SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO, Calif. – Mission San Juan Capistrano has announced the dates for its 2013 “2-for-1 Celebrating Communities Program,” inviting Orange County residents to visit Mission San Juan Capistrano with a 2-for-1 admission price special.
Eligible residents who purchase an adult admission to the Mission may bring in one guest free of charge. Proof of residency (driver’s license, utility bill, etc.) is required.
Celebrating Communities days are held on the first Friday of each month for selected cities. Below is a list of specific Celebrating Communities days information.
Friday, January 4, 2013 – Capistrano Beach/Dana Point/San Clemente
Friday, February 1, 2013 – Laguna Beach/Laguna Niguel/Monarch Beach
Friday, March 1, 2013 – Coto de Caza/Foothill Ranch/Seal Beach/Trabuco Canyon
Friday, May 3, 2013 – Ladera Ranch/Mission Veijo/Villa Park
Friday, June 7, 2013 – Cypress/Garden Grove/Westminster
Friday, July 12, 2013 – Fullerton/Los Alamitos/Orange/Santa Ana
Friday, August 2, 2013 – Brea/La Habra/Fountain Valley/Huntington Beach
Friday, September 6, 2013 – Anaheim/Anaheim Hills/Irvine/Newport Beach/Stanton
Friday, October 4, 2013 – Aliso Viejo/Lake Forest/Yorba Linda
Friday, November 1, 2013 – Foothill Ranch/Las Flores/Rancho Santa Margarita
Friday, December 6, 2013 – Laguna Hills/Laguna Woods/Tustin
Every Wednesday is 2-for-1 admission day for San Juan Capistrano residents.
MISSION’S LEON RENE ROOM GETS A MAKEOVER
SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO, Calif. — For many, the sentimental hit “When the Swallows Come Back to Capistrano” was their first introduction to the story of the annual return of the cliff swallows to Mission San Juan Capistrano. Written in 1939 by songwriter Leon René, the song has been performed by numerous artists ranging from Pat Boone to Elvis Presley. Several versions of the song have even reached top-slots on music charts.
Mission San Juan Capistrano honors the man who put them on the map in a small exhibit at the west end of their administration building. While the Leon René Music Room has long been a fixture at the Mission, this November it was re-designed to better tell the story of the famous song.
The Leon René Music Room features artifacts generously donated by the René family and includes the songwriter’s piano, photographs, and sheet music for the famous song as well as new interpretative panels and lighting.
The Mission hopes to introduce younger listeners to this iconic song that has played an important part in the Mission’s history and popularity.
About Mission San Juan Capistrano:
Known as the “Jewel of the Missions,” Mission San Juan Capistrano is a historic landmark and museum that boasts of quality permanent exhibits featuring original artifacts as well as traveling and temporary exhibits on a wide variety of topics.
The site itself serves as a living outdoor museum with original buildings constructed by Native Americans in the 18th century including the Serra Chapel, Great Stone Church, and the original padres’ quarters of the South Wing.
The Mission was founded on November 1, 1776 by Padre Junipero Serra as the seventh in the chain of the twenty-one California missions established by Spain, and is Orange County’s only mission. Every year, over 50,000 students visit the Mission and engage in an inspirational learning experience via the Mission Matters programming, as part of their State required California history studies.
Mission San Juan Capistrano is owned by the Diocese of Orange and is supported by the Mission Preservation Foundation, which is comprised of business and community leaders committed to ensuring the long term preservation and viability of Orange County’s only Mission. The Mission receives no funding from either the Church or the State of California and charges admission funds as a means of providing public access.
Mission San Juan Capistrano is located at 26801 Ortega Highway, San Juan Capistrano, CA 92675. Open Daily 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Closed Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Good Friday afternoon. Admission is $9 adults; $8 seniors (60 years or over); $6 children (ages 4 to 11); and children ages 3 and under are admitted free. Free audio guide with senior and adult admission. For more information, call (949) 234-1300 or visit www.missionsjc.com.
