There are 21 Missions that dot the state of California, and four of them can be found in San Diego County. Not only do we have four, we can also boast to having the largest Mission (Mission San Luis Rey de Francia) and the oldest Mission (Mission San Diego de Alcala). Established and built by Spanish missionaries between 1769 and 1833, these Missions are the state’s oldest structures and most-visited historic monuments in California.
This Saturday and Sunday is the Festival of the Bells, an annual two-day bash celebrating the Mission San Diego de Alcala, also referred to as the ‘Mother’ of California’s Missions. Alcala was founded by Father Junipero Serra on July 16, 1769. This Mission is a short 15 minute drive from Mission Bay, and this party is sure to be a big hit with the whole family, even your pet. The free event will have craft tables, games for the kids, live music and dancing, and plenty of food.
In the 18th century, bells were a major form of communication; they announced meals, mass, siestas, warned of danger, and rang to commemorate feasts and weddings. This weekend all five Mission bells are going to be rung (Saturday at noon), including one that dates back to 1802, during the ‘Blessing of the Bells’ ceremony.
The fun starts at 10am on Saturday, and from 6pm to 9pm there will be entertaining live music from local bands along with traditional dancing. On Sunday the festival will open at 11am and close at 5:00pm. Sunday is when the family pet comes into play. As part of the traditional activities, there will be a ‘Blessing of the Animals’ at 3pm, so feel free to bring your dog, cat, bird, hamster, or whatever you have for a long-established custom that dates back 800 years.
Be sure you come hungry, as there will be something for everyone, even an area serving ‘Healthy Bites,’ and smoothies. And to perfectly beat the heat they are also serving root beer floats. There will also be a raffle and silent auction to help this historic landmark stay open for future generations. If you can’t make the festival, don’t worry, the Mission is open everyday from 9:00am to 4:45pm.
If you are feeling adventurous, you can also make a pilgrimage to the other three Missions in San Diego County. The Old Mission San Luis Rey de Francia, the largest of all the Missions, is also known as the ‘King of the Missions,’ and walking around the beautiful grounds it’s easy to see why. Located close to Oceanside, this Mission was established in 1798, and takes its name from King Luis IX of France. San Luis Rey is open daily for self-guided tours and has a gift shop offering fair-trade and artisan items. The museum at the Mission holds the largest 18th and 19th century Spanish vestments (religious clothing) in the US.
Missions were the first effort by Europeans to colonize the Pacific Coast. They were used as churches, schools, places of refuge, and sometimes military outposts. The Santa Ysabel Asistencia was actually built as a sub-mission in 1818 for the Mission San Diego de Alcala, and used as a rest stop for travelers venturing from San Diego to Sonora, Mexico. The original structure is no longer standing, but the San Ysabel chapel, built in 1924, sits next to the adobe structure that was once the Asistencia. San Ysabel is about an hour drive north east towards the mountains of San Diego. They are open daily and during the summer months (Memorial Day to Labor Day) they have extended visiting hours (8:00am to 5:30pm).
Assistencia de San Antonio de Pala, also known as the Pala Mission, was dedicated in 1816, and is the only California mission used as a school and church by Native Americas today. Sitting at the base of the Palomar Mountains, this Mission was originally built as an extension to the Old Mission San Luis Rey. At 35 feet tall, the Mission’s bell tower is an exact replica of the one that was destroyed by torrential rains in 1916. This Mission is closed on Mondays and some Tuesdays, so be sure you check out their website before you make a trip mid-week.
We love that San Diego’s small beginnings as a fabulous city started a few miles from our headquarters in Mission Bay, at the the Mission San Diego de Alcala. There is so much rich history surrounding our town and what better way to honor it, than to learn about San Diego’s origins.
