SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO : It Could Rain on Swallows Parade

A little rain will not stop the 33rd annual Swallows Day Parade Saturday, but a “torrential downpour” could result in the first-ever postponement of the parade, event organizers said Thursday.

“The weather looks good for us,” said Karen Danielson, publicity director of the San Juan Capistrano Fiesta Assn., organizer of the downtown event. “As far as I know, the parade has never been postponed. Four years ago we had a pretty good rainfall and the parade went on anyway. Our only concern is for the animals.”

The only casualty of the recent rainy weather has been the annual rodeo, which was to have taken place Saturday and Sunday but was canceled, Danielson said. The rodeo grounds at the intersection of Junipero Serra Road and Camino Capistrano have not held up well due to the rainfall, she said.

“We had so much rain, even without another drop it would not be safe for a rodeo, not safe for the riders or the people,” Danielson said.

Downtown streets will be closed beginning at 10 a.m. in preparation for the 11 a.m. parade start. About 30,000 people are expected to line the route.

The Swallows Day Parade, billed as the nation’s largest equestrian, non-motorized parade, starts and finishes at Buchheim Field near the intersection of El Camino Real and Ortega Highway. It will include more than 1,100 local schoolchildren, about 1,000 horses, floats, wagons, marching bands and drill teams.

Grand marshal will be Shelley Taylor Morgan, co-host of ABC television’s “The Home Show.” Morgan will be on horseback.