2026_SwallowsDayGuide

WELCOME

to the 66th Annual Swallows Day Parade

A note from San Juan Capistrano Mayor John Campbell

Friends and neighbors,

Are you ready for one of San Juan Capistrano’s most celebrated traditions? Please join us on Saturday, March 21 for the 66th Annual Swallows Day Parade!

This year’s theme, “Trails, Tails & Traditions – 250 Years,” is especially meaningful as we celebrate not only the upcoming 250th anniversary of our nation, but also the 250th anniversary of Mission San Juan Capistrano. What a remarkable year to honor where we came from, who we are and the traditions that continue to bring us together.

There is truly no place like San Juan Capistrano. Where else can you wander through centuries of history, discovering culture and character around every corner, cheer on riders, horses and local organizations then savor local flavors that reflect our rich and vibrant community.

From the Mission to our local schools and everywhere in between, San Juan comes alive each spring in a way that is simply unforgettable. To make your Swallows Day adventuring easy and fun for the whole family, be sure to take advantage of our free trolley service with convenient pickup and drop-off locations at landmarks all across town.

We’re so glad you are here to celebrate with us during this extraordinary year. Thank you for being part of this treasured tradition and for helping make San Juan Capistrano such a special place to visit and call home.

John Campbell MAYOR

City of San Juan Capistrano

PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE

2026 is an amazing year. It marks the 66th annual Swallows Day Parade and both Mission San Juan Capistrano and our nation celebrating 250 years.

The all-volunteer San Juan Capistrano Fiesta Association has been busy these last six months. We’ve raised money thanks to our generous sponsors, hosted fundraisers like the Taste of San Juan (where so many local restaurants contributed to the Parade effort) and, of course, meticulously planned the Parade and Mercado Street Faire.

So much goes into the production of events such as these, and we couldn’t do it without the strong support from the City of San Juan Capistrano, Orange County Sheriff’s Department and Orange County Fire Authority. The Fiesta Association volunteers are simply the best. Their dedication and willingness to put in the long hours and be compensated only by the thrill of producing community events of epic proportions is beyond the norm. I thank everyone from the bottom of my heart.

This is an expensive endeavor, and if you want to help support the Parade and Mercado Street Faire, it’s easier than you think. Please visit the Mercado after the parade. Shop the vendors, listen to the entertainment, have lunch and buy a beverage. Your participation in the Mercado Street Faire helps us fund all future events.

There’s a lot to see and do on Swallows Day, but please stop in and see us first in the Mercado after the Parade. There is fun for the whole family! It’s your support that allows us to continue year after year. We are all volunteers, and our reward comes from seeing that we had a positive impact on our community. You can make that happen.

Happy Swallows Day!

Jim Taylor PRESIDENT San Juan Capistrano Fiesta Association

Board of Directors

BAD TO THE BONE BBQ

(March 20th)

The Melodic Tales of Capistrano

“All the mission bells will ring The chapel choir will sing The happiness you’ll bring Will live in my memory When the swallows come back to Capistrano That’s the day I pray that you’ll come back to me.”

“When

the Swallows Come Back to Capistrano” by Leon René Performed over the years by The Five Satins, The Ink Spots, Pat Boone, Bing Crosby and more.

It was 1939 when an NBC radio announcement of the swallows’ Mission San Juan Capistrano return inspired Leon René to pen a love song that would give melody to a local story already taking flight.

Long before its swallows fame — before stories, songs and parades — this valley carried deep meaning. For thousands of years, the Acjachemen people lived along the banks of San Juan Creek, where oak woodlands, meadows, marshes and ocean provided food, medicine and materials. Their culture thrived through a deep understanding of the natural world as sacred and a resource to be carefully stewarded.

Today, the recreated village of Putuidem welcomes guests to explore the Acjachemen way of life.

In 1776, the year of our nation’s founding, the establishment of Mission San Juan Capistrano marked a profound and complicated turning point in the region’s history. Primarily built by the Acjachemen, who would be given the Juaneño Band of Mission Indians name, the Mission rose the earth into what would become one of California’s most enduring landmarks. The bells began to ring.

