The most magical night of the year will begin on the streets of Spain in just a few hours with the traditional Three Kings parade, which this year will take place on Saturday, January 4 in several cities, particularly Andalusian, Extremaduran, and Galician ones, due to the forecast of rain on Sunday. Each procession of the Three Wise Men will be different. In cities like Malaga, Baltasar will be represented by Mansour Konte, the young man from Guinea-Conakry who rescued a woman paralyzed by fear during the floods that hit the city in mid-November. In Zaragoza, violinist Ara Malikian has composed the soundtrack for the procession, while in Alicante, Gaspar, Melchor, and Baltasar will greet children from the bullring. These are just a few details of the spectacles that will take place in the main cities.
In Madrid, the parade will start at six in the afternoon on Sunday from Nuevos Ministerios and will end in Cibeles Square. There will be seating areas on both sides of the parade route, from Emilio Castelar to Colon, with free access until full capacity. The Three Kings will be accompanied by various performances, including flying angels, skating angels, giant frogs, sea creatures, and African toys. A company from Florence called Sbandieratori will amaze with juggling performances using flags.
In Barcelona, the Three Kings will arrive on Sunday at Port Vell and will travel through the city from Passeig del Marquès de l’Argentera to the Magic Fountain of Montjuïc. The arrival by sea is scheduled for 4:15 pm, and the parade is expected to finish around 9:00 pm at Avinguda de la Reina Maria Cristina. Before that, people can watch the traditional boat of the Three Kings, Santa Eulàlia, sail between 12:00 and 1:00 at the Somorrostro beach. The Kings will then travel through the city, greeting the crowd and culminating the procession under the iconic Magic Fountain of Montjuïc.
In Valencia, around 200 musicians, 150 dancers, and 200 pages will accompany the Three Kings in the parade on Sunday. More than 1,200 people will participate in the procession, with the presence of companies and groups from areas affected by the recent flooding. The Kings will arrive at the Marina de Valencia port at 4:30 pm and will continue the parade through the city streets, greeting children and ending at the Town Hall, where they will meet the children.
Seville’s parade is set for Saturday, featuring 1,300 children, eight bands, 450 volunteers, and 800 Bedouins spread across 13 floats. The procession will start at 4:15 pm and end at 10:00 pm. To ensure mobility, buses will be free on Saturday, and additional cleaning and security measures will be implemented. In Zaragoza, the Three Kings will be welcomed in a grand style with a newly designed parade featuring custom music composed by Ara Malikian. The procession will start at 6:00 pm and follow the traditional route through the city streets, culminating in a visit to the Belen nativity scene.
In Málaga, the Three Kings parade will feature Mansour Konte, the young man from Guinea-Conakry who rescued a woman during the floods in November, as Baltasar. The procession will start at 5:00 pm and travel through various streets before ending at the Catedral de Málaga. In Murcia, the parade will have an extended route, crossing the river Segura and ending at the Gran Vía where a Christmas tree is placed. There will be numerous dance groups accompanying the floats, with 20,000 chairs available along the route for spectators.
In Palma, the Three Kings will arrive at Moll Vell on Sunday, accompanied by a procession of 17 floats and 325 participants. The parade will travel through the city center to the Town Hall square, with new additions to include classic toy-themed floats and decorations inspired by traditional fairy tales. In Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, the Three Kings will arrive by sea on Sunday afternoon, leading a procession of 14 floats through the city streets. The parade will feature characters from various worlds, including Disney movies and acrobats, ending with a series of concerts in the commercial area of Triana.
In Alicante, the Three Kings will arrive at Levante pier and then proceed to the Bullring for an children’s spectacle before starting the parade at 7:00 pm. The procession will include 23 floats and over a thousand participants, distributing 5,000 kilos of candies and 2,000 toys. In Bilbao, the Kings will arrive by boat and proceed with a parade featuring movie characters and animations, starting at 6:00 pm and culminating with a message from the Kings on the Town Hall balcony. Vigo will host a static parade indoors due to heavy rain forecasts, allowing families to visit the floats and meet the Kings at the Ifevi fairground. Overall, cities across Spain are gearing up for a magical celebration of the Epiphany with elaborate parades and festivities.
