Fans of Swallows Flock to Parade : San Juan Capistrano Celebration Fetes Bird

Like the legendary swarm of swallows that flock to San Juan Capistrano each year, an estimated 15,000 to 30,000 people jammed this city Saturday to celebrate the birds’ return with an Old West-style parade, fair and rodeo.

A parade of desperadoes, Spanish flamenco dancers and uniformed cavalry troops filled the downtown streets while visitors cheered and applauded from the sidewalks.

Eight-year-old Javier Munoz twisted, twirled and looped a lasso around himself as he marched to the sounds of distant drums and gunshots from a staged Wild West showdown. A group of women dressed in peach frilled dresses, a style from the Mexican revolutionary period, followed on horseback.

The Swallows Day parade, one of the nation’s largest non-motorized parades, featured more than 200 entries from various groups, churches and families. It is considered the highlight of the city’s monthlong celebration of the swallows, or Fiesta de las Golondrinas, and is one of the events that has made San Juan Capistrano internationally famous.

“It’s a nice family type of entertainment,” said Keith Devine of San Clemente. “People like to see a parade. It’s also non-motorized, which makes it unique.”

The weekend events, which included a salsa cook-off and musical band competition, celebrate the legend of the swallow, a bird that has migrated from Argentina to Mission San Juan Capistrano on St. Joseph’s Day, March 19, for hundreds of years.

“To get to watch the swallows, that’s the biggest part,” said Rita Gonzales of San Bernardino. “They don’t come like they used to. Maybe the environment has sort of scared them away, but they do come. It’s a tradition, it’s something to come and see and enjoy.”

Gonzales, who has been been to previous parades as child, brought her nieces and nephews this year to give them a taste of “real Southern Californian heritage.”

A sheriff’s spokesman said about 15,000 people attended the day’s activities. But San Juan Capistrano Mayor Gil Jones estimated there were more than 30,000 visitors Saturday, which would make it the largest crowd in the event’s 35 years. Thousands more are expected to attend upcoming events throughout the week, including the Swallow 5K and 10K Run.

Frank Perez of Orange expected the crowds and came about two hours early with his two sons.

Like many others who brought lounge chairs and blankets to the parade, Christopher Perez, 5, came prepared with his red wagon, drink, blanket and three bags of potato chips.

Nine-year-old Nicole Mortensen also got a perfect view of the parade from her father’s shoulders. Decked in silver boots, jeans and a demin shirt, Nicole marveled at the horses and exquisite costumes.

“It’s fantastic, that’s why I live here,” said Jim Mortensen, Nicole’s father and a San Juan Capistrano resident. “We love it--the Spanish influence, the missions and the western atmosphere.”

While country music blared from the streets, some people found a quiet place to pray in the Mission San Juan Capistrano Catholic Church. The occasion was a religious one for many. When the parade ended, the crowd poured into shops and restaurants or continued to celebrate at the street fair, called the Mercado.

Booths offered such foods as barbecue beef kebabs, steak sandwiches and boca dillo , a Spanish sandwich made of potato, onion and eggs.

Dozens also lined up for tours of Mission San Juan Capistrano, the 217-year-old site where swallows are said to have first gathered. Inside the mission, a group of American Indians demonstrated crafts that have served the mission for hundreds of years.