As promised by organizers, the Swallows Day Parade marches on regardless of the weather.
That was evident on a very rainy Saturday on March 23, as the 64th annual Swallows Day Parade proceeded through downtown San Juan Capistrano to continue a long-standing tradition that dates back to the 1950s. Though the skies opened, the weather didn’t dampen the spirit of the entrants or the many spectators, young and old.
With over 60 entries walking along Camino Capistrano in the two-hour parade, a taste of Orange County was shown with representation from cities as far away as Barstow and Thousand Oaks.
As one of the largest non-motorized parades in the country, there were plenty of floats and horse-drawn carriages. Some of them carried this year's dignitaries, including Grand Marshal Matt Gaffney (who passed away two weeks ago), Ms. Fiesta Jennifer Pointer, Mr. Senor San Juan Tony Pointer, Teen Ambassador Savannah Erca, and Junor Dignitaries Natalie Correa Morales and Benjamin Brooks.
Along with them, the winners of the 2024 Kids’ Pet Parade were present with their pets to show the audience how awesome their furry friends are, including Zoe Reyes with her bunny, Honey Bunny; Ellie Musselman with her bird, Sammy; Elise Helsel with her dog, Marshall; and the costumed duo Vincent Diaz Isela and Franco Diaz with their karate dog, Max.
After the parade was complete, festivalgoers enjoyed the rest of San Juan, including the Mercado Street Faire, which was only steps away from the route running through town. More than 100 vendors offering food, clothing and merchandise were featured.
Photos: Kaila Mellos
2024 Swallows Day Parade
