Kids’ Pet Parade is Family-Favorite
Fiesta de las Golondrinas Event
San Juan Capistrano, Calif. – The San Juan Capistrano Fiesta Association will host the annual Kids’ Pet Parade on Sunday, March 1 at Cook/La Novia Park in 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. The “judges choice” winner will be featured in the 51st Swallows’ Day Parade on Saturday, March 21.
Registration begins at 11:30 a.m. and the judging and pet parade starts at 1:00 p.m. Each contest has a $3.00 entry fee and all pets must be leashed, haltered or caged during the entire event.
Kids’ Pet Parade Chairman Su Phillips says, “The Kids’ Pet Parade is my favorite Fiesta Association event because the children are so fun and imaginative with their costumes.”
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. The annual Swallows’ Day Parade – themed “Boots, Buckles and Spurs”- is one of the nation’s largest non-motorized parades and draws worldwide interest.
For more information about the Kids’ Pet Parade or other Fiesta de las Golondrinas events, call 949.493.1976 or visit www.swallowsparade.org.
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.”
San Juan Capistrano Fiesta Association is open to anyone interested in being part of a dedicated group of people who are still making history in San Juan Capistrano.
2009 Fiesta de las Golondrinas Schedule of Events
Fiesta Grande – Wednesday, March 18, 6:30 – 9:30 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.
