Residents relish the Costa Kings parades
Crowds line the street to watch colourful processions
THREE Kings parades delighted excited children around Spain on Sunday evening.
Events were held in cities, towns and villages all over Alicante province and Murcia region.
Adults as well as the youngsters in their charge were enthused by the colour and infectious exuberance as the processions moved through the streets.
Some of the Kings arrived by boat – as is traditional in Torrevieja, while others had more discreet beginnings in plazas or on street corners.
In all the parades sweets rained down on the children, as the royal pages dipped into buckets to launch candy into the crowds.
In the south of the province, some municipalities had two parades.
Residents of La Mata in Torrevieja did not have to travel to the town centre as the town hall organised a procession in the village – and a parade was also put on in Orihuela Costa although residents lamented that this was at midday rather than in the evening.
In the north of Alicante province Benidorm held its Three Kings setting off from Parque de Elche in the old town, with numerous floats and around 1,000 participants took part.
The first half of the parade had a fun, carnival like theme, with vibrant characters from popular children’s books and films.
These were interspersed with animated dance routines and bands followed by the more traditional religious aspect of nativity scenes, Roman soldiers, shepherds and the last float, the stars of the event – Melchor, Gaspar and Baltasar, the Three Kings.
Thousands lined the entire route, all vying to catch some of the 4,000 kilos of sweets thrown out to the crowds along the way.
The parade finished at the town hall square.
As in other hospitals, the Three Kings made a detour to
Dénia to deliver presents to children who had to spend the festive period there.