Three Kings Day is a holiday celebrated heavily by Latin America and cultures around the world, and Disneyland will help mark the occasion.
Twelve days after Christmas Day marks the Feast of the Epiphany. Dec. 6 will have many of the Latino community having parades and performances reenacting the stories foretold in the Bible when the three kings followed a star for find Jesus.
Disneyland's Three Kings Day plans stemmed from events done last year, and according to spokeswoman Michele Himmelberg, "It was a big success, particularly with the Hispanic community, and we're expanding it this year to a larger area."
The Three Kings Day events at Disneyland will start two days earlier, on Jan. 4, and will conclude on the sixth at the Big Thunder Ranch Jamboree.
According to the Associated Press, the festivities include Mexican folklorico dancing, mariachi musicians, photo ops with Disney characters, crown making and more. Food options will vary, including sweet corn tamales, chimichangas, Mexican hot chocolate, and a king cake.
"I love the fact that Disney is doing this," said ABC's "The Chew" correspondent Evette Rios, who grew up celebrating Three Kings Day with her Puerto Rican parents in New York. "It means a lot. This is the changing face of America. We are becoming more open to different holidays and traditions. I don't have a homogenous view of what America is and I'm glad Disney doesn't either."
Over in Miami, Fl., NBA's three kings - LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh - will serve as grand marshals of the 43rd annual Three Kings parade in the Cuban-American neighborhood of Little Havana. The parade is scheduled for Jan. 20.
The Three Kings Day festivities come day after New Year's Eve events including "Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve" on ABC with performances by Brandy, Carly Rae Jepson, Ellie Goulding, Flo Rida, Greyson Chance, Jason Aldean, Justin Bieber, Karmin, Neon Trees, OneRepublic, Pitbull, Psy, Taylor Swift, and The Wanted.
- Contribute to this Story:
- Send us a tip
- Send us a photo or video
- Suggest a correction