January 22, 2010
San Juan Capistrano, Calif. –The Fiesta de las Golondrinas season includes a series of community events which all lead up to the 52nd Swallows Day Parade to be held on March 20, 2010 in downtown San Juan Capistrano. Fiesta de las Golondrinas, meaning Festival of the Swallows, activities pay tribute to the annual return of the swallows and San Juan Capistrano’s Spanish and western heritage.
One of the nation’s largest non-motorized parades, the Swallows Day Parade will feature over 100 parade entries including approximately 500 horses in various equestrian entries, high school, junior high and military marching bands, folkloric dancers, historical reenactments and local community groups.
Longtime San Juan Capistrano resident Wyatt Hart will serve as the grand marshal and this year’s parade is dedicated to the memory of Richard O’Neill. Another special parade guest is Michael Lewis, the first client of The J.F. Shea Therapeutic Riding Center.
The Fiesta de Las Golondrinas is tied to the legendary return of the swallows to the Mission San Juan Capistrano on St. Joseph’s Day, March 19th. The square-tailed cliff swallows spend the summer in San Juan Capistrano and leave in late October to travel 6000 miles for a winter in Goya, Argentina.
The San Juan Capistrano Fiesta Association is an all-volunteer organization that manages and produces the annual Swallows Day Parade and other Fiesta de las Golondrinas events throughout the year. A nonprofit, nonpolitical organization, the Fiesta Association is led by a board of directors and is entirely self-funded through donations and various fundraising activities.
2010 Fiesta de las Golondrinas Events
Taste of San Juan – Wednesday, February 17, 6:00 – 9:00 p.m., El Adobe Restaurant, 31891 Camino Capistrano, San Juan Capistrano. The Taste of San Juan brings together local restaurants for food, music, drinks and fun.
Kids Pet Parade – Sunday, February 28, 1:00 – 3:00 p.m., Cook/La Novia Park, San Juan Capistrano. (Rain date is Sunday, March 7) Children between the ages of 5 – 12 can bring their pets in costume for contests including Cutest, Most Original, Best Team Costume (owner and pet), Funniest and Most Obedient. Winners will be featured in the 2010 Swallows Day Parade.
La Presidenta Ball – Saturday, March 13, 6:30 – 11:00 p.m.., El Adobe Restaurant, 31891 Camino Capistrano, San Juan Capistrano. A formal evening with dinner, dancing and silent and live auctions that honors the Fiesta Association President.
Fiesta Grande – Wednesday, March 17, 6:00 – 9:00 p.m., Swallow’s Inn, 31786 Camino Capistrano, San Juan Capistrano. Fiesta Grande is a lively evening tied to old west traditions with cash prizes awarded to Best Dressed Old West Man, Best Dressed Old West Woman, Best Belt Buckle, Best Mustache, Best Dance Hall Girl and the judging of the Hairiest Man Contest (Men who were clean shaven as of January 16).
Hoos’Gow Day – Friday, March 19, 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Held throughout downtown San Juan Capistrano, this event is a long standing San Juan tradition where Fiesta Association sheriff and deputies – dressed in their traditional black and white western wear – search the city and arrest anyone not dressed in western attire or any man who is clean shaven. There are roaming jails in the city and the “jail birds” must pay a fee to be released.
52nd Swallows Day Parade & Mercado – Saturday, March 20, 11:00 a.m. marks the start of the parade in downtown San Juan Capistrano. The Mercado Street Fair takes place at the historic Town Center Park off of El Camino Real and Ortega Highway from 9:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m.
For more information about the San Juan Capistrano Fiesta Association or Fiesta de las Golondrinas events, call 949.493.1976 or visit www.swallowsparade.org.
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Submitted By;
Barbara Kimler
