Coming up Saturday, March 26, 2011 will be the annual Swallows Day Parade. Over 120 parade entries will be featured in the 53rd Swallows Day Parade in downtown San Juan Capistrano. 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, western and Juaneno Indian heritage.
One of the nation's largest non-motorized parades, the Swallows Day Parade boast approximately 500 horses in various equestrian entries, high school and military marching bands, floats, folkloric dancers, historical reenactments and dozens of community groups. Highlights include the United States Marine Corps Mounted Color Guard, California State Firefighter's Association with Horse Drawn Steam Fire Engine and the Victorian Roses Ladies Riding Society featured in the 2011 Rose Parade.
Las Golondrinas owners and longtime San Juan Capistrano residents Arturo and Maria Galindo are the 2011 grand marshals. The parade begins 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 live music, dozens of food booths and a variety of vendors 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 and at the San Juan Capistrano Community Center and Sports Park off of Camino Del Avion near Del Obispo. Roundtrip fee is $2.00 for adults and kids under 10 free. For more information about the Swallows Day Parade or Fiesta de las Golondrinas events, call 949.493.1976 or visit www.swallowsparade.org.
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