This is the Three Kings Parade 2024 in Alcoy (Alicante): schedules

One of the great traditions in Spain when the Christmas is Cavalcade of the Magi, since almost all towns have their own, from large cities to small towns.

But recently we have had the great luck of being able to meet the oldest in Spain, Parade of the Three Wise Men of Alcoy.

It is such a special parade that when you see it you realize how lucky the children of Alcoy to be able to experience in first person this unique event where enthusiasm is breathed throughout the city, which returns this year after its suspension due to the crisis of the pandemic.

The parade has its origin in 1885, and during the following years several events were added, such as the donkeys or the celebration of Call that would end up forming the current cavalcade.

What to see in the Three Kings Parade of Alcoy, the oldest in Spain

Nowadays, these festivals have become a succession of activities that are not only limited to the day of the parade of the Wise Men, but the days before you can already live the spirit of these festivities, which we detail for your possible visit in the edition of 2024.

Pastoretes parade in Alcoy

It all starts with the celebration of a parade until the Town Hall Square starring the Pastoretes, which this Christmas takes place Sunday January 1, At 18 hours.

They are groups of children dressed as shepherds and dance groups and carts that travel the Sant Nicolau street until you reach the stable located in the Spain Square, where presents are given to the child Jesus.

It takes place on the morning of Sunday or holiday before the big day. On January 5.

As a curiosity, since 1887 on one of the balconies of the Spain Square Every year a telegram is posted announcing the imminent arrival of the Three Wise Men to the city.

In the beginning it was hung on the façade of the Catholic Circle of Workers, just the day before ride.

When to see the Tirisiti Nativity Scene in Alcoy, dates and times

Also during the previous days you can see, and we did, the traditional Tirisiti Nativity Scene. which this Christmas you can visit from December 23 to January 5 with performances every 45 minutes.

It is not a traditional nativity scene, but rather a puppet performance for the most kids which takes place in a theater where the arrival of the Wise Men al Bethlehem portal between funny situations that happen to the town's characters.

Among them, the best known is Tirisiti, the husband of Teresa, un character with a whistle voice that calls for the interaction of the children who fill the theater while they enjoy his crazy stories.

It is a short-lived but very fun show, where children and not so children come out after having had a good time.

Royal Party on Burreta Day in Alcoy

On January 4th, at dusk, the Uncle Piam's proclamation, an act in which the arrival of the Royal Ambassador, which takes place at 18 p.m. at the door of the Home Theater.

After the proclamation, several men and women dressed in traditional Alcoyan costumes, accompanied by the characters of the Tirisiti Nativity Scene, they ascend to the Round Font to receive the ambassador in the act known as the Royal Side.

This act, which dates back to 1924 and was recovered a few years ago, marks the beginning of the celebrations.

After this brief act, the first of the great parades begins.

It is headed by men and women who have risen to meet the ambassador.

Traditional dances and songs set the tone for the arrival of the Ambassador of the Three Wise Men and his pages.

Els Negres, which is how the pages are affectionately known, have a very great importance in these festivities since on the day of the parade they are the ones who give the children the gifts.

After the entourage of the villagers, the pages and the ambassador who announces the arrival of their majesties with a proclamation. Little black and white donkeys parade loaded with mailboxes like saddlebags, in which the children deposit the letter to the children. Wise Men.

We loved this part of the parade, since you can see the enthusiasm that the children have when leaving their letter, and that of the parents for continuing with the most deeply rooted traditions of the town.

Although the letter can be left in any of the mailboxes that the donkeys carry, some Alcoyans told us that it is better to leave it in the black donkeys since they bring more luck and you will receive more gifts. Will it be true?

When to visit the Camp of the Three Wise Men in Alcoy

It was a tradition in the town to say that the Wise Men They spent the night in the camp located on the mountain, but for a few years now the dream of all children to visit it is possible on the morning of the day of the parade, January 5.

We wanted to meet him, and at 9 in the morning, which is the time from which you can visit the Royal Camp, we went to see him.

We went by bus since a private car is not recommended due to the collapse that occurs when getting on, since there is no place to park. Another option is to arrive by taxi or on foot.

The camp consists of two tents, The one of the Wise Men, who during the visit you cannot see them to preserve the magic of being able to only be seen on the parade, and the jaima of the Royal Scribe, which is where all the distribution of the packages is organized.

There are also several spaces where you can also see the camels and animals that accompany the royal entourage.

To visit the camp you must pay a testimonial entry of one euro for solidarity purposes, and closes at 15 p.m. to prepare for the parade.

What is the Parade of the Three Wise Men of Alcoy like?

La ride It is undoubtedly the star moment of the party, and for us it was very special.

We had the opportunity to go up to one of the balconies of the Sant Nicolau street, which is the one with historic buildings and facades and leads into the Spain Square, where the last act that closes the party takes place.

La Alcoy parade It is very unique in several aspects.

The Wise Men Melchor, Gaspar y Balthazar They are presented in a different order since Balthazar, “The black king” is the second to parade, and not the last, as in most parades.

Furthermore, it is the pages who deliver the gifts, which is represented in a great way as we were able to experience in first person.

The pages go up to deliver the gifts to the children who live on the first floors of the streets that the parade runs through, during which they build long red stairs through which they access the balconies of the houses.

It is an event that we experience from within with a family of Alcoy, and that gives a tremendously special point to the delivery of gifts to children, since the street is full of stairs up which the pages go up to deliver the gifts.

In the video that accompanies this article you can share with us the exciting moment we were able to experience.

After the passage of Wise Men and all his entourage, the cavalcade heads to the Spain Squarewhere a human nativity scene awaits you to carry out the act of Worship in which his Majesties They deliver the gold, frankincense and myrrh to the child Jesus.

Some fireworks mark the end of the Christmas parties in Alcoy and they represent our last step in a visit that we will never forget and to which we will undoubtedly return.

If you have the opportunity, I strongly recommend that you visit this festival full of traditions, because you will surely feel the enthusiasm with which people live in Alcoy.

Schedules and route of the Three Kings Parade 2024 in Alcoy

El schedule of the Three Kings Parade of Alcoy is from 18 p.m., with a route that comes from the beginning of the elx avenue and runs through the streets of The CAMI, St. Nicholas and Spain Square where he makes a parenthesis to carry out the aforementioned Worship.

Once the Parade is over, and after the fireworks, the procession continues its journey through Sant Llorenç, and ends around 20 p.m. at the end of the Avenida del País Valencia.