Annual Three Kings Day parade brings music and culture to Williamsburg | Photos
The Three Kings Day Parade, a celebration marking the end of the Christmas season, is celebrated widely by the city's Latinx community and features traditional dancers. Photo: Paul Frangipane/Brooklyn Eagle
People lined up along Williamsburg’s Graham Avenue on Sunday, phones turned to the street as performers danced in colorful outfits, retirees cycled up the clear street and floats blasted music celebrating Three Kings Day.
For the 23rd year in a row, the neighborhood celebrated the holiday that marks the end of the Christmas season with a parade and festival. The event, particularly popular for the city’s Puerto Rican, Dominican and Mexican communities, follows the history behind the three kings and their discovery of a guiding star that led them to the baby Jesus.
“This is something that we must never let die,” said Assemblymember William Colton, a regular at the parade. “These are the values, these are the conditions that make all of our families strong.”
With hundreds of people watching and cheering on, the parade took off from Graham and Meeker avenues, making its way 26 blocks down Graham to Broadway. Once they arrived at Broadway, a stage was set up to present the three kings and end the day with live music.
The official holiday is celebrated on Jan. 6, 12 days after Christmas.
Chinelos, traditional costumed dancers from certain states in Mexico, move down Graham Avenue.
The parade made its way 26 blocks along Graham Avenue down to Broadway.
A mainstay of the parade is a group of retiree cyclists that slowly ride down Graham while honking their classic bicycle horns.
Spectators cheered and danced along to music from the parade.
Parade participants showed off flags and symbols from their own cultures along the route.
Neighbors on Graham Avenue were quick to point their phones to the street to film the parade.
A woman in traditional Mexican dance attire pushes a stroller along the parade route.
Three Kings Day follows the history of the three kings coming to baby Jesus to present him with gifts.
Once the parade got to Broadway, a festival showcased the three kings and celebrated with live music.
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The three kings give hope to children they can believe Jesus too.