Two hundred and fifty years later, seven morning chimes still echo daily across town. Steady and familiar, they remind listeners that this place is layered with memories stretching centuries.

The Mission’s four historic bells, each bearing a saint’s name, have endured earthquakes, secularization, statehood and restoration. They’ve tolled in celebration and in mourning, because history here isn’t silent; it sounds.

And sometime in the early 1900s, it grew wings with the great Mission restorer, Father St. John O’Sullivan.

As the story goes, O’Sullivan witnessed a shopkeeper knocking down the swallows’ conically shaped mud nests. Recalled in the book “Capistrano Nights,” the event sent swallows into the air, chattering and circling chaotically as their homes were destroyed. It’s said O’Sullivan then welcomed the swallows to the Mission.

“Come on swallows, I’ll give you shelter. Come to the Mission. There’s room enough there for all.”

- Father St. John O’Sullivan

The next morning, O’Sullivan discovered swallows busily building their nests in the Mission’s eaves.

The swallows’ return to the Mission has been celebrated ever since. St. Joseph’s Day, marked annually on March 19, is recognized as the swallows’ arrival day — fittingly it’s also Father O’Sullivan’s birthday.

By the 1930s, the swallows’ story had taken flight beyond San Juan.

O’Sullivan’s written accounts were followed by the Los Angeles Times’ coverage announcing the birds’ arrival. The legend soared higher with the release of Leon René’s now-classic love song, “When the Swallows Come Back to Capistrano.” In 1948, artist Leo Politi’s children’s book “Song of the Swallows” added another chapter to the local tale.

O’Sullivan wouldn’t see his beloved birds’ rise to fame, but the tale he shared — and the traditions it sparked, like the then-small school carnival celebrating their return — have endured for generations.

Each March, the Swallows Day Parade rides through San Juan Capistrano, drawing thousands of spectators to one of the nation’s largest non-motorized parades. Horses, wagons, community groups and musicians fill the streets in a vibrant celebration of the swallows return and the city’s diverse heritage.

The Mercado Street Faire keeps the festivities going with food, live music, vendors and family fun.

The parade is the crown jewel of Fiesta de las Golondrinas, a month-long celebration organized by the allvolunteer San Juan Capistrano Fiesta Association. Since the late 1950s, this small, passionate group of residents has organized the parade and its lead-up

events celebrating San Juan’s roots — a patchwork of indigenous, equestrian, Mexican, Spanish and Western cultures woven together by the swallows’ song.

Photos courtesy of the San Juan Capistrano Historical Society.

Lifetimes of Service Honored

The lives of Donna and Ken Friess are woven into San Juan Capistrano’s colorful history. Married in 1964, the family moved to the edge of town in ’73 after a mailman-averse dog and small yard not fit for Ken’s corn crop proved Huntington Beach wasn’t their forever home.

Ken, a Boy Scout hailing from Palos Verdes when Donna met him at 14, was no stranger to the saddle. Donna, having grown up in Venice, however, was “all about boogie boards and body surfing,” she said.

But country life on their Hidden Valley property quickly took root and Ken bought Donna an unbroken horse with the notion she’d learn to ride while breaking her in.

“So off I went, off I went, off I went,” Donna recalled. “But I kept getting back on.”

She learned to ride bareback and her determination soon became a fixture of local legend.

On Swallows’ weekend in 1974, Donna and Ken’s neighbor organized a horse race through the valley’s hills and riverbeds. Donna awakened that morning to scattered trailers and a kaleidoscope of horses and riders outside her door.

“We raced over hill and dale, through rocks and the river,” Donna said. Ken would take first, Donna second. The next year, the real cowboys as Donna said, showed up. “You have to understand, for my first eight years of teaching, I taught English. Who could be less of a cowboy than a friggin’ English teacher? So, they all made fun of me when they found out Donna was racing.”

Still riding bareback, and over hill and dale, through rocks and the river, Donna won.

“That was really my certificate as a bona fide cowgirl,” she said.

The rest of the decade would see Ken join the planning commission, then serve four terms on the city council and four years as mayor. Donna continued riding and teaching, rounding out her

44-year career at Cypress College before retiring and putting her doctorate in psychology to further use as a life coach and grief support group volunteer at the local community center.

