Follow the Star to SteelStacks
11th annual celebration El Dia de Los Reyes, Three Kings Day announced for Sunday, Jan. 8 at ArtsQuest
BETHLEHEM, Pa. – Gather up the family and plan to join the Three Wise Men in their quest to follow Bethlehem’s “Star of Wonder” to the ArtsQuest SteelStacks campus on Sunday, Jan. 8. The 11th annual cultural celebration, El Dia de los Reyes, Three Kings Day, will be hosted with media partners La Mega, Baby J Production, Sabroso Video and 69-WFMZ Edicion en Espanol from 3–6 p.m. Sponsored by B. Braun Medical, PPL Corporation with gifts funded in part by sponsors and supporters of the event including B. Braun Medical, PPL Corporation, Westside Hammer, Carlos Lopez, Latinos Affinity Group at Amazon ABE4 and US Marine Corps’ Toys for Tots program. This family-friendly event is free and open to the public.
“My family and I always look forward to the Three Kings celebration tradition at ArtsQuest,” said Myrna Rivera, ArtsQuest board of trustee member and chairperson of ArtsQuest’s Sabor! Committee. “Although my PA family has been raised outside the island of Puerto Rico, each year we gather with other Latinx and non-Latinx families to remember and to teach our children (and their children) the 3 Kings tradition. It certainly is a festive way to close out the holiday season.”
The celebration will include a live reading of “The Three Kings” in both Spanish and English by La MEGA Radio hosts and musical performances by Herencia Jibara and a visit from Einstein the Camel from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. Delicious snacks by Holy Infancy Catholic Church will be available for purchase throughout the event.
“The Three Kings Day is a beautiful religious and cultural tradition particularly with Latino families,” said Iris M. Cintron, ArtsQuest’s Latin Programing Committee member. “Our son always got his box of grass ready for the camels the day before the Kings arrived. Now his children carry on the tradition.”
Three Kings Day, known as Epiphany or Theophany, is a Christian feast day in celebration of the revelation of God through his Son, Jesus Christ. Three Kings Day marks the end of the festivity filled “12 Days of Christmas” from Spain to Chile to Mexico that commemorate the journey of the Three Wise Men or Magi from the East, Gaspar, Melchior and Balthazar to Bethlehem to present the newly born baby Jesus with holy gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh.
“This annual event has become a wonderful tradition and it kicks off our 2023 calendar of concerts, classes, events and festivals,” said ArtsQuest President and CEO Kassie Hilgert. “We’re excited to welcome the community back in person to our campus for this family-friendly celebration.” Children will take a journey through the ArtsQuest Center, enjoying fun-filled activities including arts and crafts before meeting the Three Kings who will hand out toys. Everyone is welcome to attend this dynamic cultural experience.
