Osceola County’s 17th annual Three King’s Day celebration, presented by the Kissimmee/Osceola County Chamber of Commerce, returns to Old Town on Sunday, Jan. 9, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
At a press conference Tuesday at Medieval Times to announce the Three Kings — this year portrayed by Osceola County Hispanic Business Council Board Member Bill Hansen, St. Cloud Council member Keith Trace and Kissimmee Commissioner Jim Fisher in the traditional garb — harkened their arrival for the event.
The festival atmosphere returns after last year’s COVID-necessitated drivethrough event.
“This is an effort to celebrate our Spanish tradition and culture,” said Carlos Velez, current Hispanic Business Council chairman.
This year’s Three King’s Day celebration will include a brand-new (and free) photo booth experience with the Kings (local dignitaries dressed in the sacred garb) sponsored by Kissimmee Utility Authority. Children will be able to meet the 3 Kings and get a printed photo strip keepsake to take home. Business partners have donated thousands of dollars’ worth of toys to make sure each child in attendance under the age of 11 receives a gift on this holiday, as well as sweet treats for all event goers; attendees of all ages may swing by their booth to receive a free cookie.
One of the most exciting aspects of Three Kings Day event returns, the free raffle of brand-new bicycles throughout the day. Over 50 bikes will be given away by event’s end. Each child under 11 will receive a free raffle ticket for their chance to win a bike. Winning raffle tickets will be drawn at random and announced on site from the stage. The winning ticket numbers will also be found on the Kissimmee/ Osceola County Facebook Page (www.facebook.com/ KissimmeeOsceolaCounty Chamber).
Three Kings Day is celebrated in many countries of the world. In much of Latin America Three King’s Day, or Día de los Reyes, is a holiday recognized by different cultures as a way to remember the Three Wise Men, or Kings, as they brought their gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh to baby Jesus in the days after his birth.
The Feast of the Three Kings, also known as the Epiphany, takes place every year on Jan. 6. It is an timeless and important part of Latin folklore. Traditionally, it is on this eve that children will receive gifts from the Three Kings (sometimes referred to as Three Wise Men).
Also part of tradition, on the Eve of the Epiphany children collect hay, straw or grass and place it in boxes or containers under their beds. This gesture is a gift of food for the King’s camels while they rest in between deliveries. If a child is good for the past year, he or she will receive toys. If the child misbehaved or was naughty, he or she would instead find a lump of dirt or charcoal in his box. This tradition is much older than that of Santa’s visit on Christmas Eve.