Over the years, their three children — Erik “Rick,” Julina and Dan — riding ponies, carts, wagons and prairie schooners participated in the Swallows Day Parade.

“The parade has meant so much to us for 53 years,” Donna said.

For the last decade, Donna can be found at Mission San Juan Capistrano narrating the history of the swallows to visitors. A historical author of California history from colonization to modern-day wildfires, Donna, the once unsuspecting cowgirl, even penned a love letter to San Juan’s equestrian heritage.

When asked about her favorite parade memory, Donna reminisced about the ’70s. Her young family was enjoying the parade from a Camino Capistrano perch when up rides Ken. He gallantly reached down and hoisted her atop their appaloosa. The duo rode out the rest of the downtown route — together.

This year, in recognition of their lifetimes of service, Ken and Donna will be riding along the parade route as Grand Marshals.

The Swallows Day Parade has long honored Hollywood legends, Western icons, civic leaders, ranchers, philanthropists and local families as Grand Marshals. It’s a colorful roster of influential personalities telling the story of a community that celebrates both star power and the steady stewardship of those who have safeguarded San Juan Capistrano’s vibrant history, interwoven cultures and unique charm.

2016 Sam Allevato

2017 Steve Nordeck

2018 Steve Oedekerk

2019 Silvia Mazzeo Pule

2020-22 Scott and Diana Schmitt

2023 Robert and Hillary Ridland

2024 Matt Gaffney

2025 Kathy Holman

Guest:

Father- Daughter Duo Receive Fiesta Titles

Brooke Carter’s official quest for Ms. Fiesta began in 2014. A long-time parade participant and star of that year’s Fiesta Association commercial promoting its annual Farewell to the Swallows BBQ, Brooke set her sights on the coveted title.

From then to now, Brooke deepened her roots in the local equestrian community. She’s since served as president and trail boss of the all-women Las Vaqueras Riding Club. She volunteers with veterans’ horse therapy programs. She participates in charity events with the San Juan Capistrano Equestrian Coalition. Along with her father, Jim Carter, she’s also supported countywide horse-rescue efforts during wildfires.

Together, the duo operates American Horse Products, a local one-stop shop for horse, rider and livestock.

“This is the best city to work in,” Jim said. “It’s just unsurpassed.”

Jim, this season’s Señor San Juan, shares Brooke’s philosophy of service. Since relocating his equestrian-supply store to town in 1999, he’s served on the San Juan Capistrano Chamber of Commerce, supported organizations promoting San Juan’s art and equestrian scenes and was named Equestrian of the Year.

For both, serving as 2026 Fiesta de las Golondrinas dignitaries is a natural continuation of their decades-long commitment to preserving the traditions that make San Juan Capistrano unique.

“I love the City of San Juan and what it represents,” said Brooke. “It’s just a wonderful place.”

Jr. Dignitaries Carry Local Traditions Forward

For two local fifth graders, this year’s Swallows Day Parade holds extra meaning.

Kinoshita Elementary School student Caleb Valles was named Jr. Señor San Juan, while Del Obispo Elementary School student Heather Ayala-Donan will serve as Miss Fiesta. The duo was selected by the Boys & Girls Clubs of Capistrano Valley to represent San Juan Capistrano’s rising young leaders.

When learning he was chosen, Caleb said, “I just felt shocked — kind of excited and a little nervous.”

It was a happy surprise for Heather, too. She initially thought she was just going to a party to receives an award for doing her homework.

“I didn’t know I was getting a sash that says Miss Fiesta,” she said. These honors reflect deep community

roots and hometown pride for both of their families.

Caleb, 10, comes from a long line of San Juan residents, and the parade has long been part of his family’s story. His father, George, grew up attending the annual parade. This year, watching Caleb have an official role at the heart of the Swallows Day celebration brings the tradition full circle.

“I’m excited for him because growing up I loved the parade,” George Valles said.

For Heather, 10, and her family, the honor is equally heartfelt. Maria AyalaDonan has raised her five children in San Juan Capistrano since the days they were born. While seeing Heather honored in this way came as a surprise,

it also mirrors the character and values she instills at home.

