuck out food from the palace to feed the people. One day, with her apron full of bread, King Denis stopped her and demanded to see what she was hiding in her apron. She opened it to show red roses, which was considered a miracle because it wasn't the season for roses. From that point, Queen Isabella decided to have masses to maintain the faith of the people through the bad times. On Pentecost Sunday, ships sailed into the Lisbon harbor full of of grain for everyone.

The local Festa do Espirito Santo will begin Saturday night, 8:30 PM to 12:30 AM, with a dance and the crowning of Queen Isabella at the SDES Portuguese Hall on 695 Seventh Street. The following morning, the annual parade will start at 10 AM in front of the hall. The parade will go up Seventh St. to San Benito Street, turn at Fifth Street and head down to the Sacred Heart Church. A traditional mass will be held, including the serving of complimentary sopas. After the mass, the festival will continue at the hall. 

Best Entries of the 2013 Lights On Celebration Parade

It was a huge turnout for this year's Lights On Celebration Parade, put on by the Hollister Downtown Association.  Did you go? What was your favorite float?

This morning, the Hollister Downtown Association announced the winning floats:

Best of Parade:  Hollister Dual Language Academy
Best Use of Lighting: Alves Collision Center
Best Use of Theme (A Family Tradition): Girl Scouts of America Service Unit
Best Community Group: Folklorico Juvenil de Hollister
Best Drill/Dance Group:  West Coast Music & Dance

To see more photos of the parade, click here. It will take you to the 2013 Lights On Celebration Parade album on Take 25 to Hollister's Facebook wall. You don't need to be be signed up to Facebook, or even be a member, to view the album.

The 23rd Annual Lights On Celebration

This Saturday, November 30, 2013, is the 23rd Annual Lights On Celebration, organized and hosted by the Hollister Downtown Association. It's an all day event, from 10 AM to 8:30 PM, which includes a Holiday Boutique, live entertainment, and the traditional Lights On parade.

Lights On Parade
The year's theme for the parade is A Family Tradition. Beginning at 5:30 PM, the parade starts at the corner of San Benito and Haydon Streets and will end at Fifth and San Benito Streets. The review stand will be in front of the Veterans' Memorial Building.

Holiday Boutique
The Holiday Boutique at the Veterans' Memorial Building will feature about 56 vendors. Opening at 10 AM, the boutique will offer a wide variety of products, from foods to candles, soaps, purses, jewelry, plants, and unique local handcrafted items. Some of the vendors will be Silpada Designs Jewelry, Vista Notes, M&M Plants, Origami Owl, Pampered Chef, Gaia's Cottage, Designs by Juli Ann, and East-West Fashion.

Local artist Kathleen Sheridan will be on hand to sell and sign her book, Jaime the Elf, the beloved character who Santa gave the task of lighting downtown Hollister.

Family Toy and Canned Food Drive
The American Legion Post 69 will accept donations of canned food and wrapped toys throughout the day in front of the Veterans' Memorial Building. The donations will be distributed to families in need within our community. Post 69 will have coffee, hot chocolate, and cookies on hand to give to contributors.

Live Entertainment
Several things are scheduled throughout the day at the Veterans' Memorial Building Plaza.
11 AM to noon: Smith Alley
noon to 1: Mr. O's Jazz Band
1 to 2: Almad de Mexico Mariachi's
2 to 3:30: David Huboi and the Architecturals
3:30 to 4: United Way's 2-1-1 Kick-off

San Benito Street Youth Performances
Youth performers will be featured in the afternoon at the Veterans' Memorial Building
4:15: San Benito High School
4:30: Animation Dance Community
4:45: West Coast Martial Arts
5:00: West Coast Music & Dance FX

If you miss any of the youth groups, then check them out at the Fifth Street Stage where they will repeat their performances.
4:30: San Benito High School
4:45: Animation Dance Community
5:00: West Coast Martial Arts
5:15: West Coast Music & Dance FX

For More Information
Head over to this page at the Hollister Downtown Association web site for more details about the Lights On Celebration. There, you can find a list of participating vendors at the Holiday Boutique,  a map of the parade route, when and where you can have your kids take a photo with Santa and Mrs. Claus, and more.

See you there!

2013 Veterans Day Activities in Hollister

2013 Mexican Independence Day Parade

Yesterday by happen chance, I learned that the Mexican Independence Day was going to take place in  historical Downtown Hollister,  so I jumped on my bicycle and pedaled over.  It was a beautiful day for a parade.

Although a short parade, it was quite festive, watching the horsemen and horsewomen, the youngsters, dancers, musicians, and, politicans march their way down San Benito Street. For more photos of the parade, head over to Take 25's album on Facebook.

Today, September 16, is actually Mexican Independence Day. On September 16, 1810,  Mexico declared itself free of Spain and hence began the Mexican War of Independence. For a summary of El Grito de Independencia, check out this Wikipedia article.

Happy, Happy Fourth of July!

