2009 Swallows’ Day Parade Returns to San Juan Capistrano on March 21

San Juan Capistrano, Calif. – Over 130 entries will be featured in the 51st Swallows’ Day Parade in downtown San Juan Capistrano on Saturday, March 21, 2009. 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 features 500 horses in various equestrian entries, high school and military marching bands, floats, folkloric dancers, historical reenactments and dozens of local community groups. Highlights include the 1st Marine Division Band, color guard and 1st Battalion 11th Marines from Camp Pendleton, the Kelly Boyz Dancers performing along the route to the live music of The Brant Vogel and Hell Bent Band and a horse-drawn Wells Fargo Bank stagecoach. Melitas Forster, great granddaughter of Don Juan Forster and original owner of the Swallow’s Inn, will serve as this year’s grand marshal.

The parade begins at 11:00 a.m. at Ortega Highway and Del Obispo Street and continues along Camino Capistrano. Attendees who arrive early can catch the annual Pancake Breakfast from 6:00 – 10:30 a.m. at the Women’s Club located at 31442 El Horno St. Another major parade-day attraction is the Mercado Street Fair with food booths and a variety of vendors that 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 Fiesta Association will host a Shuttle Bus from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. with pick ups at Endevco and FluidMaster along Rancho Viejo Road between Ortega Hwy and Junipero Serra. Roundtrip fee is $2.00 for adults and kids under 10 free.

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.

For more information about Fiesta de las Golondrinas events, call 949.493.1976 or visit www.swallowsparade.org.

The San Juan Capistrano Fiesta Association

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.

The Orange County Gladiators Are Back For Their 2nd Season!

Aliso Viejo, CA (March 11, 2009) – The Orange County Gladiators announced that they will be back for their 2nd season as they have moved to the WCBL (West Coast Basketball League), a spring league based out of Santa Barbara, CA. The WCBL showcases the many talents of past NBA players, overseas veterans and some of the top minor league talent in the country.

Additionally, the team has moved their home venue to the 1,200 seat gym at Aliso Niguel High School based out of Aliso Viejo, CA. “The facility at Aliso Niguel is one of the top basketball venues in South Orange County”, states David Clarke, team President and Owner. “Our fan base we developed last season is fantastic and the area surrounding our home venue is ideal for our offering of high quality basketball and affordable family entertainment”.

The Gladiators kick off their home schedule on Saturday, April 25th @ 6PM. Tickets, which range from $6 – $13, and more information on the team can be found at the Gladiators web site at www.ocgladiators.com.

About The Orange County Gladiators

The Orange County Gladiators are preparing for their 2nd season as one of the newest entries into the WCBL (West Coast Pro Basketball League), a spring league based out of Santa Barbara, CA. The organization is an active participant in the community with a mission of providing quality family entertainment at affordable prices. The team will commence play in April of 2009 and will be playing their 7 home games at the 1,200 seat facility at Aliso Niguel High School in Aliso Viejo, CA.

For more information:
Web: www.ocgladiators.com

The ArchiTexture Dance Company (www.architexturedance.org) will present Dancing Off the Pages: An Anthology of Dances for National Poetry Month, on Friday and Saturday, March 27 & 28 and April 3 & 4, 7 p.m. at the Aliso Viejo Library, 1 Journey, Aliso Viejo. Choreography by Deidre Cavazzi. Suggested donation: $10 general admission, $5 students. Enjoy seven dances based on the poetry of e.e. cummings, Pablo Neruda, Woody Guthrie, Edgar Allen Poe, Emily Dickinson and Guillaume Apollinaire.

Registration available April 1 for city’s ‘Twilight Camp’

In-person registration is available beginning April 1 for the city’s Family Twilight Camp At the Ranch on April 25 – a fun-filled family event that includes a host of activities, savory barbecue, gooey s’mores and much more.

The Family Twilight Camp takes place from 4 to 9 p.m. at the Aliso Viejo Ranch, 100 Park Avenue. The rustic city-owned ranch is also the site of the city’s annual Founder’s Day Fair in September.

The popular event is designed to give families and friends the opportunity to spend quality time together enjoying, a sunset hike, scavenger hunt, knot tying, environmental awareness and entertainment around the campfire courtesy of good ole Cowboy Jack along with a hearty dinner and delectable s’mores.

In-person pre-registration is required and is available from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Thursday April 1-22 and on Friday, April 10 (only) at City Hall, 12 Journey, Suite 100. Registration is not available by phone or fax and must be done in person at City Hall. Cost is $5 per person and includes food and drinks.

The camp is recommended for parents and children 5 years of age and older, and all children must be accompanied by an adult. Pets are prohibited.

For more information, contact Linda Groscost at 949-425-2537 or lgroscost@cityofalisoviejo.com