Rally 2026: Event details just starting to emerge days before start

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With less than a week before the city hosts this year’s Hollister Independence Rally, city officials have kept their plans close to the vest. 

It wasn’t until June 30 that information about the iconic motorcycle gathering, which is set for July 3 and 4, was posted on the city’s website. The information includes road closures, the motorcycle route, and live music lineup.

However, a separate website that the city touts as the official rally website, still only provides a news release for the 2025 rally.

Meanwhile, City Manager Ana Cortez used her increased purchasing authority to quietly hire Citiguard Inc. for security services without the Hollister City Council’s formal approval in public session, unlike last year.  

And, the city will continue to use promoter Roadshows Inc. despite an apparent breach of contract for the 2025 rally after it failed to provide preliminary and final financial reports. 

This year’s contract with Roadshows was approved by the City Council in December 2025 in a 4-1 vote.

The city’s contract with security firm Citiguard for up to $219,999 is to provide “basic services” at the rally, including armed guards and mobile surveillance. The contract, which is dated May 26, was obtained by BenitoLink on June 29 after multiple requests to the city. It states that the fee for basic services does not include “contingency compensation” for additional costs. 

The City Council on April 6 unanimously increased Cortez’s purchasing authority to $220,000. She can now approve contracts below that limit without seeking approval from elected officials. The previous limit was $100,000.

Hollister Mayor Roxanne Stephens, who has claimed the rally could be an economic driver for local businesses and stated it would bring “millions and millions of dollars” into the local economy, did not immediately respond to BenitoLink’s request for comment. 

However, she sent a message on June 29 notifying BenitoLink of a meeting that evening where Airport Director Jeff Crechriou, who is now leading the city’s rally organizing effort, and Administrative Analyst Leah Calderon provided a map to local vendors showing the motorcycle route and closed roads for the rally.

This year’s rally comes on the heels of a San Benito County Civil Grand Jury report that criticized the lack of security planning for the 2025 rally. The grand jury found the city’s “short planning window” for the rally led to security issues and recommended the city hire a security company no less than six months prior to the event. The grand jury also found there was no clear financial reporting which outlined the rally’s expenses and revenues.

Following the 2025 rally, Hollister Police Chief Carlos Reynoso, whose department is in charge of rally security, reported safety challenges including a breakdown of communications and lack of necessary sworn officers and qualified security personnel. 

In his report he noted there were armed criminal gangs present at the 2025 rally, as well as illegal possession of weapons. 

Amid safety concerns following failed attempts in past years to recruit sworn officers to work the rally, Reynoso told BenitoLink the police department will have an increased presence throughout the weekend and confirmed that “a few” outside police agencies will provide an unspecified number of sworn officers. He said “the vast majority” of area law enforcement agencies are unable to offer assistance.

Prior to the 2025 rally, Hollister had not had a city-sanctioned event since 2017 because of those and other concerns, as well as the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Reynoso said he expects the rally to draw about 14,000 attendees for July 4, but noted it’s difficult to predict because the rally attendance is not based on ticket sales.

“Our goal is not simply enforcement, our goal is to help everyone get home safely at the end of the day,” he said. 

According to the Citiguard’s submitted proposal to the city dated Jan. 29, it has provided its services to events hosted by the Dirt Diggers Motorcycle Club, which holds races in Taft.

Citiguard’s proposal calls for providing up to 60 armed security officers, up to 40 unarmed officers, and dedicated supervisory personnel. Its proposal also states it can add more security guards with a 30-minute notice out of its San Jose regional office.

“Many of our officers come from military and law enforcement backgrounds and are extensively trained in de-escalation, crowd management, emergency response and public interaction—skills that are critical for high-density public events such as the Independence Motorcycle Rally,” the proposal states. 

Reynoso said nearly half of the security guards at the rally will be armed. 

In addition to the security guards, Citiguard’s proposal called for providing ID verification support, mobile surveillance camera trailers and radio systems.

After the 2025 rally, Reynoso reported concerns over communication failures, security guard’s lack of experience, and inability to speak English, which he said led to a failure to control armed criminal gangs, illegal weapons possession and the unlawful sale and distribution of alcohol in downtown Hollister during the rally.

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