Caleb and Heather symbolize the pride of families who have built their lives in San Juan Capistrano — and the promise of a new generation carrying forward the community’s traditions.

Georgia Davidson Saddles Up as Teen Ambassador

Georgia Davidson lights up with the mention of her volunteerism. She takes on shifts at the Family Assistance Ministries food pantry, spends time giving back at The Shea Center for Therapeutic Riding, decorates floats for the Rose Parade and helps out at the Circle S Ranch Rodeo.

That’s just scratching the surface. The JSerra Catholic High School junior and member of both the Equestrian and Lacrosse teams also volunteers through the National Charity League and Las Vaqueras Riding Club. She’s now serving as Teen Ambassador for the 2026 Fiesta de las Golondrinas season.

“We’re really proud of her,” said Georgia’s dad, Drew Davidson. “We’ve raised our kids to know the importance

of community.” Adds mom, Kellie Davidson, “This is just another step for her to be more involved.”

Georgia personifies what the Fiesta season is all about — tradition, service and heart.

She’s already made appearances at the Fiesta’s annual BBQ, Taste of San Juan and the local family favorite, Kids’ Pet Parade.

Last year, Georgia rode solo in the Swallows Day Parade. This year, as Teen Ambassador, she’ll be representing the very spirit of community that defines her family and the parade — and, thanks to Georgia’s encouragement, the equestrian team will be riding

right alongside her.

When asked what’s she’s most looking forward to on parade day, she said, “Just seeing my friends in the parade, the riding groups and all the beautiful horses. It’s really exciting for me.”

Planning ahead will make your Swallows Day Parade experience easy and stress-free. Whether you

Parade-day Schedule

Keeping the Swallows Tradition Riding Strong

What began as a small school carnival in the 1930s to celebrate the swallows’ Mission San Juan Capistrano return has grown into one of the nation’s largest non-motorized parades — and a month-long Fiesta de las Golondrinas celebration.

The San Juan Capistrano Fiesta Association, an all-volunteer organization, has proudly stewarded this tradition for decades. Originally formed as a committee of the San Juan Capistrano Business Council, the Fiesta Association

eventually assumed its own identity as the celebration expanded. Today, it serves as the City’s appointed lead, coordinating the annual Swallows Day Parade that celebrates San Juan Capistrano’s diverse heritage while welcoming new generations into the story of Orange County’s oldest community.

From the Swallows Day Parade and Mercado Street Faire to the many events that lead up to Parade Day, the Fiesta Association brings neighbors and visitors together in the spirit of service, tradition and fun.

Young Leader Takes Seat on Fiesta Board

Lyla Bradshaw, a local student and rising community leader, has been appointed to the Fiesta Association Board of Directors as Youth Advisory Chair for the 2026 season. This appointment follows her successful tenure as Teen Ambassador in 2025, during which she represented the Fiesta Association at numerous celebratory swallows’ events, including the 65th annual Swallows Day Parade.

“I love the Fiesta Association, and I

love San Juan,” Lyla said. “To hear that they wanted me to stay was amazing.”

The high-achieving Dana Hills High School student is dedicated to service. She supports new students as a Dolphin Ambassador and is a two-time recipient of the Presidential Volunteer Service Award. Lyla also volunteers with Home Front America and Stand Up to Trash.

Through her board role, Lyla is bridging the gap between the association and the next generation of local leaders.

Become Part of the Tradition

The Fiesta Association is always looking for dedicated community members to join our volunteer team. Whether you’re passionate about history, events, horses or simply giving back, there’s a place for you. Learn more at swallowsdayparade.org — and help keep the tradition riding strong for decades to come.

Celebrating the Swallows San Juan Style

From wagging tails to moonlit dancing and Wild West antics to a jumping jubilee, the Fiesta de las Golondrinas schedule is packed with spirited traditions that bring San Juan Capistrano locals and visitors together year after year.

Fiesta Association Membership Mixer

New faces and longtime members gather to toast the season ahead and honor the year’s local dignitaries.

Taste of San Juan

The gourmet feast of the senses brings community members together for local flavors, music and fun.

