ALLENTOWN, Pa. — On the coldest night of the year so far, a camel grunted as Los Tres Reyes Magos (Three Wise Men) handed out gifts to children.
The gleeful children, bundled up in coats, gloves and hats, danced with their families as a group of volunteers belted out traditional Puerto Rican parrandas.
Despite frigid temperatures, it was an evening of warm cheer for the residents who attended the first annual Three Kings Day ( Día de Los Reyes) held on the last night of the city's Lights in the Parkway attraction.
Wednesday's' event, rescheduled from Monday, honors the traditions of Día de Los Reyes, or Epiphany Day.
The holiday is celebrated in Central, Latin and South American countries, to commemorate the journey of the three wise men, or Los Tres Reyes, to present the baby Jesus with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh.
It is customary for loved ones to hand out gifts on the day held every Jan. 6.
'It's about the children'
Sonny Trinidad, of Las Moto Mamis, an all-female motorcycle club based in Allentown, was among those who sang Christmas songs typically heard in her native country, La Isla del Encanto.
The bike group was one the sponsors of the free event along with La Mega, Rebolcones Jeep Club, ICDI PRCP, and Boris Cake.
" I grew up with the Three Kings. We used to put the grass out the night before and put it under my bed, just like leaving out cookies for Santa Claus," Trinidad said. "For us, it's about the kids. It's about the children. We couldn't celebrate on Monday, but we had to make it happen, and somehow we're here."
"Everything we do, we are doing it with our hearts."Luis Segarra
Luis Segarra, President of Los Rebolcones Jeep Club, also helped distribute donated gifts like basketballs, stuffed animals and board games, to the children at the event.
He said honoring traditions he grew up with is important, especially in the Latino community, one of the fastest-growing populations in the Lehigh Valley.
"Everything we do, we are doing it with our hearts," Segarra explained in his native Spanish. "Especially when we are able to do something for the children."
Lights in the Parkway future
Wednesday's celebration was part ofMove it Mondays, when attendees could walk, run or bike through the drive-thru lights.
A beloved holiday tradition, Lights in the Parkway features a mile of holiday displays featuring 175,000 to 200,000 LED lights.
There is no official word from the city regarding attendance in 2024.
According to Allentown Communications Director Genesis Ortega, in both 2022 and 2023, attendance at Lights averaged between 15,000 and 20,000 vehicles over a five-week period.
In 2024 (with one fewer day of paid vehicles) attendance averaged 13,000 paid vehicles (including cars, vans, buses and limousines).
On Mondays in 2024, vehicle traffic was not permitted during Move it Mondays which offered free admission for pedestrians, bikers, and runners.
"Over the six Mondays this season, we welcomed approximately 3,500 participants," Ortega said Friday via email.
Officials have started planning this year's display and plans could be released in March or April.
As with years before, proceeds from the attraction benefit several Allentown-based organizations.
"This is a new one for me — getting to see a celebration that reflects Allentown's heritage and also its future."Allentown Mayor Matt Tuerk
On Wednesday, Allentown Mayor Matt Tuerk recalled when the attraction was relocated one year to Cedar Beach Park because of construction in the area.
" We couldn't drive through, we walked through and my thought was like, why don't we do this in a way that includes more people and do a walking lights, so that was a favorite memory for me," Tuerk said.
"This is a new one for me — getting to see a celebration that reflects Allentown's heritage and also its future."
