San Juan Capistrano Fiesta Association Names 2013 Grand Marshal and Parade Dignitaries
Joe Soto
San Juan Capistrano, Calif. – Former San Juan Capistrano mayor and “native son” Joe Soto will serve as grand marshal for the 2013 Swallows Day Parade on Saturday, March 23. Other dignitaries recently announced are Jim and Pamela Schuler serving as Senior San Juan and Miss Fiesta and junior dignitaries from Mission Basilica School include Julian Cereghino as Jr. Senor San Juan and Julia Delamare as Jr. Miss Fiesta.
Joe Soto has a long and rich heritage in of San Juan Capistrano and the Swallows Day Parade. He takes pride in having attended every parade, missing only one when away for his military service. Soto, along with seven brothers and four sisters all grew up in the historic Los Rios District. Joe and his wife Carol of 36 years have three daughters and a son and recently became grandparents to their first grandchild. Joe has extensive involvement in civic and charitable endeavors including serving as mayor of San Juan Capistrano in 2004 and 2008.
Soto said upon being selected as grand marshal, “When I think back as a young student attending the old mission school and participating in the Swallows Day Celebrations, never in my wildest dreams did I ever imagine I’d someday be selected as the parade’s grand marshal. I deeply embrace this honor and look forward to another great parade day in this beautiful valley.”
Senior San Juan and Miss Fiesta Jim and Pamela Schuler have been involved with the Fiesta Association and Mission San Juan Capistrano for the past 14 years and were thrilled to be elected as the 2013 senior dignitaries.
Junior dignitaries Julian Cereghino and Julia Delamare are both seventh graders at Mission Basilica School in San Juan Capistrano. The top students were selected by principle Tina Rolewicz to represent the school in the parade and throughout the Fiesta de las Golondrinas (Festival of the Swallows) season.
The grand marshals and dignitaries will ride among 120 parade entries featured in the 55th Swallows Day Parade in downtown San Juan Capistrano on Saturday, March 23, 2013.
For more information about the Swallows Day Parade or the San Juan Capistrano Fiesta Association, 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 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.
Barbara Kimler, San Juan Capistrano Fiesta Association
