A LOOK BACKKay Shaw talks about her

husband’s vision for the very first Swallows Day Parade

PARADE MAP & EVENTSCheck out this year’s route and events leading up to

the parade

NEWBIES GUIDE TO THE PARADETips and tricks for navigating

this year’s Swallows Day Parade

INSIDE

BY ALLISON JARRELLNinety-three-year-old Kathrine “Kay” Shaw remem-

bers much about the origin of the Swallows Day Parade in San Juan Capistrano. It’s a subject near and dear to Kay’s heart because her late husband, Fulton Shaw, is credited as one of the parade’s founders in the early 1950s.

Fulton hailed from the San Diego area, and Kay was originally from Glendora, where her father owned the local newspaper. The two eventually ended up meeting at Knott’s Berry Farm before moving together to San Juan Capistrano in the late 1950s. When Kay met Fulton at Knott’s, they were both in their 30s and Fulton was work-ing at Old MacDonald’s Farm, training animals and making TV appearances with barnyard critters (imagine a chicken playing the piano). Kay was interested in following in her father’s footsteps and getting into publicity and she went on to become the founder of Knott’s Birdcage Theater.

After moving to San Juan, the duo became embedded in the community. Kay was, and still is today, involved in the Woman’s Club. She and Fulton often visited the mission to enjoy its beauty and to learn more about San Juan’s history. The pair adored living in San Juan Capistrano—which, at the time, had only 500 people to its name and was filled lemon trees, orange groves and dirt roads. Kay remembers a few businesses existing in San Juan, like a small café and Shorty’s Market, but at the time there wasn’t much else.

A group of residents who owned horses were already putting on their own parade when Kay and Fulton arrived in San Juan, but Fulton had a larger vision to draw more people in to town.

“We loved the area. Once we came here to live, Fulton said, ‘Every town needs a parade!’” Kay recalled. “He said this town had to have a real parade where we could invite outsiders to come in and visit. He also felt the town needed outside money.”

Kay describes Fulton as gregarious—a lover of people. (She’s the same way, but admits that she wasn’t nearly as outgoing). Being a people person made it easy for Fulton to begin organizing the parade, Kay said. He reached out to his friends, members of the Native American community and other community members to get the parade on its feet.

“I love to look back at the beginning,” Kay said smiling. “My husband was a very active person with a great imagi-nation and a will to do things. He loved San Juan with all of his heart.”

It was one of Fulton’s friends, the well-known judge, Marco Forster, who proposed the name, Fiesta de las Golondrinas. Kay recalls the moment when they were all together and the name was chosen. It came suddenly to Forster, she said, as if he were just waiting for Fulton to ask.

The parade’s title as the largest non-motorized parade in the nation had an earnest start, as Kay said all entrants were originally required to walk, ride a horse or ride in a horse-drawn carriage. In order to help get the word out, Kay relied on her publicity background and, as the parade chairperson, she reached out to local and regional newspapers.

“I worked the hardest at the beginning to get enough money to have bands, because I love a march-ing band.” Kay recalled. “I wanted to have at least three bands, so we had to figure out how to get the money.”

Kay’s solution was to hold fundraisers by cooking and serving up as much food as they possibly could—includ-ing roasting a pig in the middle of town.

The first official Swallows Day Parade took place in 1954, and in 1960, the parade included celebrity grand

marshals Barbara Stanwyck and Audie Murphy—another publicity move, Kay said, to draw attention to the tiny town of San Juan. She still remembers how Stanwyck told the most interesting stories and even requested a specific type of champagne for her arrival.

As the years rolled on, San Juan Capistrano continued to grow in size, and so did the Swallows Day Parade. Today, Kay still enjoys watching the parade go by her daughter’s home, right next to the Mission. She and Fulton always thought big when it came to Fiesta de las Golondrinas—but did they ever expect it would grow to such epic proportions?

“Oh yeah, you have to!” Kay said. “When you’re in pub-licity, you see everything big—no failures. You don’t want to spend your time on failures.”

Fulton Shaw, one of the founders of the Swallows Day Parade in San Juan Capistrano.

