Kimberleigh Gavin, a member of the SJC Docent Society for 13 years, designed the new city seal for San Juan Capistrano. Her design was selected last September and is now being used throughout the city. The SJC Docent Society asked Kimberleigh to describe the new seal and how the design came to be. Below is…
The Adobes of San Juan Capistrano: People Who Lived in Them Members of the San Juan Capistrano Docent Society Date and Time Sunday, May 17, 20261:30PM-3:00PM Our SIXTH SPEAKER SERIES with the SJC DOCENT SOCIETY was AMAZING!Below are photos created by Photographer Rick Valasek.(SJC 250 did not have permission to film this speaker) Topic Step…
Celebrate the Spring Equinox and the Return of the Swallows with us at the Blas Aguilar Adobe Museum. Join us Saturday, March 28th from 10 AM to 4 PM for crafts, basket weaving demonstrations, and museum tours as we welcome páaxomoyil, springtime. Bring the family and celebrate the season of renewal with us in San…
The 66th Annual Swallows Day Parade and Mercado Street Fair will be held on Saturday, March 21st, 2026. The Fiesta de las Golondrinas celebrates the return of the swallows to the San Juan Capistrano Mission on St. Joseph’s Day, which is March, 19th. The Parade and Mercado Street Faire offer a full day of family…
On Saturday, October 18, San Jacinto High School Wood Technology students spent their “Saturday School” traveling back in time to early Alta California. In an effort to expand students’ local and culturally relevant design fluency, the class explored Rios Street in San Juan Capistrano, the state’s oldest neighborhood. Led by Helen Gavin from the San…
The SJC Docent Society provided tours of the Blas Aguilar Adobe. They offered interactive learning stations for the community.
As the United States approaches its 250th anniversary, the term “Colonial America” often brings to mind the 13 colonies on the East Coast. Yet at the same time, California was also a colony—under Spanish rule—and plenty of history was unfolding here as well.Join us for an engaging presentation by Chris Jepsen, Orange County Historical Society…
In 2026 the United States of America will celebrate it’s 250th anniversary. Mission San Juan Capistrano—the birthplace of Orange County—will also mark its 250th anniversary. This historic milestone offers an incredible opportunity to celebrate, not only our country’s birth but also the rich cultural heritage, resilient spirit, and diverse community that define our city of…
We had a wonderful tour of the Garcia Adobe located on Camino Capistrano. Built in the 1840s by Manuel Garcia, a Portuguese merchant, this is the only surviving Monterey style adobe in Orange County. Owned by the Oyharzabal family since 1880, its uses have included: French Hotel, a general store and the town’s first American…
The 65th Annual Swallows Day Parade and Mercado Street Fair was held on Saturday, March 22nd, 2025. The Fiesta de las Golondrinas celebrates the return of the swallows to the San Juan Capistrano Mission on St. Joseph’s Day, which is March, 19th. The Parade and Mercado Street Faire offer a full day of family fun,…