Old Mission San Juan Bautista will hold its annual fiesta
honoring St. John the Baptist, its patron saint, from 11 a.m. to 5
p.m. on June 21 in the olive grove adjacent to the mission.
Old Mission San Juan Bautista will hold its annual fiesta honoring St. John the Baptist, its patron saint, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on June 21 in the olive grove adjacent to the mission.
The fiesta celebrates the 212th anniversary of the founding of the mission on June 24, 1797, by Father FermÃn Francisco de Lasuen and continues an early California tradition. The afternoon fiesta is family-oriented and, in addition to the popular chicken barbecue, includes continuous on-stage entertainment, game booths for children and various ethnic food and beverage booths. There is no charge to enter the grounds.
There will be special live entertainment throughout the afternoon.
The popular chicken barbecue is a joint effort with the San Juan Service Club. Club members cook the chicken over charcoal fires in large open-pits, and mission volunteers for $8 per plate prepare the meals, including salad, beans and bread. Other food and beverage booths include strawberry shortcake, tacos, nachos, ice cream, sodas and beer and wine.
The fiesta, celebrating the Mission’s founding, is an annual fundraiser for its maintenance and restoration. The mission, the 15th in the line of the 21 missions in California, is the largest, having three naves supported by arches in three-foot thick walls. A second fund-raising effort is the annual raffle for prizes of $2,000, $1,000, $500 and two for $250. Tickets are $1. The prizes are memorials donated by members of the Mission parish.
The chairperson coordinating this year’s event is Mary Edge, a long-time resident and parish leader. Please call (831) 623-2127 for additional information.