Kid’s Pet Parade & Animal Rescue Expo

This cheerful pageant celebrates San Juan’s youngest and their beloved pets (puppies, ponies and more)!

El Presidente Ball

A glamourous night of Old West fashions (boots, bolos and ballgowns), starlit dancing and merriment.

Fiesta Grande

The Wild West returns as outlaws roam, saloon gals shine and the coveted “hairiest man” title is claimed.

Musical Melodrama

A family-friendly, audienceparticipation-required showcase of local lore at Historic Town Center Park.

Frog Jumping Contest

Mark Twain visits this lively, Calaveras County-inspired fete held at the Western-themed Los Rios Park.

Hoos’Gow Day

The Fiesta Association’s sheriff and deputies are rounding up locals — all in good fun for a great cause!

SATURDAY MARCH 21ST

PARADE DAY EVENTS

SWALLOWS DAY PARADE

Celebrate the return of the legendary swallows to Capistrano and the culmination of Fiesta de las Golondrinas season! The 66th annual Swallows Day parade trots through downtown starting at 11 a.m. Grab a front-row seat to see the colorful, non-motorized parade featuring horsedrawn carriages and equestrian riding clubs, school groups and marching bands, local nonprofits and businesses alike. The celebration continues with the parade awards ceremony at 2 p.m. located at Historic Town Center Park.

MERCADO STREET FAIRE

Make a day of it at the Mercado Street Faire, open before and after the parade from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. in Historic Town Center Park. Just steps from the parade route, enjoy tacos, burgers, gyros, sweet treats and more. You can also shop Western wear, dance to live country music and take part in family-friendly fun at the dedicated kids’ play zone.

KEEP THE CELEBRATION GOING

When the last hoofbeat fades, the amusement is far from over. Explore downtown’s diverse array of eateries and coffee shops, boutiques, museums and antique stores. While you’re here, take a stroll down Los Rios Street, tour Mission San Juan Capistrano and enjoy some lively post-parade fun about town.

St. Margaret’s is a proud presenting sponsor of the Swallows Day Parade. Guided by our mission to educate the hearts and minds of young people for lives of learning, leadership and service, we seek meaningful ways to contribute to our community. St. Margaret’s also hosts Special Camp, a summer camp program for children with disabilities, and Breakthrough San Juan Capistrano, an academic enrichment and college-prep program.

St. Margaret’s is proud to call historic and vibrant San Juan Capistrano home for more than 45 years!

The Cutest Critters in Capistrano

Tails were wagging and smiles were abundant on Saturday, Feb. 21 during the Kids’ Pet Parade & Animal Rescue Expo — one of the most treasured events of the Fiesta de las Golondrinas season.

Kids ages 5-12 — some more senior pet owners, too — proudly paraded their furred, four-legged, feathered, scaled and winged friends through Historic Town Center Park. From creative costumes to well-practiced tricks, big personalities were on display. It was

a heartwarming celebration of family, community and pure joy. Add in local rescue groups, adoptable animals and more family-friendly fun, and it’s easy to see why this event continues to be a Fiesta favorite year after year.

A Night of Flavor, Fun and Fiesta Spirit

On Feb. 5, the 32nd Annual Taste of San Juan officially kicked off the 2026 Fiesta de las Golondrinas season. Held at San Juan Hills Golf Club, the evening brought together 18 local eateries to share their signature bites with an enthusiastic crowd. Every year, the festive, high-energy evening of epicurean delights sets the tone for the Fiesta Association’s celebration-filled weeks ahead, culminating in the Swallows Day Parade & Mercado.

For the second year in a row, Five Vines Wine Bar took home the night’s top prize: the Swallows Cup. The downtown eatery also swept the judged categories, winning Best Main Dish, Best Appetizer, Most Original Dish and Best Dessert.

For the People’s Choice awards, Trevor’s at the Tracks earned top votes for Best Main Dish, Most Original Dish and Best Dessert. Tavern at the Mission and Salt Creek Grille tied for Best Appetizer in the attendee-voted category.

2026 WINNERS

Budgie

Mercado Vendors

2 Guys And A Kettle

Acai Republic

San Juan Capistrano

Alberly Hats

Alternative Luxury

Amanda Inc.

