Week in Review : MAJOR EVENTS, IMAGES AND PEOPLE IN ORANGE COUNTY NEWS. : CITIES : Swallows Return, but Good Old Days Are Gone

As they do every St. Joseph’s Day, the tourists came back to Capistrano.

As usual, the tourists far outnumbered the swallows, most of which have long since decided to live on the less crowded outskirts of town.

And as usual, 90-year-old Paul Arbiso sounded the mission bell signifying that the first returning swallow had been sighted.

And once again Rafael (Googie) Rene was there to sing his father’s 1939 hit song, “When the Swallows Come Back to Capistrano” and to answer the phone when radio stations from around the country call for a swallow report.

Their most common question: How many have you seen so far?

“Who cares about statistics,” Rene said. “It’s a great happening.”

It is also a changing happening. Traditionally a week of raucous celebration reflecting the city’s Western roots, the festival this year has taken on a yuppie flavor. Featured events included a fashion show, a formal ball, a polo match and a 10-kilometer run. Sponsors included BMW and Mercedes-Benz dealerships and a Napa Valley champagne vintner.

“You cannot, unfortunately, keep yesterday around forever,” said Jay Leitzke, publicity director for the fiesta. “We’ve got a lot of new people in town, and they’re interested in more upscale kinds of things.”