The 64th annual Swallow’s Day Parade is approaching soon for the San Juan Capistrano community, a historic tradition honoring the return of the swallows and the intersection of the city’s Spanish and Native American heritage.
Organized by the San Juan Capistrano Fiesta Association, this five-day celebration is renowned as one of the nation’s largest non-motorized parades, showcasing the rich history of San Juan Capistrano.
This year’s theme is “Saddle Up San Juan,” which Fiesta Association President Jim Taylor said was chosen as a nod to the city’s illustrious equestrian background and a means to encourage everyone in the community to “saddle up and join the fun.”
“As we look around, so much of our history is disappearing,” said Taylor, who also serves as the Swallow’s Day Parade chair. “But this event is a way for us to revive that history and teach everyone what San Juan Capistrano once was.”
The Swallow’s Day Parade is celebrated in March every year, to coincide with when swallows from Argentina return after winter. Despite a decline in the bird’s numbers over the years, Taylor said the swallows will always “reliably return each March.”
This year’s parade will take place on Saturday, March 23 at 11 a.m. and include an array of participants such as local schools and businesses as well as 18 wagons and over 200 horses, Taylor said. The parade route begins at the El Camino Real and Ortega Highway intersection and ends just past Stonefield Park on Camino Capistrano.
With the streets surrounding the parade officially closing at 10 a.m., Taylor suggests arriving early to park, or attendees can ride a shuttle bus from the Capistrano Business Plaza (30250 Rancho Viejo Road) or Fluidmaster, Inc. (30800 Rancho Viejo Road). These shuttles will run from 8:30 a.m. until 5:30 p.m.
Taylor’s favorite option to “arrive in style,” he said, is to take the train. Metrolink is offering a $10 round-trip ticket, free for 17-year-olds…
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