When you go shopping at Ortega's Trading Post in San Juan Capistrano, you get a free copy of the "Swallow Story," the tale of the local birds known as cliff swallows.
It goes like this:
"With the arrival of early dawn on St. Joseph's Day, the little birds begin to arrive and begin rebuilding their mud nests, which are clinging to the ruins of the old stone church of San Juan Capistrano...After the summer spent within the sheltered walls of the Old Mission in San Juan Capistrano, the swallows take flight again, and on the Day of San Juan, October 23, they leave to return to their winter home in Goya, Argentina after circling the Mission bidding farewell to the 'Jewel of All Missions.'"
Legend has it that in the early 20th century, swallows had become such a nuisance to the townspeople that a shopkeeper started knocking down their nests with a broom.
The pastor of the Mission at the time, Father St. John O'Sullivan, wrote in his story Capistrano Nights that he called out to them:
"Come on swallows, I'll give you shelter.
Come to the Mission.
There's room enough there for all."
Thus, celebrating the Return of the Swallows on St. Joseph's Day, March 19, has been an annual tradition at Mission San Juan Capistrano since the 1920s.
And now, the Swallows Day Parade—held on the following Saturday—just celebrated its 65th year. (It had to skip 2020 and 2021 because of the COVID-19 pandemic; and it had to go on without horses due to an equine virus outbreak in 2022.)
It's notoriously difficult to find parking around the parade route with all the street closures, so we took one of the parade's free shuttles—which dropped us off right before the parade staging area.
As we walked to find a spot near the parade starting point, we got to see the Budweiser Clydesdales lining up...
...and the Budweiser dalmatian waiting patiently atop the horse-drawn beer wagon.
Some miniature horses were getting ready to clip-clop in the Pet Parade section...
...one having gotten a special haircut to give it zebra stripes.
Members of the 1st Battalion, Eleventh Marine Regiment stood at ease in the moments before the 11 a.m. start time...
...and then proceeded with their march forward once things got underway. 
The Swallows Day Parade (part of the Fiesta de Las Golondrinas) is a non-motorized procession—so horse teams and wagons are a huge part of it.
Plenty of participants make their way through the streets of San Juan Capistrano on foot, too, some holding swallow figures on sticks...
...while others gallop along with a hobby horse.
This year's parade theme was "Lassos and Lace," so of course there was a trick roper showing off his skills.
Lots of local schools participated, too, including the hometown students of JSerra Catholic High School (above, who sported bedazzled crosses on their backs) and St. Margaret's Episcopal School.
Pet Parade winners included a wiener dog in a hot dog costume...
...which marched alongside what I can only describe as some kind of miniature cow?
It had incredible white eyelashes.
Parade participants were actually quite eclectic—including representatives from San Juan Capistrano's sister city, the village of Capestrano, Italy, who sang "O Sole Mio" while dressed like gondoliers.
The Redwood Middle School Viking Band came all the way down from Thousand Oaks, California to march in the parade...
...and the Buccaneers of Tortuga took a break from plundering and pillaging to stroll the streets in honor of the swallows.
The parade featured lots of Mexican folkloric dancers, like those from Ballet Folklorico de San Juan Capistrano (above)...
...Grupo Folklorico Alebrijes (above), also of San Juan Capistrano...
...and Ballet Folklorico Donaji from Anaheim (above)...
Folklórico dancers also represented Ricardo's Place...
...a local Mexican restaurant in San Juan Capistrano.
Although there are plenty of carriage companies that rent out horse-drawn vehicles, some participants choose to proceed on horseback—like the Padre Junipero Serra Riders (above) and many other riding teams (like Las Vaqueras and the Temecula Cowgirls).
Then there was the covered wagon-riding bull? steer? ox? that came along with Saddleback Area Historical Society and Moulton Museum.
All the horses wore their Fiesta finest, but especially those pulling the dignitaries down the route.
Team Taiwan brought San Taizi ("Three Prince" of Taiwanese folklore) and a giant cup of boba...
...while Chinelos dancers brought the festive spirit of the Mexican state of Morelos to the streets of Orange County.
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They're a common sight in parades that take place during Carnival season...
...as they mock Europeans and European colonialism (including the Spanish conquistadors) with their long, flowing robes...
...and masks of fair complexions and upturned beards.
They danced hypnotically to the music of Banda Fantasma La Diosa de los Sones Chineleros.
We spent too much time in the sun at the parade to have any energy to tour the Mission, so we didn't see any actual swallows during our trip to San Juan Capistrano for the Swallows Day Parade. But I hope they're there. I hope they came back on St. Joseph's Day.
Even if they can only be found in the eaves and under the arches of the old church ruin.
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