Christmas ends with a very local celebration: Three Kings Day and its traditional parade through Madrid. It is on the list of essential plans to do with children at Christmas, but there is no age limit to go to take candy and watch the fireworks at the end, topping it off with a roscón. In the capital and surrounding areas there will be at least 10 Three Wise Men parades spread throughout the districts between January 3 and 5.
In addition, Their Majesties the Three Wise Men will receive the last-minute letters at the Almudena Cathedral at 5 p.m. on Wednesday, January 3. The pages will also be at different points of the city, such as at the Plaza de Daoíz y Velarde on January 4 between 12:00 and 14:00, and on January 5 in the morning at the Casa de Vacas Cultural Center and at the Las Californias Cultural Center.
Cavalcade of the Three Wise Men of Madrid
The main and most multitudinous will be the central parade, which will leave on Friday, January 5 at 6:30 pm. Melchior, Gaspar, Balthazar and their entourage will make their traditional tour of Madrid on the eve of Three Kings Day. There are 10,500 seats available for those who want to enjoy it from the stands that have been placed along the route, which will be accessed in order of entry from 17:00h.
The starting point will be the Plaza de San Juan de la Cruz, at the junction of Paseo de la Castellana. From there it will go along the Paseo de la Castellana and pass through the Plaza del Doctor Gregorio Marañón, the Emilio Castelar traffic circle, Plaza de Colón, Paseo de Recoletos and arrive at Cibeles at around 9:00 pm.
In the center there will be activities throughout the day. During the morning of January 5, the Roscón de Reyes of Aldeas Infantiles SOS will be held, in which 10,000 free portions of this traditional Epiphany dessert and hot chocolate will be distributed from 12:00 noon onwards.
Three Kings Cavalcades in the districts
Cavalcades on January 5
Cavalcade of La Latina
On January 5, the pages and the Three Wise Men leave from the Plaza de la Puerta del Ángel. It continues along Alto de Extremadura, Higueras, Alhambra, Duquesa de Parcent, Camarena, Ocaña, Intercambiador de Transportes de Aluche, Avenida de Las Águilas and will end at Plaza Distrito Latina (next to the Junta de Latina building).
At the end there will be a party with a family musical show. There will also be their Majesties the Three Wise Men on a stage with a Nativity Scene.
🕐 17:00 h
Cavalcade of the Three Wise Men on January 4.
Cavalcade of Usera
Their Majesties the Three Wise Men of the East leave from the San Fermín Cultural Center (Avenida San Fermín, 14). The route will continue along Avenida de Andalucía, then Avenida de los Poblados and Avenida Rafaela Ybarra. Candy will also be distributed along the streets Cristo de la Victoria, Santuario, Almendrales and Marcelo Usera. The end of the route will be at the Municipal Board (Avenida de Rafaela Ybarra, 41), where there will be a “Royal Reception” and children can deliver their letters. The chocolatada will be in the square of the esplanade of the Municipal Board of Usera.
🕐 17:30 h
Cavalcade of Carabanchel
The royal procession of Carabanchel leaves from Avenida de la Peseta and continues along Avenida de Carabanchel Alto, crosses Avenida de los Poblados, Eugenia de Montijo, General Ricardos and ends at the traffic circle of Marqués de Vadillo, where a family show will be held and the Three Wise Men will receive the children.
🕐 17:00 h
Cavalcade of Moratalaz
The three wise men have as their starting point in Moratalaz the street Corregidor Diego de Valderrábano (corner with C/ Ramón Areces).
The royal procession will start at Avenida de Moratalaz, Plaza del Encuentro, Hacienda de Pavones, Calle de la Cañada, Camino de los Vinateros, Avenida de Moratalaz and Pico de los Artilleros. At Corregidor Conde de Maceda y Taboada square, it will continue along Hacienda de Pavones and Fuente Carrantona streets, and will end at the Junta Municipal.
🕐 17:30 h
Cavalcade of Ciudad Lineal
The procession will leave from Avenida del Marqués de Corbera, next to the M-30 bridge, passes through the streets Francisco Villaespesa, Ascao, Emilio Ferrari, Alcalá and its end is at Avenida Institución Libre de Enseñanza, 16 (in front of the Municipal Board of the District of Ciudad Lineal).
After the end of the Cavalcade, the Three Wise Men will address a few words to the children of the district of Ciudad Lineal, in the square located in front of the main door of the Municipal Board of Ciudad Lineal (avenida de la Institución Libre de Enseñanza, 16).
🕐 17:30 h
Tetuán Parade
The parade will run along Bravo Murillo street from the Cuatro Caminos traffic circle to the headquarters of the Junta Municipal de Tetuán, located at number 357. From 18:00 h until the arrival of the Three Wise Men there will be a children’s show on the facade of the Junta Municipal and to finish there will be a reception of letters by HM the Three Wise Men of the East.
🕐 18:00 h
Vallecas Bridge
The route of the Three Wise Men starts in Extremeños street, next to Campo de La Paloma, continuing along Palomeras, Buenos Aires and Albufera avenues, until arriving at the headquarters of the Municipal Board of Puente de Vallecas District. There Their Majesties will receive the little ones.
🕐 18:00 h
Cavalcade of the Three Wise Men on Wednesday, January 3rd.
Chamartín Cavalcade
The Three Wise Men will start from Avenida Pío XII (height shopping center) and will go through Plaza de Perú, Príncipe de Vergara, López de Hoyos, Nuremberg and Pradillo streets to finish their journey at Berlin Park.
🕐 17:00 h
Cavalcade of Las Tablas
Procession of the Three Wise Men accompanied by light parades, circus performers and soap bubbles.
The departure will be from the Centro Sociocultural Las Tablas and will continue along the streets Viloria de La Rioja, Sierra de Atapuerca, San Millán de la Cogolla, avda. del Camino de Santiago and avda. de Santo Domingo de la Calzada. It will end in style at the Christmas Fair.
🕐 17:30 h
You can check all the information about the parades of Madrid in this web link.