Capistrano Beach Celebrates in Every Season 

Article Written By Katie Mehrer 

Capistrano Beach is alive in every season with activities from the athletic to the eclectic. Celebrating classic cars, welcoming whales, and being awestruck by art all come naturally to the residents of this beautiful stretch of California beach that ranges from Laguna Beach south to San Clemente. With so many events and festivals to choose from in every season of the year, visitors are always welcome to come get a salty-sweet taste of our seaside lifestyle. 

Springtime kicks off with the Dana Point Festival of Whales. For 38 years, this outdoor celebration of migration has lauded one of the world’s most amazing creatures. It offers whale watching, a parade, a lively street faire, volleyball and horseshoe tournaments, and many more entertaining activities. During festival season, 40 to 50 majestic California Gray Whales pass by Dana Point per day, and are said to use the Dana Point Headland’s 200-foot cliffs as a landmark to check their migration path. Don’t miss this rare opportunity to view their passage and participate in sailboat rides, walking tours, living history demonstrations, and learning labs all about whales. 

Our perfect springtime weather also brings out the Southern California Woody Club and Car Show, for an afternoon spent in nostalgic grandeur. Grunion Night, at Doheney State Beach, is a fun and educational event for kids and adults alike, all about grunion and other marine life mysteries. Get your garden started with Community GardenFest, at the San Clemente Community Center, where columnists, authors, and other horticultural notables give workshops. You can also enjoy plein air painting demonstrations, a flea market, a kids’ plant workshop, and bluebird and butterfly booths!  

March is ideal for sampling all the offerings of the Mission San Juan Capistrano. Founded more than 200 years ago, it is a monument to California’s multi-cultural history. The Return of the Swallows Celebration is paired with St. Joseph’s day when the mission opens its doors to the public for a fantastic assortment of performances, historic bell ringing, guided tours, living history demonstrations, and Italian food vendors. The legend of the swallows lives on through this historic festival.