ARTSQUEST TO CELEBRATE EL DIA DE LOS REYES WITH DRIVE-THROUGH EXPERIENCE

Annual Three Kings celebration will be held Jan. 3

BETHLEHEM, PA – A cherished tradition in much of the Lehigh Valley’s Latin American community, adapted to incorporate CDC safety guidelines, will continue when El Dia de los Reyes – Three Kings Day – will be celebrated on the afternoon of Sunday, Jan. 3. The Three Kings themselves will still hand out presents to children ages 12 and under via a drive-through experience held at the PNC Parking Lot, located at 711 E 1st St in Bethlehem, that parents and guardians must register for in advance at THIS LINK or by calling the ArtsQuest Box Office at 610-332-1300. Registration slots are available from 1-3 p.m. on Sunday, Jan. 3 and are free of charge.

The 9th annual celebration of Three Kings Day on the SteelStacks campus will look different in that it cannot incorporate the usual food, music, arts and crafts due to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania’s latest COVID-19 related mandates, but the Three Kings – Gaspar, Melchior and Balthazar – will still be in attendance to both hand out gifts and impart the story of the Three Kings (in English and Español) to ensure that this time-honored tradition will never be forgotten.

“Sharing these cherished memories with our children is the reason so many of us give of our time, talent and treasures to ensure this holiday tradition is passed on and continued,” said Myrna Rivera, a native of Puerto Rico and a member of ArtsQuest’s Latino Community Advisory Committee. “I can’t remember a Christmas holiday in Bethlehem that didn’t include congregating with family and friends to sing and dance to parranda music, eat food and, most importantly, give our children gifts and treats. While we can’t do those first two in quite the same way as before, we’re going to make sure this day lives on with our youth in the safest way possible.”

The Three Kings Celebration is a cultural program of ArtsQuest’s Latino Community Advisory Committee, which is comprised of leaders from the Lehigh Valley’s Latino community. Supporters of the Three Kings Celebration include PPL Corporation, Carlos & Carol Anne Lopez, West Side Hammer, and MEGA Radio. The Three Kings’ gowns and costumes are being created and lent to the event by Pamela Ptak, the Riegelsville-based designer who appeared on Season 7 of the hit TV show Project Runway.