Remembering the Beginnings of San Juan Capistrano’s Swallows Day ParadeKay Shaw recalls her husband’s vision for a non-motorized parade in San Juan

Kay Shaw rides in the Swallows Day Parade. Photos: Courtesy of Kay Shaw

1954

1960

1961

1964

1967

1971

1977

1979

1980

1981

1983

1986

1987

1990

1991

1992

2014

2015

First official Swallows Day Parade organized by Business-man’s Association

Second Swallows Day Parade; Barbara Stanwyck and Audie Murphy first Grand Marshals

Chief Clarence Lobo appeared in full ceremonial tribal dress

San Juan Capistrano Fiesta Association established

First Pancake Breakfast by Woman’s Club and Rotary

First Hairiest Man in Town Contest

Parade route revised to Camino Capistrano to allow for larger crowd

First Toddler Marathon

Leon Rene, composer of “When Swallows Return to Capistrano,” is Grand Marshal

First Swallows Day Barbecue

Belt Buckle Contest established

First Ms. Fiesta

First Miss Fiesta and Jr. Senor San Juan Capistrano

Anita Adkisson becomes first woman president of Fiesta Association

First Boot Contest

Clydesdale horses in parade

First annual Frog Jumping Contest

El Presidenté Ball is held at the Mission

Timeline: An Ever-

Evolving FiestaHighlights and additions to

the Fiesta de las Golondrinas

throughout the years.

Information courtesy of Jan Siegel and the San Juan Capistrano Historical Society.

March 18 Fiesta Grande6 p.m.-9 p.m. Four contests and a night of Wild West entertainment are rolled into one evening of fun at the Fiesta Grandé. Join your friends and make new ones at the Swallow’s Inn and enter to win one of the categories being judged. Spectators are welcome. Entrance fee is $5 per person, per category. Pay when you arrive. Winners will receive a $50 gift certificate from the Boot Barn. For more information, call 949.493.1976 or visit www.swallowsparade.com. Swallow’s Inn, 31786 Camino Capistrano, San Juan Capistrano.

March 14 El Presidenté Ball6 p.m.-10 p.m. The Fiesta Association’s 2015 El Presidenté Ball is a Western formal event celebrat-ing the heritage of San Juan Capistrano. Enjoy great food and old-fashioned fun while dancing under the stars (weather permitting) to live country-western style music at Mission San Juan Capistrano, located at 26801 Ortega Highway. Tickets are $65 and can be purchased online or at Fiesta Association meet-ings or events. For more information, visit www.swallowsparade.com/presball.html.

March 21 Parade Day Highlights57th Annual Swallows Day Parade 11 a.m. The U.S. Marine Corp Marching Band and Mounted Color Guard will kick off the Swallows Day Parade, the grand finale of Fiesta de las Golondrinas.

Mercado Street Faire8 a.m.-5 p.m. The Mercado Street Faire will be located at the Historic Town Center Park (on El Camino Real, just off Ortega Highway).

March 19 St. Joseph’s Day/Return of the Swallows10 a.m.-3 p.m. Join Mission San Juan Capistrano in cel-ebrating St. Joseph’s Day with live music, performances and activities. The celebration includes a special guest lecture on cliff swallows, ringing of the historic bells and community presentations. Admission is free for Mission members, $10 for adults, $9 for seniors and $6 for children ages 4-11. 26801 Ortega Highway, San Juan Capistrano, 949.234.1300, www.missionsjc.com.

EventsFIESTA DE LAS GOLONDRINAS

March 20 Hoos’Gow Day9 a.m.-4 p.m. Hoos’Gow Day is an annual tradition that brings a taste of the Wild West back to downtown San Juan Capistrano. The “sheriff” and the “deputies” of the Fiesta Association are dressed in their traditional black and white Western garb while they roam the town in search of city slickers. If you’re not wearing western clothing, the depu-ties just might “arrest” you and throw you in the hoos’gow, leaving you no choice but to make “bail” by purchasing a Fiesta Association souvenir. For more information call 949.493.1976 or visit www.swallowsparade.com.

March 20 Frog Jumping Contest3 p.m. The Fiesta Association’s second annual frog jumping contest will include music and prizes at Mission Grill, 31721 Camino Capistrano, San Juan Capistrano.

Avoid the Parking CrunchThe Swallows Day Parade begins at 11 a.m., but it’s best to arrive early on Satur-

day as parking fills up fast and street closures start at 10 a.m.

