The annual San Benito County Saddle Horse Show Parade through downtown Hollister on June 25 featured dozens of floats from community organizations. Hundreds of people lined the street for blocks as the parade passed through the historic district for more than an hour Thursday night. BenitoLink photographer Lisa Robinson-Ward was on hand to capture images of the beloved tradition.
The parade, sponsored by the San Benito County Chamber of Commerce and Visitors Bureau,  included horses, elementary and high school bands, cheerleaders, youth sports organizations, local politicians and Saddle Horse Show royalty.
Here are the winners among the parade entrants, as announced by the Chamber of Commerce:
First PlaceÂ
Best Theme: Union Bank
Most Creative: A&N Plumbing
Equestrian Mounted Groups: Armando Gonzalez
Equestrian Single or Small Group: B&C Farms & Jerry & Diane Cooley
Best Children’s Group: Folklorico Juvenil de Hollister
Best Non-Profit Group: Women’s Club of Hollister
Best Musical Group: The Scarlet Regiment Band
Best Performance Group Children: Rancho-Maze Middle School Band
Best Performance Group Teen: San Benito High School Cheerleaders
Best 4-H Group: San Juan 4-H
Second Place
Equestrian Singles or Small Groups: Cisco Jim
Equestrian Mounted Groups: California Historical Artillery Society
Children & Adult Group: YMCA
Non-Profit Group: Native Daughters of the Golden West
Musical Group: Watsonville Band
Performance Group – Children: Hollister Elementary School Band
Performance Group Teens & Adults: San Benito Stage Company
Friday kicks off a three-day weekend full of rodeo events at Bolado Park, south of Tres Pinos. Here’s the schedule:
FRIDAY, JUNE 26, BOLADO PARK FAIRGROUNDS
8 a.m. Class Eliminations (free)
3 p.m. Western Art & Tack Show (free)
5 p.m. No-Host Wine & Cheese Reception
7 p.m.Rodeo and Horse Show, reserved seating: Adults $7; Toddlers through 11 years old $4
SATURDAY, JUNE 27, BOLADO PARK FAIRGROUNDS
9:30 a.m. Halter Horses in the Paddock area (free)
10 a.m. Cattle Sorting & Mixed Ribbon Roping Slack Performance (free)Â
11 a.m.Western Art & Tack Show (free)
1:30 p.m. Rodeo and Horse Show, reserved seating: Adults $10; Toddlers through 11 years old $4.
5 p.m. Family Barbecue on the patio: Adults $20 – Kids 6-12 $5 under 6 free. Mansmith’s will be barbecuing.
SUNDAY, JUNE 28, BOLADO PARK FAIRGROUNDS
8 a.m. Stock Horse Class eliminations (free)
11 a.m. Western Art & Tack Show (free)
1:30 p.m. Rodeo and Horse Show, reserved seating: Adults $10; Toddlers through 11 years old $4
OTHER ATTRACTIONS INCLUDE:
- Kids Corral at the North Grandstand Area
- Association Museum
For more information, visit the Saddle Horse Show and Rodeo website.
For more photos from the parade, visit BenitoLink’s Facebook page.