With the restrictions from the pandemic now behind us, the city offered an enthusiastic welcome the Three Kings, with as many as 750,000 people turning up for an event which filled the streets with happiness and fantasy.

Their Majesties arrived at Portal de la Pau at 4 pm, where they were received by the Mayor, Ada Colau, offering them bread and salt as a symbol of hospitality and handing them the keys to the city so they could get into every home to leave their gifts.

The Three Kings Parade got under way in Av. Marquès de l’Argentera at 6 pm. One of the main changes this year was to the route: to avoid the works in Via Laietana, and in conjunction with the Royal Palace of the Orient, a new route was designed for the parade to go along Passeig de Colom before moving into Av. Paral·lel and heading up Ronda de Sant Pau and C/ Urgell. The procession then turned into C/ Sepúlveda before reaching Av. Reina Maria Cristina and ending up at the Magic Fountain in Montjuïc, just after 9 pm.

New floats for the Three Kings

The route wasn’t the only new thing for the parade. Dozens of royal helpers worked tirelessly over the last few days beforehand to make sure everything was ready, and thanks to those efforts, Melchor, Gaspar and Balthasar and their entourage used new floats, two decks high. There was a new float for each of them, plus a further three for Estel, the Toys and the Dreaming Instructions. The latter had the mission of reminding young and old alike what they need to do to get over their excitement and get to sleep on such a special night.

The floats were equipped with latest-generation technology to adapt them to the present.

Joining forces for an inclusive show

The royal entourage made its way around the streets of Barcelona in a huge parade, the city’s most participatory and inclusive procession, stretching over a kilometre. This event would not have been impossible without the help of over 1,100 helpers, including dancers, actors and actresses, stilt-walkers and volunteers. Over twenty organisations and city schools and a dozen professional dance companies also played their part.

As with previous years, the Three Kings Parade was particularly inclusive, with the participation of organisations for people with functional diversity and the use of sign language in the featured choreographies.

The royal entourage was divided into ten large sections, each with its own entity and all directed and choreographed by companies with years of experience in welcoming the Three Kings. An entire group of professionals, giving a new boost to the largest street arts display in Catalonia, under the artistic supervision of Marta Almirall and Barbarana Pons.

What route did the parade take?

The Three Kings Parade set off from Av. Marquès de l’Argentera at 6 pm (at the junction with Passeig de la Circumval·lació) and ended up at the Magic Fountain in Montjuïc. The schedule was as follows:

• 6 pm: Av. Marquès de l’Argentera
  ● 6.15 pm: Pg. Colom
  ● 7.10 pm: Av. Paral·lel
  ● 7.30 pm: Rda. Sant Pau
  ● 7.45 pm: Mercat de Sant Antoni
  ● 8.30 pm: Sepúlveda
  ● 8.45 pm: Pl. Espanya
  ● 9.15 pm: Av. Reina Maria Cristina