The San Juan Bautista Mission Fiesta is coming back to life thanks to the work of David Silva, a volunteer committee, through the sponsorship of the parish of Mission San Juan Bautista, and in conjunction with the San Juan Committee and State Park Early Days.
“The strongest reason the Mission Fiesta went away is that for so long, the same people behind it have gone on,” Silva stated, adding that “the general public had the perception that the mission staff is responsible for putting it on when, in fact, it should be the parish itself.”
There were some in the community who did not want to see the tradition, and the new pastor, Fr. Alberto Cabrera, is backing up the efforts of the committee to bring it back to life.
“I’ve only been in San Juan Bautista for six months and I’m anxious to see it happen here.” Fr. Cabrera said.
Silva announced that the fiesta plans to honor St. John, the Mission’s patron saint, on Sunday, June 18 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the newly-remodeled olive grove adjacent to the mission.
Plans for the 220th anniversary of the mission features food booths, games, beer and wine, pony rides and free face painting for the children.
Following the noon mass, a mariachi band will lead a procession through the town and on to the Mission Olive Grove, where the festivities begin.
There will also be a mariachi band, providing live music throughout the day, by Grupo Macabra. Dancing is encouraged.
Raffle tickets for monetary winnings, or items donated by local businesses will be available at the parish office and at the fiesta.
Many locals fondly remember the old fiesta days, dating back more than a half-century. Richard Velasco, a native of San Juan Bautista, reminisced about the fiesta back to the 1930s.
“There was a big pageant when Father Caffery was here, and John Baumgartner was the president of the pageant. He (Baumgartner) knew famous people, like Jimmy Gleason and Leo Coreo, and invited them to stage a show near John the Baptist statue. Chairs were put around it for the audience. Anthony Lavagnino was in charge of the rodeo up to the war and then he backed off, but when the young men came back from the service the parade and rodeo started up again.
He said the fiesta featured a pro rodeo in the 60s
“They’d go to San Francisco at the Cow Palace to get persons from the pro rodeo, (to perform in San Juan Bautista), always around June 24th, but then changed that to July, to coincide with the Salinas Rodeo,” Velasco said. “The rodeo was part of the fiesta. The fiesta got started in the morning with a parade and then around 11 o’clock, the barbecue would open up.”
Velasco remembers that the beef got expensive, so they changed the barbecue to chicken.
“It was Leonard Caetano and Baumgartner who suggested a parade,” Velasco said.
The Mom and Pops and Daisy’s Saloons kept the liquor inside, because no alcohol was allowed on the street, according to Velasco.
“The police chief would go to the main man, ‘if any of you motorcycle guys cause any trouble, you’re going to jail in Hollister.’”
The police, according to Velasco, began to charge for overtime and it was a big expense, with liability over a million dollars for insurance.
Mary Anzar, a member of the original Anzar settlers, has lived in San Juan Bautista all her life, in the same house. She said she also yearns for the old fiesta as she remembers it.
Anzar has worked at the Mission gift shop for many years, but remembers the fiesta back when it was in its heyday.
“We’d stand down by my Aunt Mayme’s house to watch the parade. There were Ft. Ord soldiers with floats, and high school bands, some from the valley. The parade lasted an hour. I miss this the most,” Anzar said.
Kim Matoza, originally from Los Gatos, remembers going to the fiesta as a child with her family.
“We would make it an all-day event. I have so many good memories of that time, when all of us enjoyed the grounds, the food and the parade.
She said she is happy to know the fiesta will be back with the same good spirit as she remembers it.
Kathleen Manning recalls the Kiddie Parade, followed by dances, and the large parade with elaborate floats.
It’s sure to be a family event, for it falls on Father’s Day.
For more information, contact David Silva at 831-297-2536.