I saw the sweetest parade ever in Hollister. How sweet? I started crying as the last participants filed by me. I'm so glad I decided to pedal down to Memorial Drive for the Fourth of July Kiddie Parade.
 

Uncle Sam in all his  glory led a long line of kids and their parents along Memorial Drive, from the corner of Hillcrest Road to Marguerite Maze School on Meridian Street. A summer camp marching band brilliantly played. Parents pushed their babies in strollers and pulled their toddlers in wagons. Tiny and not-so-tiny kids pedaled their big wheels, tricycles, and bicycles and pushed  along on their scooters. And, of course, there were the parade marchers of all ages. It was just all so cute!

The parade was short. Ten minutes, if that. But, all that preciousness made my Fourth-of-July Day. Thank you, all parade participants, for putting the smile in my heart today.

Happy Independence Day to us all!

Waiting for the Parade

The 2013 San Benito County Saddle Horse Show and Rodeo Parade last Thursday evening was a great one. Lots of beautiful horses clippity-clopped, as well as horseless carriages, old and new, tootled down San Benito Street. You can see some photos at the San Benito County Saddle Horse Show and Rodeo Facebook page. Once I have a chance, I'll post some photos up.

Speaking of parades, the annual Fourth of July Kiddie Parade will begin at 10 a.m. on Thursday. The parade starts in the commuter parking lot at the corner of Memorial Drive and Hillcrest Road, and goes along Memorial Drive to Marguerite Maze Middle School on Meridian Street. Children of all ages are welcome to participate in the parade. Dogs or motorized vehicles are not allowed. The parade is co-sponsored by the City of Hollister and the San Benito County Chamber of Commerce and Visitors Bureau.

And, before I forget, the annual Fourth of July fireworks display will take place at Marguerite Maze Middle School at dusk.

Oh, and I almost forgot to mention (l shall blame this heat wave for memory lapses.) that Friday, July 5, and Saturday, July 6 will be the Hollister Rally in historical downtown Hollister.

80th San Benito County Saddle Horse Show and Rodeo

It's that time of year again, folks. It's the weekend of the San Benito County Saddle Horse Show and Rodeo!

Festivities start off this evening at 6:15 p.m. with the traditional parade down historical downtown Hollister.

For details  about the Saddle Horse Show and Rodeo, click here.

P is for Parade

Hands up: Who loves a parade?

Hollister is the place to be then. We have the:

Portuguese Festival Parade
San Benito County Saddle Horse Show and Rodeo Parade
Mexican Independence Day Parade
Hollister High Homecoming Parade
Veterans Day Parade
Lights On Celebration Parade

I'm going through the alphabet this month as part of the A to Z Blogging Challenge. If you'd like to check out other bloggers, please click here.

Bikers on Parade

Several times each year, San Benito Street gets closed for a few hours for a parade. In at least three parades, we can count on seeing bikers take part—the Saddle Horse Show and Rodeo Parade in June  and the Veterans Day Parade and the Lights on Celebration Parade in November.

February 18 to 24 theme for Take 25 to Hollister: Bikers, Motorcycles, and Hollister 

An Evening of Joy and Fun

The 2012 Lights On Celebration Parade was last Saturday (November 24). It was a perfect evening—just enough crispness and bite in the air to think yep, the holiday season is upon us. Thank you, Hollister Downtown Association, for another wonderful job planning, organizing, and making the parade happen for us all.

My most favorite parts in the parade were the kiddies pumping away on their tricycles decorated with lights. It made me wish I was just as young as them so I could pedal a tricycle along the parade route. I thought one of the coolest-of-cool floats was Save Mart's entry—a gigantic shopping cart. What was your favorite float or part of the parade?

Maybe next year, the Husband and I will think about getting down there early enough to put up some chairs. We drove down San Benito Street earlier in the day and saw chairs set up along the curb all the way down to Hawkins Street.

And, maybe next year, I'll have a camera that can take clean, crisp photos at night.  I've put together an album at the Take 25 to Hollister Facebook page of my better shots of the parade. Here's the link. Enjoy. 

2012 Lights On Celebration

The 2011 Lights On Celebration Parade

This year's Lights On Celebration is this Saturday, November 24, in downtown Hollister. Are you ready to have some fun?

The event starts at 10 a.m. and goes on until 8 p.m.  Activities are planned at the Veterans Memorial Building and at the North Pole (the lawn at the corner of San Benito and Fourth Streets). There'll be a variety of performances throughout the day by bell ringers, dancers, bands, and others. 

The Jaime's Toy & Canned Food Drive Car Show is on from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The entrance is at Brown Alley and Monterey Street. Cost of admission is a new toy (unwrapped) or canned food.

At 5:30 p.m., the Lights on Celebration Parade will make its way down San Benito Street. Whoo-hoo.

To download a schedule of events, head over to this Hollister Downtown Association page. If you'd like to see photos from the 2010 and 2011 parades, head over to the Take 25 to Hollister Facebook page and click on the albums.

