Octa's transportation blog

Skip Traffic and Take the Train to the Swallows Day Parade

Legend has it that the tiny cliff swallows return to beautiful San Juan Capistrano from their winter home in Argentina each March.

To honor this tradition, the city conducts an all-day celebration. This year, the 63rd Annual Swallows’ Day Parade and Mercado will be Saturday, March 25. The theme is “Back in the Saddle Again!” and features actor Dennis Quaid as Grand Marshal.

This popular event draws visitors from throughout southern California, and parking can be challenging. Fortunately, There is Metrolink service to the Swallows Day Parade and Mercado on the Orange County and Inland Empire-Orange County lines, and it costs only $10 to ride with the Weekend Day Pass. Kids 17 and under ride free. The event is a short walk away from the San Juan Capistrano Metrolink station.

To encourage weekend ridership, OCTA is offering an opportunity to win roundtrip Metrolink tickets to the event. Learn more and enter here.

Metrolink and Amtrak have teamed up to offer more opportunities to travel to the Swallows Day Parade. Both Metrolink and Amtrak's Pacific Surfliner will honor each other's tickets and passes to San Juan Capistrano for this event.

Weekend Metrolink service south of San Clemente Pier is temporarily unavailable.