Each March, the tiny swallows return to beautiful San Juan Capistrano from their winter home in Argentina. To honor this tradition, the city holds an annual celebration. This year, the 57th Annual Swallows’ Day Parade and Mercado will be held on March 21.
For those planning to attend, freeway construction at the Ortega Highway (74) and the I-5 Interchange may make traffic a hassle.
Fortunately, there’s a great alternative to driving: Metrolink. To celebrate the swallows and introduce people to the benefits of journeying by Metrolink, OCTA is holding a kickoff celebration at the Tustin Metrolink Station (2975 Edinger Ave.) on Saturday, March 21, 2015 beginning at 8:30 a.m. The first 50 visitors will receive a free roundtrip Metrolink ticket to San Juan Capistrano.
All the Swallows’ Day Parade and Mercado events are within easy walking distance of the San Juan Capistrano Metrolink station. In addition, many area businesses offer discounts to riders.
The parade begins at 11 a.m., but plan to arrive early to avoid the street closures that start at 10 a.m. Hours for the street fair and marketplace are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
