Three Kings bearing gifts coming to town!

CHILDREN across the Axarquia and Costa Tropical are getting excited as preparations for the Three Kings’ parades are reaching completion in almost every town and village.

In keeping with tradition, Gaspar, Balthasar and Melchior travel the streets on the afternoon or evening of January 5 in a variety of ways, sometimes walking, sometimes riding horses, or camels, but usually on floats pulled by tractors or cars.

Larger towns like Nerja (pictured) tend to have big parades with many floats depicting popular characters, and children and adults riding on the floats throw sweets and gifts to the crowds.

Those who have not experienced the joys of the parade before may feel a little overwhelmed by the crowds and wish for a crash helmet to avoid being concussed by flying boiled sweets. Yet the festive spirit and joy and excitement of the young and young-at-heart soon gets everyone shouting to the floats for gifts to be thrown in their direction.

Nerja’s parade will start at 5pm with the following route: Calle Jaen, Calle Diputacion, Calle Granada, Calle San Miguel, Plaza Cantaero, Calle Pintada, ending at the live nativity scene located on the Paseo Balcon de Europa.