San Juan Capistrano Fiesta Association Kicks off Year with
Membership Mixer at El Adobe Restaurant
San Juan Capistrano, Calif. – The San Juan Capistrano Fiesta Association will hold their annual membership drive on Friday, January 16, 2009 from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. at El Adobe Restaurant located at 31891 Camino Capistrano in San Juan Capistrano. The festive evening will include complimentary food and dancing to the live music of the Grand Junction Band.
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.
Membership dues are $20.00 per year and members are asked to volunteer in Fiesta Association events which include Taste of San Juan, Kids’ Pet Parade, El Presidente Ball, Fiesta Grande, Hoos’gow Day and the Mercado Street Fair and 51st annual Swallows’ Day Parade on March 21, 2009.
Over 250 volunteers are needed on parade day to assist with traffic control and parade line-up in addition to security and booth management at the Mercado Street Fair.
Fiesta Association members are well known in the community for their attire in white shirts, black pants, black vest and black felt hat reflective of a cowpuncher between 1850-1900. All volunteers must be a member to participate as volunteers in the Fiesta de las Golondrinas events.
Contact Membership Chair Marie Midyett, at 949.493.7757 with any questions about membership in the Fiesta Association or visit www.swallowsparade.com to download information and an application.
About the Fiesta de las Golondrinas and the San Juan Capistrano Fiesta Association
The Fiesta de las Golondrinas is the outgrowth of a school carnival held in the 1950’s to celebrate the return of the swallows. The carnival later added a local equestrian parade, trail ride and a western dance. Various activities have been added and dropped over the years, but the Swallows’ Day Parade continues under the leadership of the nonprofit organization known as the San Juan Capistrano Fiesta Association. In 1987, a number of civic organizations joined with the Fiesta Association to form a month long celebration known as the “Fiesta de Las Golondrinas.”
2009 Fiesta de las Golondrinas Schedule of Events
Annual Taste of San Juan – Wednesday, February 18, 6:00 – 9:00 p.m., El Adobe Restaurant, 31891 Camino Capistrano, San Juan Capistrano. The official kick-off celebration of Fiesta de las Golondrinas, the Taste of San Juan brings together several local restaurants for food sampling, drinks and fun.
Kids’ Pet Parade – Sunday, March 1, 1:00 p.m. Cook/La Novia Park, San Juan Capistrano. (Rain date is Sunday, March 8) 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 Swallows’ Day Parade.
La Presidente Ball – Saturday, March 14, 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 18, 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 10).
Hoos’Gow Day – Friday, March 20, 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 two roaming jails in the city and the “jail bird” must pay a fee to be released.
51st Swallows’ Day Parade & Mercado – Saturday, March 21, 11:00 a.m. marks the start of the parade in downtown San Juan and 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.
The San Juan Capistrano Fiesta Association
P.O. Box 532
San Juan Capistrano, CA 92693
www.swallowsparade.com
949.493.1976
