Community Corner

Las Golondrinas Restaurants Owners Will Lead Swallows Parade

The Swallows Day Parade is the culmination of the Fiesta de las Golondrinas, a series of springtime festivities.

Art and Maria Galindo will serve as grand marshals for the 53rd Swallows Day Parade to be held Saturday, March 26, the San Juan Capistrano Fiesta Association announced Friday.

The Galindos are longtime residents of San Juan Capistrano and owners of Las Golondrinas restaurants.

“We just love everything about San Juan Capistrano and are honored and humbled to serve as grand marshals of the Swallows Day Parade,” said Art and Maria Galindo.

Find out what's happening in San Juan Capistranowith free, real-time updates from Patch.

The Swallows Day Parade is the culmination of a series of late winter and springtime events called the Fiesta de las Golondrinas, the outgrowth of a school carnival held in the 1950s to celebrate the return of the swallows. All of the activies are under the leadership of the nonprofit San Juan Capistrano Fiesta Association. 

 2011 Fiesta de las Golondrinas Schedule of Events

Taste of San Juan: 6 to 9 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 16, at El Adobe Restaurant, 31891 Camino Capistrano, San Juan Capistrano.  The Taste of San Juan brings together local restaurants for food, music, drinks and fun.

Find out what's happening in San Juan Capistranowith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Kids Pet Parade: 1-3 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 27 at (Rain date is Sunday, March 7). Children between the ages of 5 and 12 can bring their pets in costume for contests including cutest, most original, best team costume (owner and pet), funniest and most obedient. Winners will be featured in the Swallows Day Parade.

El Presidente Ball: 6:30-11 p.m. Saturday, March 19, at Restaurant, 31891 Camino Capistrano.  A formal evening with dinner, dancing and silent and live auctions that honors the Fiesta Association president.

Fiesta Grande: 6-9 p.m. Wednesday, March 23 at the, 31786 Camino 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

Hoosegow Day: 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Friday, March 25, throughout downtown San Juan Capistrano. 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 roaming jails in the city, and the “jail birds” must pay a fee to be released.

53rd Swallows Day Parade & Mercado: 11 a.m. Saturday, March 26. The Mercado Street Fair takes place at the historic Town Center Park off of El Camino Real and Ortega Highway from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m.


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here