2012 Veterans Day Parade

Yesterday (Sunday) was the annual Veterans Day Parade through downtown Hollister. It was a beautiful day to pay tribute to the brave and generous men and women who served in the U.S. military forces.

To see more photos of the parade, click here to go to the album at Take 25 to Hollister's Facebook page.

© 2012 Su-sieee! Mac. All rights reserved. www.take25tohollister.com

November 10–11 2012 Weekend

Just in case you haven't heard, here are three events taking place this weekend.

Mommy and Me, Art and Tea

On Saturday afternoon, November 10, children and their parents (Moms and/or Dads) can participate in a hands-on art project event at the Blak Sage Gallery (727 San Benito Street). The free event is from noon to 5 p.m. Cookies and tea will be served. The fun family affair fete is sponsored by the San Benito County Arts Council. For more info, call 831-636-2787 or check out this Facebook link.

Sounds of Brass Concert

The Pacific Brass Band will hold its 12th annual benefit concert this Saturday, November 10, 2 p.m., at Rancho San Justo Middle School (1201 Rancho Drive). This British-style brass band is composed of musicians from San Benito, Monterey, Santa Cruz, and Santa Clara counties. The concert is sponsored by the local YMCA  and Mr. O's Save the Music Drive.

Proceeds of the concert will benefit the Hollister elementary school music program and the Hollister middle school sports program.

Admission tickets: $25 per family (up to to persons), $5 for seniors, and $5 for students. Children 12 and under are free if accompanied by paid adults. Tickets may be purchased before the concert at the YMCA of San Benito County, Mr. O’s Academy, Postal Graphics,  and Ace Hardware.

Veterans Day Parade

This year's Veterans Day Parade will take place in downtown Hollister on Sunday November 11 at  1:30 p.m.

The Veterans Day celebration will begin at 11:11 a.m.  at the Veterans Memorial Building with  a moment-of-silence observation for our deceased Veterans. A BBQ lunch will be available at noon. The day's event will also have a resource fair for Veterans. A military flyover is slated to take place before the parade.

Scheduled earlier on Sunday is the annual Veterans Day Breakfast,  hosted by San Benito County LULAC, at the  San Benito High School Cafeteria. Breakfast will be served from  7 a.m. to noon. State Assembly member Luis Alejo will be a guest speaker at the breakfast.

Breakfast is $8, with proceeds benefiting the 2013 LULAC scholarship fund. For further information, call  831-673-1977.

© 2012 Su-sieee! Mac. All rights reserved. www.take25tohollister.com

2012 SBHS Homecoming Parade

Some say Hollister High.

Others say San Benito High School.

In my day, it was San Benito Joint Union High School. Quite a mouthful, yep.

Yesterday afternoon was the Homecoming Parade. I don't recall the last time I saw one. Most likely my senior year. I have to say, I almost felt like crying. It must come with being older.

For more photos, check out the Homecoming Parade album at Take 25 to Hollister Facebook page.

© 2012 Su-sieee! Mac. All rights reserved. www.take25tohollister.com

100 Things I Like: The Lights On Celebration Parade

2010 Lights On Celebration Parade

The 21st annual Lights On Celebration Parade will be next Saturday, November 26, 2011, in downtown Hollister. Sparkle, sparkle. Dear readers, take note, this year, the Lights On Celebration is a whole day and evening event, culminating with the parade.

10:30 AM to 8:30 PM: Holiday Boutique, Veterans Memorial Building
During the day: Holiday Car Show
4:30 PM:  Pre-parade Entertainment
5:30 PM: The Parade
Post-parade Time: Photos with Mr. and Mrs. Santa Claus

Thank you, Hollister Downtown Association, for putting this all together for our town!

For more 100 Things I Like About Living in Hollister, click on that link.

2011 Veterans Day Parade

Thank you, Veterans of the U.S. military, one and all, for your service to protect us and our democracy!

Yesterday was a cold and windy day. But, that didn't stop this year's Veterans Day Parade. For more parade photos, click over to the photo album at Take 25's Facebook page.

100 Things I Like: The Veterans Day Parade

Veterans Day Parade, 2010

The 9th annual Veterans Day Parade will take place in downtown Hollister this Friday, November 11, at 1:30 p.m. To learn more about the parade, including its history. head over to this page at the Veterans Coalition of San Benito County Web site.

For more 100 Things I Like About Living in Hollister, click on that link.

100 Things I Like: The Hollister Haybalers

Haybalers—Balers, for short—is the nickname for San Benito High School, aka Hollister High School. The most coolest high school nickname around. But, then, being a former Baler, I am quite biased. Want to know more about the unique nickname? Click here to read a Sports Illustrated article written in 1986 by Bruce Anderson, also a former Baler.
By the way, the Baler Homecoming Parade is this Friday afternoon, October 28. As always, it'll start at the high school and make its way to downtown Hollister. According to the high school Web site, it'll begin around 2 p.m.

For more 100 Things I Like About Living in Hollister, click on that link.