Annual Street Festival, Car Show & Chili Cook-Off July 15

The Hollister Downtown Association’s 31st annual Street Festival, Car Show and Chili Cook Off will take place on Saturday, July 15 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in downtown Hollister. The event began as a giant sidewalk sale that featured free watermelon for attendees. 

For the past 25 years, it has featured a car show with more than 200 cars and trucks. An expected 8,000 festival goers will descend upon downtown to catch up with friends and family while admiring the vehicles on display. 

Proud owners will tell the history of their cars while allowing pictures to be taken by the interested attendees.  From muscle cars to low-riders, exotic European vehicles to trucks, there is a style and color for everyone to enjoy. Vendors will line up along Seventh Street between San Benito and Monterey streets, bringing items such as shave ice, kettle corn and baked potatoes. 

The HDA will have a raffle table and event shirts will be available for purchase in the vendor area. The festival will feature live bands, including Bobby Love & Sugar Sweet and The Flashbacks, on two stages along San Benito Street. The kids’ area will encompass the 400 block, complete with bounce houses and face painting. 

For the third year in a row, the HDA has partnered with the Hollister Firefighters Union to add a chili cook-off to round out the 400 block fun.

Last year’s best of show car was a bright red 1974 De Tomaso Pantera GTS owned by Bruce Himebauch from San Juan Bautista. It is featured on this year’s poster and T-shirts.  

Car owners interested in participating in our event can register online or by download an application to  print out or stop by the HDA office at 514 Monterey St. 

Stay in touch with the latest on this event on the Facebook event page or by following the HDA on Twitter or Instagram.