Invite Out-of-Town Guests to Arrive by TrainMetrolink has a special Swallows Day Parade promotion, which includes a

chance to win free rail tickets: www.octa.net/Metrolink/Win-Metrolink-Tickets. All the parade events are within easy walking distance of San Juan’s Metrolink station.

• Board Metrolink Train 660 or 859 at the station nearest to you.• Arrive at San Juan Capistrano station.• From the station, walk to the Swallows Day Parade and the Mercado Street Faire in the Historic Town Center Park (on El Camino Real, just off Ortega Highway).

Take the Shuttle BusIf you’re too close to take the train (but too far away to walk) a shuttle bus

service will be offered from 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m, starting along north Rancho Viejo Road. Free shuttle bus parking can be found at Fluidmaster, located at 30800 Rancho Viejo Road, and the Capistrano Business Plaza, located at 30250 Rancho Viejo Road on the east side of Interstate 5 (use the Junipero Serra Exit).

Shuttles will drop passengers off at the corner of El Horno and La Matanza streets for a short walk into downtown San Juan Capistrano. Riders may also use the shuttle bus to participate in the Pancake Breakfast at the Women’s Club, adja-cent to the Old Fire Station. The shuttle costs $2 to ride.

Start with a Homemade BreakfastBegin your morning bright and early with the annual pancake breakfast from

6 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. The Woman’s Club of San Juan Capistrano and the San Juan Capistrano Rotary Club will serve up pancakes, ham and scrambled eggs at the

The Newbies Guide to Swallows DayWoman’s Club, located at 31442 El Horno Street. Guests are encouraged to make an $8 donation, or $4 for kids under 10. For more information, call 949. 276.7688 or visit www.womansclubofsanjuancap-istrano.com.

Dress in Your Best Western Garb

If you’re looking for a last-minute outfit upgrade, stop in at one of San Juan’s local shops for your equestrian and Western gear needs. Stores like American Horse Products, located at 31896 Plaza Drive Suite C4, and

Ortega Tack & Feed, at 31738 Rancho Viejo Road, Suite A, offer a range of apparel, from hats and boots to jewelry and casual wear. They also have your horse covered with feed, bedding and other supplies.

Refuel with Some Local CuisineSan Juan Capistrano is filled with dining options downtown—just on Camino

Capistrano alone you’ll find Mexican fare and margaritas at El Adobe de Capistrano, a twist on classic American and Mexican cuisine at Mission Grill and some tasty tomato soup at Sundried Tomato.

Woman’s Club, located

Swallows Day

Parade Tips

The Swallows Day Parade is one of the nation’s largest non-motorized parades, taking place throughout downtown San Juan Capistrano. Read on for details on the parade and tips for navigating your way through the day’s many events.

Starting at 11 a.m. the 57th Annual Swallows Day Parade will kick off with the U.S. Marine Corp Marching Band and Mounted Color Guard.

Swallows Day Parade Stats• More than 130 entries• 500 horses by wagon and/or mounted groups• More than 3,800 people on foot in the parade• 23 floats, nine marching bands• Two hours in length—the route is a little over a mile longAt 2 p.m., awards will take place at the Historic Town Cen-

ter Park, located near the Mercado Street Faire area between the back of Swallow’s Inn and the back of Marie Calendars’ parking lots. The parade is adjudicated with 10 professional judges who will award the best entries in the parade.

Visit the Mercado Street FairFrom 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., the Mercado Street Faire will be

located at the Historic Town Center Park, on El Camino Real, just off Ortega Highway. Steps away from the main parade route, families can peruse booths filled with cowboy hats, clothing, jewelry and tasty dining options, from barbeque and spuds to sausage and salads. Ice cold beer will be sold between 12:30 p.m. and 3:30 p.m.

Live music will be provided by the traditional country music group, Working Cowboy Band. New cars from local dealers will also be available to view and schedule a test drive. Family entertainment will be provided, as well as a kid’s play zone in the Historic Town Center Park. The play zone will include a bounce house, slides and human bubbles to roll across the water in.

FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE PARADE AND OTHER FIESTA ASSOCIATION EVENTS, CALL 949.493.1976 OR VISIT WWW.SWALLOWSPARADE.COM.