The Santa Cruz de Tenerife Town Hallthrough the Autonomous Organization for Festivities and Recreational Activities (OAFAR), has organized an intense program of activities to celebrate the arrival of the Three Wise Men from the East, which will have its main course at 5:00 p.m., when the spectacle of reception at the Heliodoro Rodríguez López Stadium, which will be followed by the traditional Three Kings Parade of Santa Cruz.
The mayor, José Manuel Bermúdez, together with the Councilor for Fiestas, Alfonso Cabello, presented the details of the magical afternoon of January 5, together with the artistic director of the Christmas program, Javier Caraballero, and the councilor of the Anaga district, Inmaculada Fuentes.
Bermúdez highlighted that “after two editions, the streets of the capital will once again be impregnated with the magic of the Three Kings Parade of Santa Cruz, which recovers its traditional route.”
The mayor recalled “the important solidarity aspect of the show at the Stadium, since the 36,000 euros from the sale of the seats will go to groups based in Santa Cruz de Tenerife or that have projects in the capital related to children.”
Cabello recommended that the public attend the Heliodoro Rodríguez López Stadium, “go early enough -the doors will open at 3:30 p.m.- and preferably using public transport since it is expected to be a day in which thousands of people come together in the capital,” he explained.
The mayor of Fiestas recalled “the inclusive nature of this event, which includes not only the projection of pictograms and sign language on the Stadium screen, but also the setting up of two special areas during the Parade, one for people with reduced mobility in the surroundings of the Orche and a silent section, in Méndez Núñez, at the height of the García Sanabria park”, something that “promoted this corporation since the Three Kings parade in 2019”, he concluded.
For her part, the councilor of the Anaga district, Inmaculada Fuentes, recalled the promise made by the mayor and herself to maintain the royal entourage through the towns of the district “that will visit Taborno, Casas de la Cumbre, Afur, Taganana and Almáciga so that their boys and girls can enjoy a moment as magical as Three Kings Day”.
The capital venue will host a ceremony, which, under the title “The factories of Babayán 3.0”, and staged by the Timaginas Teatro company, will serve as a prelude to the arrival of their majesties aboard the royal helicopter.
People with reduced mobility will be able to access the interior of the Stadium through door 2, while door 17 is the most suitable for the entrance of people with visual disabilities. There will also be sign language interpreters and pictograms, which will be projected on the giant screen.
Caraballero explained that the story line will take place on the pitch of the Stadium, which will be led by the endearing characters Balto, Zenda, Matilda, Giorgina or Martina, who for two years could only be seen on the small screen. The villain Don Ramón will be in charge of sowing uncertainty in this fantasy, threatening to change the gifts of the little ones for coal. At this point, the help of all the boys and girls will be essential to defeat him and for the mayor to deliver the magic key to his Majesties. Once with her, Melchor, Gaspar and Baltasar will be able to leave gifts in all the homes of Santa Cruz de Tenerife.
A cast made up of more than 700 dancers and extras will take part in an audiovisual show made up of the choreographic groups En Paralelo Danza, Crew of Dreams, Loli Pérez, Latin Salsa, Tenerife Dance Project, Rebeca García, ONYS, Ballet Dance, Funkiguachi, Crazy Dancer , Ibaute and Moana.
A helicopter from the BHELMA VI Maneuver Helicopter Battalion of the Army, based in Los Rodeos, will fly over the sports venue to announce the proximity of Their Majesties, who, thanks to magic, will appear with their respective retinues of pages and ambassadors.
With the royal entourage on the pitch, the mayor, accompanied by the Councilor for Festivals, will hand over the magic key to the Three Wise Men, who will also walk around the perimeter of the game rectangle to greet those present and collect the last cards.
This event will be broadcast live on television through Channel 4 cameras. Once the show is over, the Parade will run through the streets of the capital, starting at 7:00 p.m.
Tour of the Three Kings Parade of Santa Cruz
The OAFAR has organized a parade aimed especially at children, so the organization will ensure strict compliance with current regulations that guarantee the safety of minors during a tour that expects to receive more than 60,000 spectators.
A total of twelve floats, two of them with live music, together with more than a thousand characters and extras will form part of a multicolored tour that will begin on Avenida de Bélgica at 7:00 p.m.
During the Parade, the pages of the three Wise Men will distribute by hand a total of 2,500 kilos of gluten-free candies, and of these, in addition, 500 kilos will not contain sugar.
The sectors where a greater number of people are concentrated will present a special fence, to which is added an area reserved for people with reduced mobility at the confluence of Méndez Núñez and Robayna streets; in addition to a silent section that will run on Méndez Núñez street, specifically between Numancia and El Pilar streets.
The Local Police of Santa Cruz de Tenerife will be in charge of opening a parade that, starting at the Avenida de Bélgica, will run towards the Plaza de la República Dominicana, Avenida Asuncionistas, Ramón y Cajal, Galcerán and Plaza de Weyler; to continue, later, by the streets Méndez Núñez, El Pilar and Villalba Hervás.
The journey will end in the Plaza de la Candelaria around 9:30 p.m., where the traditional act of adoration to the Child Jesus will take place in the nativity scene portal installed there.
As the procession passes, a brigade of operators from the municipal cleaning service will be in charge of leaving the streets included in the route operational, before proceeding to reopen to road traffic.
The companies that sponsor and collaborate with the capital city council in the arrival of the Three Wise Men from the East to Santa Cruz de Tenerife are Fred. Olsen Express, Tirma, Cajasiete, Grupo RAHN and Cuadra del Palmero.
Markets and districts
In another order of things, a total of 5 markets will remain open until late at night on the 5th, among which are the Christmas Market located in the Alameda del Duque de Santa Elena and the Gastro Christmas Market Fest in the Plaza de España, both open to the public since December 15.
Joining this offer is the Art Market, which, since yesterday, shows the work of different creators in Isla de la Madera square. The “Dreamer Market” market opens its doors between the 3rd and 5th, in the Plaza de la Iglesia de la Concepción, and will also have entertainment aimed at children.
As usual, the Santa Cruz flea market will be open throughout Three Kings Eve in its traditional location next to the Nuestra Señora de África Market and Rambla Azul.
District Center-Ifara
The CEIP La Rosa, formerly Onésimo Redondo, continues to host until Wednesday, the 4th, and from 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., a series of craft workshops, free of charge and free admission until full capacity is reached.
Also until January 4, the traditional gift-wrapping service will be available from 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., on Castillo streets -corner with José Murphy-, Álvarez de Lugo -corner with Rambla de Pulido-, and Imeldo you will be
On days 3 and 4, a carousel of animated children’s characters will energize the environment in three shows between 11:00 and 20:00. The tour on the 3rd will be through the Rambla de Pulido, Suárez Guerra, San Lucas, Plaza Weyler, San Clemente and El Pilar. On Wednesday they can be seen in La Candelaria square, Imeldo Serís, Castillo corner with Valentín Sanz, General Gutiérrez, Candelaria, Alameda del Duque Santa Elena and Francisco La Roche avenue.
Ofra-South Coast District
On Wednesday, the 4th, the youngest members of the family will be able to welcome the New Year while participating in the children’s event “Make a Wish”, which will take place at the Juan XXIII Sports Complex, from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. .
South West District
A series of playful activities and workshops aimed at children, will take place in the surroundings of the square located on Calle Moreiba -Acorán-, on Wednesday, the 4th, between 5:30 p.m. and 8:30 p.m.
