Three Kings Day 2024 is almost here, and soon the streets of Barcelona will come alive with music, colour and of course, the biggest parade on the calendar – this year with a new route!
We’ve put together this article to bring you the best that Three Kings Day 2024 in Barcelona has to offer, to make sure you don’t miss a thing. So be sure to keep this short guide handy when you going to see the arrival of the Three Wise Men in Barcelona.
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When is Three Kings Day 2024 in Barcelona?
Three Kings Day is one of the most celebrated holidays throughout Spain and takes place on 6th January every year. This date is also known as the Epiphany of Twelfth Night. It’s common for families to get together and for children to open the gifts brought to them by the ‘Reis Mags’.
As is custom, the Three Kings, or Three Wise Men – Melcior, Gaspar and Baltasar –arrive in Barcelona the day before the Epiphany, on 5 January 2024, after a long, tiring journey from the East.
After docking at the Moll de la Fusta, they will arrive in Portal de la Pau at 4pm, where the mayor of Barcelona will welcome them. She will offer the Three Kings bread and salt as a sign of hospitality, before giving them the keys to the city. It is thanks to these keys that they’ll be able to deliver their gifts to all the children in Barcelona.
The Three Kings Day 2024 Parade
Then, from 6pm onwards, the Three Kings and their entourage will begin the Three Kings Parade 2024, known as the Cavalcada del Reis Mags in Catalan.
This year due to construction work taking place on Via Laietana, the parade will take a different route, passing by Passeig de Colom. The colourful procession will then pass by Avinguda del Paral.lel, Ronda Sant Pau and Carrer Sepúlveda, before ending at the Montjuïc Magic Fountain around 9pm.
The following times are given as a guideline, but you can check out the complete route here.
6.00 pm – Marquès de l’Argentera
6.15 pm – Passeig Colom
7.1o pm – Avinguda Paral.lel
7:30 pm – Ronda Sant Pau
7:45 pm – Mercat de Sant Antoni
8:30 pm – Sepúlveda
8:45 pm – Plaça Espanya
9:15 pm – Avinguda Reina Maria Cristina
Expect to see fantastical floats belonging to the Three Wise Men themselves, plus themed floats decorated with toys, and with themes of dreams and sleep, and coal.
Sweet treats this Three Kings Day 2024
You will be delighted to hear that after two years of restrictions, this year the floats have been given permission to share sweets and candy galore with the crowds.
So get ready to catch and collect the sweets tossed into the crowds for children and adults.
Also don’t forget to get your Roscó de Reis – this round brioche-like pastry filled with cream and topped with candy is typically eaten on 6 January. Miniature figurines are hidden inside the cake, each with their own special meaning. Get the king and this may be your lucky year. However if it’s the bean you find inside your piece of roscó, you’ll have to pay for the dessert!
Tips for the Three Kings Day 2024
Although we’ve had a very mild Christmas in Barcelona with record temperatures of 22 degrees, we recommend wrapping up when going to see the cabalgata as temperatures do drop at night in the city. Gloves, a hat and scarf will certainly come in handy!
If you’re going to see the parade with young children, we recommend always holding their hands – above all in the most crowded, popular spots. Be sure to keep an eye on them when they are collecting sweets!
And remember, at all times stay behind the safety rails and don’t climb onto or over the rails into the road where the floats are to collect sweets. Visitors are also prohibited from crossing the streets during the parade for safety reasons.
Bank holiday for the Three Kings Day 2024 in Barcelona
The bank holiday for the Three Kings Day 2024 will be 6 January. All shops and businesses will be closed. We recommend checking with local bars and restaurants before visiting.
We wish you all the best this Christmas in Barcelona!