Pitbull and the Three Kings will be in Little Havana this weekend. What you need to know
Pitbull will be leading a parade on Calle Ocho with Los Tres Reyes Magos this weekend in celebration of the newborn king — and there’s some changes to the 50-year-old tradition.
The Three Kings Day Parade on Sunday is expanding to include one mile and 5K races to celebrate 50 years of festivities.
Mr. Worldwide will be honored as the parade’s grand marshal this year, according to a source with knowledge of the event, as well as the Baptist Health South Florida Brickell Run Club.
You’ll have to wake up early if you want a good spot to run the race or get a good spot in the parade to see Los Reyes Magos (the Three Kings in English) and a host of other special guests including the Miami Heat and Disney’s Mickey and Minnie Mouse.
Miami police say they’re expecting about 50,000 visitors at Sunday’s event, so expect traffic congestion in Little Havana. Several roads will also be shut down.
Here’s everything you need to know about Miami’s 50th annual Three Kings Day Parade:
What does it celebrate?
Miami’s annual parade celebrates Three Kings Day, which is more commonly referred to as el Día de los Reyes Magos in Spain, Latin America and almost anywhere you go in South Florida.
Hispanic Christians celebrate the arrival of the Three Kings on Jan. 6 and children receive presents. The day honors the Magi’s visit to baby Jesus in Bethlehem shortly after his birth and marks the end of the Christmas season.
The Bible says the Magi — also known as the Three Wise Men and the Three Kings — followed a star that showed them the way to baby Jesus. They also came with gifts: gold, frankincense and myrrh.
What’s New?
The parade will be hosting its first Three Kings 5K race. Participants can also do a one-mile run/walk race. Both start at 10:30 a.m.
The race will begin at a rooster sculpture at 1701 SW Eighth St. and will run through the parade route between 4th and 17th avenues. Racers will be “surrounded and cheered on by thousands of parade attendees,” according to the Three Kings 5K Run website.
When and where, and is it free?
The Three Kings Day Parade will be held Sunday, Jan. 12 in Little Havana. The parade route runs on Southwest Eighth Street between 4th and 17th avenues.
Local vendors and restaurants will be selling food, drinks and other goodies in the area, according to Miami police.
The parade starts at noon and admission is free, but expect to pay $20 or $35 if you plan on participating in the parade’s one mile race or 5K.
Race registration is open online until 10:30 a.m. Sunday at https://runsignup.com/Race/FL/Miami/ThreeKings5KRun.
Who will be there?
Sponsored by Univision, the parade will have “entertainment and surprises for all ages” including local marching bands, folkloric groups, live animals and floats.
Expect to see popular Univision radio and television personalities, including “Noticiero Univision Edicion Digital’s” Borja Voces and “Noticias 23’s” Alina Mayo Azze at the parade, along with South Florida’s professional sports teams Miami Heat, Miami Marlins, Miami FC and the Miami Dolphins.
Mickey and Minnie Mouse will also be bringing some “Disney magic” to the festivities.
And yes, before you ask, the Three Kings themselves will be walking in the parade, likely alongside their camels.
Other Univision personalities expected to make an appearance are Sandra Peebles, Ambrosio Hernandez, and Mario Vallejo, as well as Javier Romero, Alberto Sardiñas, Danny Cruz, Santi y Laurita, Jackie Guerrido, Nelson Rubio, Rodrigo Duran, Ninoska Perez Castellon, Martha Flores and Omar Moynelo.
What about traffic?
Police say the following roads will be closed from 6 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday:
▪ Southwest Eighth Street between 4th and 17th avenues
▪ Southwest 13th Avenue between 8th and 12th streets
Eastbound traffic on Southwest Eighth Street will be diverted north or south at 22nd Avenue. The westbound lanes are expected to remain open on Southwest Seventh Street.
Some Miami-Dade Transit bus routes will be detoured during the parade, including routes 8, 12, 17 and 207/208 (the Little Havana Connection), according to the transit agency.
Those who are interested in checking their routes can visit www.miamidade.gov/transit and click the “Service Updates’ section found on the right side of the page for more information. Detour maps will be available online by the weekend.
Where to park?
If you’re planning to participate in the race, you can find free parking at Marlins Park, 501 NW 16th Ave., according to the 5K’s Facebook page.
Free shuttles will be picking up race participants at the Home Plate Garage and dropping them off at the corner of 17th Avenue and 5th Street from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Paid metered public parking is also available near the start line in the surrounding areas.
If you’re not participating in either of the races, you’ll have to find a meter spot somewhere or have an Uber or Lyft drop you off. Parking will not be allowed along the parade route.
If you go
What: Three Kings Day Parade
Where: Southwest Eighth Street, between 4th and 17th avenues.
When: Sunday, Jan. 12. Parade starts at noon. 5K and one mile race start at 10:30 a.m. Race registration opens at 8 a.m.
