Trailerfest rallies are known for hosting 200-300 trailers, having fantastic live music events, a busting open house, hot rods, food trucks and all kinds of fun. The virus has affected many rallies and group events this year. Most have been cancelled altogether and others have had their numbers greatly reduced. Understandably,  some people have opted to NOT attend these events. Others are willing to work within the guidelines and restrictions laid out by the county/state to get together and camp with friends.

The rally in Hollister, CA this August originally had 150 trailers signed up to attend. The western themed event was to have our usual potlucks, pancake breakfast and Johnny Cash tribute band. Covid restrictions would only allow us to camp, in every other campsite, and we could not host group events.

We dealt with the Covid restrictions, changed our itinerary to comply with the county/city guidelines and offered those with health concerns to cancel their reservations. There were many cancellations and the attendance dropped to about half. 75 trailers is still a good sized get together and those that felt safe going were excited to get together with friends after being quarantined for months.

Just when we thought it couldn't get any worse, Northern California was struck with multiple wildfires. As fate would have it, one fire was to the West of our rally and one to the North. The fires began on the 18th of August and were still only 35% contained when we arrived to Hollister on the 27th. A Cal-Fire Chief refereed to the SCU Lightning Complex Fire as a "mega-fire". By the time we had left on Sunday the fire had consumed over 378,000 acres and was about 50% contained.

Prior to the start of the rally we contacted everyone and gave them the choice of coming to the rally or receiving a refund. two-thirds cancelled. With only about 25 trailers coming, the original itinerary had to be scrapped. Those that did attend the camp out received a partial refund since there was no live band as advertised. We practiced social distancing and many commented on how nice it was to get to know people that they had only seen in passing at larger events.

There was no open house but we did have a beautiful, original Covered Wagon and period correct Hudson tow rig  on display. The Casa De Fruta park is open for you to enjoy. The onsite restaurants and ice cream shop offers outdoor dining and the Mexican food counter, in the service station near the entry to the park, delivered some mean nachos. The weather was very pleasant, in the low 80s, and amazingly clearer skies than most people had at home. (Many of us live in areas where the smoke from all of the fires is extremely thick.) We were glad we made the trip and we were able to "camp with our people". We look forward to the big Trailerfest rallies that we are accustomed to, but maybe attending even more of the smaller trailer gatherings where we have the opportunity to connect more with friends.

Bigger isn't necessarily better, especially if you are planning on it. Planning on 150 and adjusting down to 24 is not fun for anyone. Pick a date, pick a time, and go camping with some friends. If you would like others to come, post your gathering in the Vintage Camper Trailers Magazine by announcing it on www.vintagetrailerrallies.com

1. DRIVE THROUGH OPEN HOUSE
Rene and Jeremy from Down River Vintage Trailer Restoration, host the Mt. Baker Rally in Washington and shared this with us in an email…
...I have updated all our information on Period Events. Our dates have shortened, the location has changed, and we will require a pre-registration.  “Open” house is a drive-through ONLY, and folks will be required to remain in their vehicles to drive through the park to view the trailers from the outside only, no exceptions. Saturday, September 12, 2020 12-4 pm. (We love this idea!)

4. FOOD TO GO
Terry Prentkowski, host of the 2020 Silver Avion Fellowship Rally in Elkhart, IN,  shared how they were able to serve food. Terry and his crew prepared the food in a sanitized commercial kitchen.  While the rec hall typically would have tables set for eight, this year more tables were used and only four people sat at each table.  One table at a time was called to the buffet where they were given gloves to wear while going through the line.  Gloves were deposited in the trash at the end of the buffet.  Hand sanitizer was also available at both ends of the buffet.  For breakfast, all items were individually wrapped or in single serving size containers.

At the rally last weekend, Trailers in the Trees in Felton, CA,  the host, Penny Cotter, contacted the local pizza place and set up a delivery time to the campground.  Campers were able to call in and pay for their personal orders and then they were delivered all at one time.  Clever!
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Our 17-year-old son likes to remind us that food delivery service is also a valid option while camping.  It is an easy way to add some variety to your menu without leaving the campground or cooking!

For our rally in Hollister, August 27-30, 2020, we plan on serving doughnuts and coffee.  We will have masked and gloved servers hand the doughnuts out along with host filled cups of coffee and single serve coffee creamers and sugar.  We will also ask the doughnut shop not to mix the doughnut types up as is typical.  We will try to keep all the maple bars together… no digging through food to find that perfect doughnut.  It is hard to believe how we pawed through food just a short time ago.  Some changes are good! 
 
Rallies look different this year but having safe connection with fellow Trailerites makes the effort worthwhile.   We love our friends in the camping world and we were happy to see that folks were respectful of one another’s personal space.  Be safe and we will see you camping!