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The magic of Christmas returns to Benidorm in the Grand Parade of the Three Wise Men

 

• Toni Pérez asks Their Majesties to leave hope and excitement in all the homes of Benidorm
• The Three Wise Men at the Julio Iglesias.
• Their Majesties from the East also visit the Double Love and the Hermitage of Sanç.

The Three Wise Men have returned to reign on January 6 in Benidorm and have handed out thousands of gifts on the most magical night of the year. All in a day led by the little ones, the children who, excited, have discovered, with the first light of day, the gifts that Their Majesties of the East have left in their homes.

At 6:00 p.m., from the Elche Park, the Grand Parade set off, a prelude to today's big day, organized by the Department of Festivals to welcome Melchor, Gaspar and Baltasar. Thousands of children and their families crowded the streets hours before to see the magicians and their entourage in person, and to collect sweets and toys.

The Grand Parade of the Three Wise Men went along Avenida de Los Almendros, Calle Marte, Calle Venus, Calle Ruzafa and Calle Herrerías, Plaza de SS. MM. The ceremony took place in the Parque de l'Aigüera, in the Julio Iglesias auditorium, where more than 3,500 people were waiting, including the mayor, Toni Pérez, the councillor for Festivals, Mariló Cebreros and other members of the corporation.

Among the public were the senator, Agustín Almodóbar; the queens of the Festes Majors Patronals, Valentina Almoóbar and Laia Zamora; and the president of the Commission, Susana Martínez.

After a warm welcome with fireworks, confetti, lights and colour, Melchor, Gaspar and Baltasar went to the stage where a life-size Nativity scene awaited them. There, Their Majesties gave the child their gifts: gold, incense and myrrh and, then, they were officially and briefly received by Toni Pérez who, on behalf of all of Benidorm, reminded them how the city was waiting for them.

"You have already seen," he said, "how the people have received you. Thank you very much for visiting us again”. The first mayor made it clear that during the night they would visit all the homes and asked them to leave in them “illusion and hope” and, at the same time, wished “peace, health and happiness for everyone from Benidorm”.

Next, and as a preamble to what would come throughout the night, Melchor, Gaspar and Baltasar gave all the children present a toy and after saying goodbye to young and old, while the stars shone in the Benidorm night, they visited the homes demonstrating, one more year, that the magic of Christmas is real, like them, Three Wise Men

Great Parade 2025

A thousand people have participated in the Great Parade of 2025. The royal entourage consisted of 700 people, the rest were five dance groups, 10 large floats and the musical groups: Unión Musical, the Societat Musical l'Illa, the Societat Musical La Nova, the Bandeta Tropical and the Colla de Xirimiters de la Marina.

The spectacular parade, as Benidorm tradition dictates, had two distinct parts. The first, of a playful nature, featured characters from films and television series. The second, featured a recreation of the tale 'The Story of the Three Wise Men from the East', by Francisco José Rovira Peretó, a 'suite' structured in six parts: 'The Star and the Birth', 'Herod', 'The Shepherds', 'The Arab Souk', 'The Royal Entourage' and, finally, 'The Three Wise Men'.

This year, the character of the Christmas Star was played by the president of the Casa de Andalucía in Benidorm, Leonor Jiménez, and the royal emissaries, who arranged everything so that the Three Wise Men could carry out their important mission without problems, were Juan Barroso, Michel Acosta and Pedro Rostoll 'Menotti'.

The Kings, also at the Doble Amor

Before taking part in the Grand Parade in Benidorm, Melchor, Gaspar and Baltasar wanted to spend the afternoon with the children and residents of l'Horta in Benidorm. At 4:00 p.m., on the 'trenet', they arrived at the Camí de les Coves stop where they were also received by Toni Pérez, but with a special mission, to visit the Doble Amor Centre.

There, the president of the entity, José Luis Calvo, greeted them and, in front of them, wanted to acknowledge the support of the City Council to the association and recalled that the contribution that the corporation makes to the centre "doubles that of all the towns in the region" that it serves equally and reiterated to Their Majesties that every year they dedicate some time to visit and give presents to the users of the Doble Amor. 
Melchor, Gaspar and Baltasar also had time to visit the Ermita de Sanç where hundreds of children and residents of this unique neighbourhood of Benidorm were waiting for them.