San Juan Capistrano CA— Take Metrolink to the 60^th annual Swallows Day Parade Saturday, March 24, starting at 11 a.m. in downtown San Juan Capistrano and enjoy a $10 unlimited rides fare.
This is one of the nation’s largest non-motorized parades featuring marching bands, mariachis, children and adults dressed in colorful swallows costumes and Western wear, equestrian riders, decorated horse drawn wagons, local scouts and more. The parade theme this year is Diamond Trails & Swallows Tales.
Traditionally, cliff swallows return each spring to nest at Mission San Juan Capistrano, a world renowned event feted in song and literature. Swallows migrate 6,000 miles from Goya, Argentina to San Juan Capistrano.
After the parade, mariachis will perform at the historic Mission San Juan Capistrano from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. The Mercado Street Faire will be held from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Historic Town Center Park just off the parade route. All these events are part of Fiesta de las Golondrinas, festival of the swallows.
It’s just a short walk to the parade route and mission from the Metrolink San Juan Capistrano train station. Metrolink has direct service on its Orange County and Inland Empire-Orange County lines.
There is plenty to do in San Juan Capistrano throughout the year. Families and others can make a day of it enjoying the mission, nearby restaurants, wine tasting and shopping for antiques and other gifts.
A petting zoo, park and museums are just steps away from the Metrolink station in the Los Rios Historic District, one of the oldest continuing neighborhoods in Orange County.
 For more information about San Juan Capistrano, go to: www.metrolinktrains.com/destinations/historic-san-juan-capistrano/.
For more information on the Swallows Day Parade, go to: www.swallowsparade.com.
For Metrolink schedules, go to www.metrolinktrains.com.