What is next for Hollister Independence Rally?
What does 2018 hold for the Fourth of July week in Hollister?
The City Council voted 3-2 back in March to cancel this year’s Independence Rally, citing issues with the event’s promoter.
Local people and businesses are still going full-throttle, taking it upon themselves to show the biking world Hollister is still the place to be, organizing a non-sanctioned rally.
“These (local organizers) are just the die-hard people. And whether the city sanctions it or not, we know the bikers are coming,” Christy Howe, said. Howe started the Facebook page “Hollister Rally Revival” after issues with the 2011 event. She says she is the annual traditions “biggest cheerleader.”
With a similar situation unfolding in 2018, Howe used the page to help drum up support for an unofficial rally with events across the city.
“Unfortunately we’re not doing it quite the way it used to be, this year, but we are doing it in the spirit and heritage of the Hollister Rally,” Howe said.
However, this can mean challenges for officials. “Unsanctioned is a little more wild card,” Hollister Mayor Ignacio Velazquez said. “The Police Department has a pretty good plan put in place.”
Hollister Police Chief David Westrick tells KION they are still staffing up, but no road closures are expected. “We’ve been prepared whether there’s a sanctioned event, or not,” Westrick said.
Mayor Ignacio Velazquez is a supporter of the rally. He now sees this as a re-tooling year, and shares a similar vision as Howe – moving the rally to local non-profit hands. “Next year, hopefully, get a non-profit group to take control and make it permanent. That’s really the goal.”
This year the bill is being footed not by the city or promoter, but by the businesses hosting each of the events. The main events will be the Friday-Sunday after July 4th. There will be live music at downtown bars and the veterans hall, along with a Poker Run and motorcycle demos, and Corbin Motorcycle Seats & Accessories is celebrating their 50th anniversary.
