Hollister’s Independence rally returns after 8 year break

HOLLISTER, Calif. (KION) — After an eight-year hiatus, the legendary Hollister Independence Rally is roaring back to life, bringing with it crowds, chrome, and a strong sense of community pride.

As engines thunder through the streets of downtown, both longtime attendees and first-time visitors are celebrating the return of an event many say is woven into the fabric of the city.

“This is so great that the City of Hollister is doing this again after so many years,” Steve Barclay from Chicago said.

“It's good to be back. I know it was shut down for a few years, so to have it back is good,” Daniel said.

“I was pretty upset about it. It was a staple for so many years,” Albert said.

The event was brought back in large part due to a shift in leadership and the community’s persistent voice. “It's part of their families, filled with nostalgia and filled with beloved memories. And so we listened to them and brought it back,” Hollister Mayor Roxanne Stephens said.

All across downtown, the familiar sounds of revving engines and live music are filling the air. Attendees say there's simply nothing quite like it. “We have different runs in Gilroy. They got the burrito run, but nothing quite as significant as this. It’s a good, peaceful way to get the community together to represent and celebrate the history of biker culture,” one rallygoer said.

One of the concerns during the rally’s absence had been safety. In past years, law enforcement had raised red flags over large groups of motorcycle clubs gathering in the area. “In the past, there were a lot of multi gangs or multi bike clubs, I should say, coming in. And so there was a lot of concerns about that,” Gail Rodriguez from Fresno said.

In response, the city brought in a new security contractor and additional law enforcement support to ensure this year’s rally goes smoothly. “We have a large event, so whenever we have a large event, we always have to bring in some extra security,” Roxanne Stephens said. “That’s why we have our contractor and we have some support from a few other law enforcement groups.”

Despite the past concerns, the energy on the streets this weekend is positive and enthusiastic. “I’ve been coming for years and years. Even when they didn’t have events, I’d still show up here. But it’s really nice to see vendors and more public out here. Because I needed it,” Gail Rodriguez said.

Vendors are also feeling the excitement. “We've been coming to the event before they canceled it in 2017. We were vending here for over a decade, over ten years,” Pablo Peters said. “Cities like this that are real small areas an event like this definitely helps increase the revenue for the city.”

With live bands, food, custom bikes, and thousands of riders flooding the streets, the rally is not just about motorcycles it’s about reviving a town’s spirit. “This is a moneymaker for them. I know a lot of the vendors, and shopkeepers here were disappointed when it shut down,” Albert said.

“This is going to be huge for the businesses in downtown Hollister. I mean, I go to Sturgis every year and pretty much a lot of the vendors and the shopkeepers there make their entire year's income from that rally,” Steve Barclay said.

For many, this isn’t just a fun weekend it’s a piece of Hollister’s identity. “It's real important, especially for motorcyclists and the history of Hollister,” Gail Rodriguez said.

“I really hope that the City of Hollister keeps doing this,” Steve Barclay said.