The biggest non-mechanized parade in America took place last Saturday . The Swallows Day Parade is part of a week-long celebration of the world-famous arrival of the little birds to Mission San Juan Capistrano. But the swallows haven't returned to the Mission this year. To tell the truth, they don't usually come back to the Mission at all. That's a well-guarded secret that I certainly wouldn't want to get out ...

But who cares? The parade went on just the same. And it was spectacular!