Swallows Soar Back to San Juan Capistrano for Annual Swallows Day Parade and Mercado Street Faire
- Kristina M. Garcia
- Mar 19
- 5 min read
Every year on St. Joseph’s Day, March 19, San Juan Capistrano celebrates the cliff swallows return from Argentina with its annual celebration.
Every year the swallows return to San Juan Capistrano Mission after migrating over 6,000 miles from Goya, Argentina. San Juan celebrates with Fiesta de las Golondrinas, also known as the Swallows Day Parade, welcoming the swallows back for the season, and celebrating the Old West.
Flying in from Argentina, the swallows stop in San Juan Capistrano to nest every year without fail. Once the mission was built, it became the perfect place for the cliff swallows to nest because its proximity to San Juan Creek. The swallows use the creek to gather all the materials they need for their nest, and stay until fall when they migrate back to Argentina, said parade chair Karen Stine.
“I happen to live here (by) San Juan Creek and I get to see them and hear them every year,” she said.
The San Juan Capistrano Fiesta Association organizes the annual Swallows Day Parade and Mercado Street Faire, a free event at Mission San Juan Capistrano. The parade will start at 11 a.m. and the Mercado Street Faire will be all day from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m on March 22. It’s suggested to arrive early, as street closures will be in effect by 10 a.m.
“The Swallows Day Parade embraces the diversity of cultures that are the history and future of our San Juan Capistrano community,” Stine said.
Visitors can expect about 100 vendors at the Mercado selling everything from jewelry, gift items, country western merchandise, cowboy hats, and different foods such as burgers, tacos, kebabs and sweet treats.
But the Mercado isn’t only for shopping. There will also be live country music, a DJ and a kids’ play zone in Historic Town Center Park. Kids can participate in interactive activities, games and play on the inflatables.
The most anticipated event is the Swallows Day Parade. It’s known as one of the largest non-motorized parades in the nation where the parade mostly consists of horse carriages, horse-driven floats, wagons and entertainment, according to the website.
PHOTO 1: The Swallows Day Parade is one of the largest non-motorized parades in the nation with the parade mostly consisting of horse carriages, horse-driven floats and wagons. PHOTO 2: Robert Ridland, a 1976 jumping equestrian Olympian, was the Swallows Parade's grand marshal in 2023. PHOTO 3: San Juan Capistrano Fiesta Association president Jim Taylor is known to walk out on the street during the parade and interview participants. Photos courtesy of the San Juan Capistrano Fiesta Association
Making their second appearance in the parade are the Budweiser Clydesdales, which are made up of eight horses hitched to the famous red Budweiser beer wagon. In the early days of brewing, this unit traveled to make deliveries and the horses had to meet requirements to remain uniform, while also prioritizing a gentle temperament.
Today these horses are primarily used for breeding and show, according to the website.
This year’s grand marshal is Kathy Holman, the owner and operator of Ortega Equestrian Center since 1980.
“My love for horses has been in my heart for as long as I can remember. As a young child, I’d go to my aunt’s house and groom the ‘picture ponies’ who lived next door to her. I’d spend hours brushing and cleaning the ponies just for the chance to be close to them,” Holman said in a statement on the website.
But her love for horses stretched beyond herself, and soon her reputation grew as being able to train even the most misunderstood and ill-tempered horses. She took in horses whose owners believed they were dangerous, and Holman would nurture and rehabilitate them.
“The secret to their rehabilitation is to give them a job, lots of love, and brush them till they shine – then they will work their heart out for you,” Holman said.
PHOTO 1: The Mercado Street Faire includes live entertainment. PHOTO 2: The event's kid play zone is held at Historic Town Center Park where children can participate in interactive activities, games and play on inflatables. PHOTO 3: Before and after the parade, attendees can visit the Mercado Street Faire where over 100 vendors will be present from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Photos courtesy of the San Juan Capistrano Fiesta Association
A Brief History of the Swallows Day Parade
In its 65th year, the Swallows Day Parade has had a long history. Originally starting off as a school carnival at San Juan Elementary School in the 1930s, it soon grew to a much larger production culminating to the first official Swallows Day Parade in 1954.
From then on, the event continued its tradition as a non-motorized parade. It continued to successfully put on a show every year until 2020 and 2021, when it was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Returning in 2022, the parade temporarily allowed motorized vehicles due to an equine brain virus outbreak.
Though the last few years had their challenges, on top of the usual organizing obstacles, the parade returned to its equestrian roots in 2023 and has continued its tradition since.
“There are several components that go into the longevity. The community's love of the event and what it represents — it's the community involvement,” Stine said. “I truly believe it's the city's support in wanting to maintain the parade because it really does bring the community together and it represents our history.”
65th Annual Swallows Day Parade and Mercado Street Faire
WHEN: Saturday, March 22; parade starts at 11 a.m.; Mercado Street Faire runs from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
WHERE: Parade starts at the corner of El Camino Real and Ortega Highway, continues along Ortega Highway, Del Obispo and Camino Capistrano; Mercado is also at the corner of El Camino Real and Ortega Highway
COST: Free
CONTACT: (949) 615-1920; swallowsdayparade.org
ADDITIONAL TRAVEL INFORMATION: The event will offer a free shuttle service from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Attendees can park offsite at Fluidmaster, Inc., 30800 Rancho Viejo Road; or at Capistrano Business Plaza, 30250 Rancho Viejo Road.
Visitors will be dropped off at the Old Fire Station site (corner of El Horno and La Matanza streets) and walk to the parade. This will also be the shuttle’s pickup location for attendees to return to their vehicles.
Another option is taking the Metrolink, attendees will get off at San Juan Capistrano station and walk straight up to the traffic light where they end up right in the middle of the event.
