Welcome to San Juan Bautista

Jill Pagaran, Volunteer at the San Juan Bautista Welcome Center

San Juan Bautista may be a very small city (population about 1,900),  but you'll find a lot to discover and explore in and around the once-upon-a-time Mission village.

The Mission San Juan Bautista and the San Juan Bautista Historic State Park are probably the top historic sites that visitors check out, which can be a full day adventure in itself.  You may need and want to come back another day to check out other things that San Juan offers: historic walks. . .trails to hike. . .places to bike. . .back roads to drive. . .thrift, antique, and boutique shops. . .art galleries. . .El Teatro Campesiño performances. . .a variety of eating and drinking establishments. . .wine tasting. . . events (such as the annual BBQ cook off, antique fair, Ghost Walk, and Holiday Bonfire). . .and much, much more.

To get your bearings and learn about events while you're visiting, check out the San Juan Bautista Welcome Center inside the San Juan Bakery at 319 Third Street (the main street) during business hours, Tuesday through Sunday, 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Volunteers man the desk Friday through Sunday, from 12:00 to 4:00 p.m. 

October—Full of Wandering and Wondering

My appreciation to San Juan Bakery, in San Juan Bautista, for reminding me about the joy and wonder of October. The Husband and I have had lots of fun adventures in, around, and out of Hollister this month. Who knows what these next three October days shall bring.

Dia de los Muertos with El Teatro Campesiño

This weekend, El Teatro Campesiño will start off its 50th year with its annual Dia de los Muertos celebration in San Juan Bautista. Through dance, music, art, and altar offerings, the locally-based, renowned theater company will honor and remember the dearly departed. The event will begin on Friday, October 29 and go through Sunday, November 1.

Joining in the celebration is the Esperanza del Valle Folkloric Dance Troupe, which will perform throughout the weekend at the Playhouse on 705 4th Street.

• Friday, 8:00 p.m.
• Saturday, 2:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m.
• Sunday,  4:00 p.m.

The dance group will perform traditional dances from the Huasteca, Veracruz, Nayarit, Jalisco, and Colima regions, as well as perform Macaria, an original choreodrama that the dance troupe adapted from the novel written by B. Traven. Tickets can be purchased online at Brown Paper Tickets.

El Teatro will also have traditional and artistic altars on display at the Playhouse. The public can view the altars, for free, during these hours:

• Friday, 7:00 p.m. with Altar Blessing and Danza at 7:15 p.m.
• Saturday, 1:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m.
• Sunday, 1:00 p.m. with a closing Danza Blessing

As in past years, El Teatro will lead a Dia del los Muertos procession through the historic streets of San Juan Bautista. The parade will be held twice—6:00 p.m. on Saturday and 2:00 p.m. on Sunday.

Eyes Playing Tricks

Does that dark shape on the right hand side of the photo look like a dog, boar, or some other kind of animal to you?

I took this photo on Bolsa Road (aka Highway 25) as the Husband and I were driving home to Hollister. Perhaps the "creature" only runs along Briggs Road at sunset.

Talented High School Thespians

On Friday evening, the Husband and I enjoyed watching No Signs of Intelligent Life, a comedy performed by the San Benito High School Drama 3 class at the Baler auditorium.

The play was about extraterrestrials from the far distant planet of Gilroy pretending to be humans so as to study them more closely. The space aliens are hilariously confused and dumbfounded with the ways of the humans as they relate to them in such situations as gossiping around the workplace water cooler, substitute teaching, dating, survival camping, and purchasing a fast food hamburger.

The young men and women totally delivered the funny. Their passion and joy for the craft of acting was so infectious that I wanted to suddenly audition for a play.

The drama department has several other performances scheduled for the rest of the year. No doubt, they'll be as entertaining as the one we saw.

• November 13: ComedySportz (competitive improvisational comedy)
• January 15: ComedySportz
• March 17, 18, 19, 24, and 25: Thoroughly Modern Millie (musical)
• April 8: Variety Show/Faculty Follies
• April 22: ComedySportz
• May 12 and 13: Student-directed One-Act Festival