Dozens of Williamsburg residents paraded down the streets on Sunday afternoon for the 26th annual Three Kings Day Parade, celebrating the last of the 12 days of Christmas and honoring the area’s Latin roots.

people on a float
Musicians, dancers and locals paraded down Graham Avenue on foot and on floats. Photo by Arthur de Gaeta
children dressed up as three kings
Three local kids led the Three Kings Day parade down Graham Avenue. Photo by Arthur de Gaeta

Three Kings Day — or Día de Los Reyes — falls each year on January 6 — 12 days after Christmas — commemorating the day the Three Wise Men finally arrived in Bethlehem with gold, frankincense and myrrh for the newborn baby Jesus. The day is widely celebrated in Spanish and Latin American countries across the world — and Latin communities in New York City. While the best-known parade takes place in Manhattan, Williamsburg has long been home to a thriving Latino community, who have celebrated the holiday with a parade in the borough for nearly 30 years.

kids with flags
Local kids posed with Puerto Rican flags as they celebrated their culture and the end of the Christmas season. Photos by Arthur de Gaeta

Sunday’s festivities kicked off at Graham and Meeker avenues, where kiddos dressed up as the three kings gathered with friends and neighbors to cut a ribbon to start the procession. The afternoon was filled with live music, floats and celebration as the parade headed toward Broadway.

The pandemic has put a damper on the celebration for the last two years. In 2021, Woodhull Hospital organized a smaller-scale celebration to hand out gifts and food to local children and their families. Sunday’s parade was just as exciting as ever, bringing the community together for a day of fun and tradition.

Editor’s note: A version of this story originally ran in Brownstoner sister pub Brooklyn Paper. Click here to see the original story.

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