On the evening of 5 January the Three Kings parade through every town, throwing sweets to the crowds — here's when and where, town by town.
Season: 2 Jan – 6 Jan 2027
5 events in 5 towns
Muelle pesquero, Puerto de Mazarrón
The Kings arrive by boat at Puerto de Mazarrón's fishing port, then parade through the Puerto's main streets; a second parade follows that evening in Mazarrón town. Times vary year to year (16:30 last season, when it moved to 3 January for rain) — confirmed nearer the date.
Town centre, Los Alcázares
Los Alcázares's Three Kings parade on the eve of Epiphany — floats, music and sweets through the town. The time shown is a guide: the council publishes the 2027 time and route in late December, and we'll add them then.
La Manga del Mar Menor
Cartagena council sends the Kings along La Manga on the eve of Epiphany — in past years the parade has set off around 18:00 from Plaza Cavanna, stopping at Plaza Bohemia on the way to Galerías El Flamenco. The 2027 time and route are published in late December.
Cofradía de Pescadores → Calle Mayor → Plaza del Ayuntamiento, Cartagena
The Kings sail into Cartagena around 12:30, landing at the Muelle Alfonso XII; in the evening the Cabalgata leaves the Cofradía de Pescadores at 18:00 and runs along Calle Mayor to Plaza del Ayuntamiento. Times from recent editions (2026's was brought forward to 3 January for rain); confirmed nearer the date.
Residencia San Francisco → Plaza de España, Águilas
The Kings set up their royal camp on Calle Conde de Aranda the day before; the Gran Cabalgata leaves Residencia San Francisco at 19:00 along Avenida Juan Carlos I and Calle Rey Carlos III to Plaza de España, where they greet the children and draw prizes from the letters in the royal post box. Times from the 2026 parade; confirmed nearer the date.
On the Costa Cálida the Kings sail into Cartagena's Muelle Alfonso XII and Puerto de Mazarrón's fishing port, then parade through the evening of 5 January — in Cartagena along Calle Mayor, in Águilas to Plaza de España after a royal camp the day before. Every parade is on this page, town by town, with last season's times and routes; each town hall confirms the new ones in late December, and rain has moved several of them in recent years.
The Cabalgata de Reyes is the highlight of the Spanish Christmas for children. On the evening of 5 January, Melchior, Caspar and Balthazar ride through every town on floats, with bands, dancers and pages, throwing sweets (caramelos) into the crowds — bring a bag, or an upturned umbrella, to catch them.
That night children leave their shoes out, and on the morning of 6 January, Three Kings' Day (a public holiday), they wake up to their presents. Families share a roscón de Reyes, a ring-shaped sweet bread with a small figure hidden inside for luck — and a dried bean for whoever has to buy next year's.
On the evening of 5 January in almost every town, usually starting between 5pm and 7pm — a few hold an extra midday or eve-of parade. Each town's time and route is on this page; town halls confirm them in late December, and rain sometimes moves a parade to the day before or after.
Many coastal towns welcome the Kings from the sea before their parade: on the Costa del Sol at Benalmádena's Puerto Marina; on the Costa Blanca in Alicante, Torrevieja, Xàbia and Dénia; on the Costa Cálida in Cartagena and Puerto de Mazarrón. Fuengirola's Kings arrive by helicopter. Arrival times are with each town above.
Anywhere along the route — the Kings and their pages throw caramelos all the way. Arrive 30–45 minutes early for a kerbside spot, bring a bag (an upturned umbrella works too), and pick a stretch away from the start and the finish, which are the most crowded.
The Three Kings ride through town on decorated floats with music, dancers and costumed helpers, throwing sweets to the children in the crowd. In many towns the parade ends with the Kings greeting children at the town hall or the main church.
Yes — Three Kings' Day (Epifanía) on 6 January is a national holiday, and the day children traditionally open their presents. Banks, offices and most shops are closed; the January sales (rebajas) start on 7 January.
A ring-shaped sweet bread, decorated with candied fruit and often filled with cream, eaten on 6 January. It hides a small figure (good luck to whoever finds it) and a dried bean (whoever gets it pays for next year's roscón).
List it free. Once it's checked it appears on this guide and on the town's What's On page.