ArtSplashers

B Food International

B.L.E.S.S.I.N.

Bamboo Hut

Barrett’s Lemonade and Burgers

Bart Bridge

Bear Vibes Collection

Blin House

Bold As Lions Academy

Boutique Leon

Bubble Cake Entertainment

Calico Hat Co.

Capistrano Sudsery

Cefali & Cefali

Children’s Dental Camp

Cisele Handcrafted Leather

Cocos Catering

CRUISIN JUICE

dba Spiral King Concession

D Ferrari Designs

Don Newton Sunglasses

D’s Haberdashery

El Paraíso & Concessions

Eubrooke LLC. dba

Chick-Fil-A Plaza Del Obispo

Farm Fresh Home Foods

Fortunaza Farms

FR Jewelry

Frozen Treats & More! dba

SoCal Dippin Dots

Golden Tribe Boutique

Happicanes

I Am A Cockeyed Optimist.org

K Ceramics

KM Permanent Jewelry

Mario’s Tacos

Mex Treasures

Mexi Arts

Mishelle’s Menagerie

Mother Trucker Country Custom

Mr. BBQ Grill

Mustache Mike’s Italian Ice

OC Waste & Recycling

Oui-Connect

Perry’s Collectibles

PSQ Productions

Rama Handicaft

Redify Enterprises Inc, DBA

Redify Water Solutions

Ricos Takos

Rosales Mexican Food

Rose Reggae

Samba Brazilian BBQ

Shugarman’s Bath

Skies the Limit Designs

SNOWIE California

Swimzz LLC

Tacos Before Vatos

The Coach House Concert Hall

The Los Angeles Popcorn Co.

The Original Tamale Corporation

The Rancho Boots and Western Wear

Two My Creations

Wild Bill’s Olde

Fashioned Soda Pop

Wounded Vets

Wrightwood Rocks

Yogurt GlamourAncientArtsCo LLC

Parade Entries

• Angie Waian

• Assemblywoman Laurie Davies

• Ballet Folklorico de San Juan Capistrano

• Ballet Folklorico Donaji

• Boys & Girls Clubs of Capistrano Valley

• Buccaneers of Tortuga

• Buy My Bikes Inc.

• California Republic Leadership Academy

• California Society Sons of the American Revolution

• Capistrano Valley Christian Schools

• Cat Opson

• Cefali & Cefali

• City of San Juan Capistrano

• Code of the West

• College and Career Advantage

• Del Obispo Elementary School

• Democratic Women of South Orange County

• Desert Mirage High School “Mighty Scarlet Regiment” Ram Band & Pageantry

• Dinastia Charra

• Elsinore High School Air Force JROTC

• Escondido Mounted Posse

• Esencia de Morelos USA

• Fairmont Schools, San Juan Capistrano

• Falck Ambulance

• Great Danes of Orange County

• Griffiths Middle School Marching Band

• Grupo Folklorico Nuevo Amanecer

• Harold Ambuehl Elementary School

• Homefront America

• Hula Connection

• J.F. Shea Therapeutic Riding Center

• JSerra Catholic High School

• JSerra Equestrian Team

• Juaneño Band of Mission Indians, Acjachemen Nation

• Kinoshita Elementary School

• Las Vaqueras Riding Club

• Laura’s House

• Lavender Paws Mobile Spa

• Lions Dance Together from OAC (Online Arts Charity)

• Marco Forster Middle School

• Mike Ahumada - Realtor/Remax Select One

• Mini Madness Miniature Therapy Horses and Cows

• Mission Basilica School Royal Court

• Mission Basilica School Swallows Nest

• Mission Basilica School Walkers and Cheerleaders

• Mission San Juan Capistrano

• Moulton Museum

• Mountain Fife and Drums

• National League of Young Men -South Orange County Coastal

• Neaumixfit Pilates

• Newport Harbor High School Marching Sailor Regiment

• Redwood Middle School Viking Band

• Ricardo’s Place Restaurant

• San Juan Capistrano 250 Committee

• San Juan Capistrano American Legion Post 721

• San Juan Capistrano Docent Society

• San Juan Capistrano Fiesta Association

• San Juan Capistrano Rotary Club

• San Juan Capistrano Sister City Capestrano, Italy

• San Juan Elementary School

• San Juan Hills High School

• SchoolsFirst Federal Credit Union

• SJC Youth Advisory Board, Inc.

