History La Fiesta de San Gabriel, as it is formally known, celebrates the anniversary of the founding of Mission San Gabriel Archangel.  The Fiesta has been held for many years on Labor Day Weekend, which marks the September 8, 1771, date when the mission was established.  Mission San Gabriel is the fourth of the original 21 California missions.  The mission, museum, and grounds are State Historic Landmark No. 158. 2016 Fiesta celebrates 245 years of service to communities of the San Gabriel Valley, Los Angeles, and surrounding Counties.  San Gabriel Mission is a state and nationally-recognized historical site as a major part of California history, and also supports both a co-ed elementary school and an all-girls high school in addition to its many ministries serving more than 40 groups in the languages of English, Chinese, Italian, Spanish, Tagalog and Vietnamese. Description of Fiesta Celebration The Fiesta begins with a Volunteer Mass and Coronation of the Fiesta Royal Court two weeks before the Fiesta Weekend.  Over the course of three days of the actual Fiesta: Friday, Sept. 4, Saturday, Sept. 5, and Sunday, Sept. 6, 2015 (Labor Day Weekend), the people of San Gabriel Mission in the City of San Gabriel and surrounding areas come together for a family-oriented festival filled with cultural, historic, and religious activities for all ages, international foods, live entertainment, exciting games, and rides of many sizes.  Highlights include a Royal Court of local youth, major awards/prizes worth more than $9,000 including a Children’s and Pet’s Costume Contest and Blessing of the Animals.  Fiesta is also the largest fundraiser of the year with proceeds directed toward the parish, elementary, and high school needs.  Admission is FREE and we welcome a canned food item per person to help support our Food Pantry.