Rooted In History: First Through The Years - 70 Celebrations, One Community
For seven decades, Fiesta has brought the pulse of summer to the heart of San Clemente. What began as a hometown pageant has grown into a beloved block party with live music, mouthwatering food, and a throughline of community spirit. This Sunday, the 70th edition of the Fiesta Music Festival returns—and we’re looking back at how it all began.
How It Started: From Coastal Legend to Community Theater (1950s–1970s)
The story starts with a canyon just outside city limits—and a little-known piece of early California history. In 1769, two young girls were baptized on the land that is now Camp Pendleton, marking what many consider the first baptism in the state. In the 1950s, San Clemente residents brought that moment to life through a pageant written and produced by a group of passionate locals.
The script, written by longtime resident Jennie Belle Bartlett, was performed for guests from L.A. radio station KFI-AM. It struck a chord—and soon became a recurring summer tradition. Staged in parks and canyon spaces, the play evolved into a full community event with homemade costumes, narrated pantomime, and a rotating cast of neighbors. While it reflected the cultural norms of its time, it also showed the town’s commitment to telling its story, however imperfectly.
By the mid-1970s, the pageant was professionally rewritten by filmmaker Norman Wright and staged for the Bicentennial celebration. It was a hit—earning a $5,000 Disneyland award and drawing full houses. Parades, pancake breakfasts, and concerts followed, turning the production into a multi-day celebration. Even celebrities got involved, with grand marshals like Martha Raye and Robert Cummings.
A New Beat: The Birth of Modern Fiesta (1980s)
In the 1980s, the festival began to shift. As the pageant faded, a new format emerged—one that focused less on reenactments and more on community energy. In 1986, Avenida Del Mar was closed to traffic, transforming downtown into a pedestrian hub of vendors, artists, and music stages.
Then came the Fiesta 5000. Launched in 1988, the 5K fun run replaced the parade and became a signature kickoff event. Families laced up their sneakers, joggers hit the streets, and locals gathered to cheer on the runners. It was a different kind of celebration—but it captured the same sense of camaraderie.
That same year, The Coasters—yes, Love Potion No. 9 Coasters—performed on stage, marking the beginning of Fiesta’s music-first focus.
What It’s Become: Fiesta Today (1990s–Present)
Today, the Fiesta Music Festival stretches across two blocks of Avenida Del Mar with three stages of live music, contests, games, and local bites. It’s part street fair, part concert, and all San Clemente. You’ll find surf bands, soul singers, craft vendors, and neighbors who haven’t missed a year in decades.
Though the parade and the 5K are memories now, they’ve left their mark. Fiesta still begins with a sense of movement and togetherness. It’s not just a festival—it’s a moment to pause and connect.
Organized by the San Clemente Chamber of Commerce, the event wouldn’t be possible without the dozens of civic groups, businesses, and volunteers who bring it to life.
Fiesta Alumni Spotlight
Over the years, Fiesta has showcased artists who later rose to regional or national fame—reminding us that small-town stages can launch big things:
Rita Coolidge – Grammy-winning singer who brought major star power to Fiesta in the early 1980s.
Tijuana Panthers – Indie surf-rock band with OC roots, headlined Fiesta in 2024.
The Aggrolites – LA-based reggae/soul group and Grammy contenders, performed in 2023.
Buck-O-Nine – Ska-punk favorites from San Diego who gained traction in the ’90s and returned to Fiesta in 2023.
Long Beach Dub Allstars – Formed by Sublime alumni, took the stage at the 2024 festival and brought SoCal dub flavor to Del Mar.
These performances show that Fiesta doesn’t just celebrate the past—it helps shape the cultural future of Southern California.
The Pause: 2020–2021
The festival took a two-year break during the pandemic, returning in 2022 with renewed appreciation. For many, the absence only deepened the realization that Fiesta isn’t just a summer outing—it’s a thread in the fabric of this town.
In 2025, we’re not celebrating 71 years on the calendar. We’re celebrating the 70 times this event has been brought to life by the people who live here.
Why It Matters
Fiesta has never been about perfection. It’s about showing up, year after year, to celebrate where we live and who we live alongside. Whether you remember the early reenactments, ran the Fiesta 5000, or just come for the live music and classic car displays, this is a story we all share.
It’s one more way San Clemente gathers—not just to remember, but to keep the spirit going.
Sources & Further Reading:
https://www.sanclementejournal.com/2008/05/01/40340/fiesta-de-la-cristianita-a-history-of-pageantry
https://www.wynnecre.com/news/read-our-latest-san-clemente-times-column-the-business-buzz-sc-fiesta-returns-after-2-year-siesta
https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1987-07-10-me-1685-story.html
https://www.picketfencemedia.com/sanclementetimes/sc-living/historical-happenings-revisiting-a-san-clemente-tradition/article_d946c841-bfa6-5ca8-ac94-4fb4e845f964.html
