FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
THE SAN BENITO COUNTY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE & FOUNDATION
TO HOST THE CITY OF HOLLISTER’S SESQUICENTENNIAL
CLOSING CEREMONY GALA
June 8, 2022
Hollister, CA
The San Benito County Chamber of Commerce & Foundation is excited to announce that it will be organizing the City of Hollister’s 150 Years closing ceremonies Gala. The 150 Years Gala will be the culmination of a series of events organized by the City of Hollister’s 150 Year Committee. The Gala will be a formal event that will take place on Saturday, August 6, 2022 from 5pm to 10pm at the Veterans Memorial Building and will be a ticketed event open to the public for purchase beforehand. Ticket sales will be going on sale soon at $100 per person to celebrate this momentous occasion.
The SBC Chamber & Foundation are currently undergoing the planning and marketing stages of the event with details to be released shortly. We are currently accepting sponsorships for this event that will give businesses and organizations a wide array of prominent brand and logo recognition opportunities during the commemoration of Hollister’s 150 year anniversary.
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The 150 Year Committee is planning a series of events throughout the summer leading up to the 150 Years Gala on August 6th.
A Fireworks Show will be held on July 4th at Maze Middle school starting at 9pm. Doors will open at 7:00pm.
On July 9th, there will be an Arts & Cultural Day featuring a Paint & Sip Paint Party with two (2) available sessions to choose from, followed by a variety of cultural dances throughout the day and in the evening, a live band (Latin Heat) for some fun dancing on the street.
On July 16th, the Hollister Downtown Association will hold a Street Festival
On July 23rd, Hollister’s Recreation Department will have a Fun Run with different games and activities at various parks throughout Hollister.
A Beautification Day will also take place on July 30th in an effort to beautify and clean up the city followed by a Family Fun Night downtown with games and family activities.
Finally, on August 6th, the official anniversary date for the City of Hollister, there will be a downtown parade in the morning, carnival games, and will culminate with the 150 Years Gala featuring a cocktail hour followed by a plated dinner, recognitions, proclamations, and music.
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The City of Hollister will celebrate its sesquicentennial anniversary in true Hollister fashion, commemorating 150 years of establishment since 1872.
Some history for the community regarding the city of Hollister and its formal incorporation:
The City of Hollister was named for Colonel W.W. Hollister who drove the first flock of sheep across the continent and acquired Spanish Land Grants with Rancho San Justo in San Benito County (Rancho San Justo) and Santa Barbara County (San Marcos). At the first town meeting, a dispute arose over its name. It was suggested that it be called San Justo but one person protested very strongly against adding another saint’s name to the list of potential city names in California–therefore rejecting San Justo. As a result, the city of Hollister was formally established on August 6, 1872.
Hollister has two National Historic Districts – the Downtown and the Monterey Street residential district. The variation of architectural styles in our Old Town Hollister is a visual treat. Our 100 year old airport also has a place in history. Everest Turner converted a pasture used for flying to ‘Turner Field’ in the 1920s for a new business of crop dusting that expanded to mail carrier aircraft and recreational flight. The United States Navy took control of Turner Field in the 1940s. The airport was used to train pilots in ground attacks and the base was expanded to encompass 210 acres by 1945. The City of Hollister acquired the airfield after World War II. Today pilots enjoy Hollister’s favorable climate for flight. The 343 acre general aviation airport is a national center for historic aircraft restoration, houses private collections of vintage aircraft, and home to an annual airshow, the base for Cal Fire operations, skydiving and hang gliding.
For more information regarding Hollister’s 150 Years Gala, contact Eduardo Navarro, Executive Director or Michelle Leonard, CEO/President.
Eduardo Navarro, Executive Director
San Benito County Chamber of Commerce Foundation
831.637.5315
243 Sixth Street, Suite 100
Hollister, CA 95023
Michelle Leonard, CEO/President
San Benito County Chamber of Commerce
831.637.5315
243 Sixth Street, Suite 100
Hollister, CA 95023