• Soldiers of the Cross

• South OC Happy Hours

• St. Margaret’s Episcopal School

• Sussman Middle School Marching Band

• Team Taiwan

• The Daughters of the American Revolution

• The Disneyland Resorts Circle D Ranch

• The Hole in the Wall Gang

• The Juan Bautisa de Anza National Historic Trail Color Guard

• Tomas Rivera Road Runner Band

• Valley Center Vaqueros

• Variant Movement

• Victorian Roses Ladies Riding Society

• Vista Verde Middle School Cougar Marching Band

Voices of the Parade

From start to finish, the Swallows Day Parade announcers narrate the pageantry as it unfolds. Positioned throughout downtown San Juan Capistrano, they connect spectators to the story behind each entry.

Thank you to all our announcers of the 2026 Swallows Day Parade.

Taco Bell

Dottie Smith & Mike Hughes

In-N-Out Burger

Garrison West & Dawn Kamber

O’Reilly Auto Parts

Ron Ruhman & Kelsey Weisenberger

The Stand – American Classics

Redefined

Jonathan Morgan Jenkins & Mark Schwartz

Chase Bank

Kirk Morgan & Landi Morgan

El Zarandeado

Allen Goble & Tom Riehl

VIP Pavilion

Jonathan Volzke & Charlie Ware

Verdugo Street

Jim Taylor & Marie Kelly

Mission San Juan Capistrano

Tisha Bellantuoni & William Crisp

L’Hirondelle Restaurant

David Mason & Gary McCarver

El Maguey Mexican Restaurant

Silvia Mazzeo Pule & Saul Martinez

La Zanja Street

Christina Seppe & Jorge Vasquez

National Anthem Singers

Jena Abril

Maria Elena Banks

Tisha Bellantuoni

David Blair

Vicki Boone

Chandra Chamois

William Crisp

Kevin Dahlgren

Sydney Noelle Haik

THANK YOU TO OUR 2026 SPONSORS

As the Swallows Day Parade helps celebrate Mission San Juan Capistrano’s 250th anniversary, the Fiesta Association extends our deepest gratitude to the sponsors of our 2026 Fiesta de las Golondrinas season. Your generous support helps us honor the intertwined histories of our community — from our indigenous roots to the establishment of our mission and the beloved communitytraditions that continue to unite us today. Because of your partnership, the Swallows Day Parade — and entire Fiesta de las Golondrinas season — will remain a cherished celebration of our vibrant community for generations to come.

Presenting Sponsors

Farmers & Merchant Bank

St. Margaret’s Episcopal School

Parade Sponsor Inn at the Mission

Finale Sponsor

Friends of the Portolas

Pre-Division Sponsor

Orange County Realtors

Division Sponsors

Rancho Mission Viejo

Moulton Museum

JSerra Catholic High School

OC Waste & Recycling

Shuttle Sponsor

Vice Chair Katrina Foley

TV Sponsor

Fluidmaster

Mercado Sponsors

Cefali & Cefali

Safe OC

VIP Sponsors

Santa Margarita Water District

The Toll Roads

Stroscher Ranch

PacTec Law

Ganahl Lumber

Taste of San Juan Sponsor

Cefali &Cefali

Kids’ Pet Parade & Animal Rescue Expo Sponsors

Cefali & Cefali

Stroscher Ranch

Melodrama in the Park Sponsor

Stroscher Ranch

Hoos’ Gow Day Sponsor

Stroscher Ranch

Fiesta Grande Sponsor

The Stand –

American Classics Redefined

Announcer Booth Sponsors

American Horse Products

Davidson Group

Carrie Gilmore

Website and Audio/ Video Production

Performance Productions

Media Sponsor

The Capistrano Dispatch

Special thanks to City of San Juan Capistrano

Ed Stewart & Associates

Mark Parker

CR&R