By Molly Given<\/p>\n
Every year, the ArtsQuest Campus at SteelStacks closes out the holiday season with its annual Three Kings Celebration<\/a>, and 2026 will be no different, with festivities set for Jan. 4.<\/p>\n On that date, from 2 to 6 p.m., the family-friendly event will be packed with activities and live music, all in celebration of \u00a0El Dia de los Reyes (Three Kings Day). The holiday (typically celebrated on Jan. 6) marks the biblical story of the Three Wise Men (Los Reyes Magos) \u2014 Melchor, Gaspar, and Baltasar \u2014 who traveled to visit baby Jesus and brought gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. The tradition is typically celebrated in Spanish-speaking countries, parts of Europe, and among Latino communities around the world.<\/p>\n In many cultures, children receive gifts on Jan. 6 instead of (or in addition to) Christmas. Kids often leave out shoes or boxes the night before for the Kings to fill with presents, or communities will celebrate the occasion with colorful parades.<\/p>\n \u201cThere\u2019s nothing more intimate to our culture than the celebration of the Three Kings Day. Scripturally and culturally, this traditional festivity is a reminder of the richness of Latin American folklore,\u201d says Miguel Perez-Soto, ArtsQuest Performing Arts Board Member and Sr. Demand Planner at B. Braun Medical.<\/p>\n \u201cPreserving this day brings me back to my days growing up in Puerto Rico and the experience of knowing that under my bed the Magi\u2019s and their \u2018co-conspirators\u2019 (the Camels!!) \u00a0left a special present that will enlighten my holidays. It is also a time when you can capture the pulse of childhood innocence through the belief in this significant historical and cultural event. Our community will have the opportunity to enjoy this tradition in an ambiance surrounded by presents, traditional food, live music and family.\u201d<\/p>\n