Hollister approves the return of the biker rally.

The Hollister Independence Rally is scheduled to make its comeback during the Fourth of July weekend, marking its first appearance in town since 2017.

At the meeting on January 7, the city council reached a unanimous decision to approve and sanction the motorcycle rally scheduled for 2025 in downtown Hollister. City Manager David Mirrione is in talks with the promoter, Roadshows, Inc., to finalize a contract for organizing the event. 

Mayor Roxanne Stephens expressed her enthusiasm following the council's decision, stating, “We’re thrilled to be moving closer to reviving our beloved Independence Rally tradition. Hollister is recognized globally for this event, and it’s clear that the majority of our residents are in favor of it. We’re optimistic about making this a reality for the community.”

City officials estimate that hosting this year's Independence Rally will cost the municipality as much as $300,000. This expenditure is anticipated to deplete the city's budget, leaving insufficient funds to organize the traditional Fourth of July fireworks display. 

Nevertheless, Stephens mentioned that the city is continuing to "look into alternative options to support the July 4 fireworks display" alongside the motorcycle rally. 

City officials will keep the council informed in the upcoming months regarding contract discussions and various operational factors—such as safety—pertaining to the Independence Rally. 

Since the city began officially sponsoring it in 1997, Hollister's annual Independence Day motorcycle rally in downtown has attracted significant numbers of bikers and onlookers during the summer holiday. The origins of the rally can be traced back over 70 years, beginning as a casual meet-up organized by the local biker community in Hollister. 

Once a yearly tradition, the most recent official rally event occurred in 2017. Since then, a combination of financial issues and the Covid-19 pandemic has disrupted efforts to organize another rally. 

In 2022, the residents of Hollister decisively supported Measure T, an advisory proposition that inquired whether they wished to see the Independence Rally return to the downtown area during the Fourth of July weekend. The measure received a strong endorsement, with 63% of voters in favor. 

A large number of residents gathered at the council meeting on January 7 to voice their enthusiasm for the upcoming 2025 Independence Rally. Those from the community who addressed the council were unanimously in favor of the city endorsing the event. 

Rally enthusiasts highlighted the event's clear economic benefits for local enterprises and emphasized the perks of maintaining a well-established tradition that attracts attendees from beyond Hollister. 

Mike Corbin, the founder of Corbin Motorcycle Saddles located in Hollister, expressed his gratitude to the council for their consideration of hosting a rally in 2025. 

Corbin remarked, "The previous motorcycle rallies in Hollister were all organized with a strong sense of cooperation." 

Corbin and other analysts remarked that the city should not anticipate significant turnout for this year's rally, primarily due to the limited time available for organizing and advertising the event ahead of July 4.