After a four-year hiatus, Miami's Three Kings Parade returned on Sunday, bringing the community together to celebrate the biblical magi. The parade, which had been paused since 2020 due to the pandemic, revived the festive atmosphere in Little Havana, attracting large crowds.
As reported by CBS News, the parade also benefited local businesses, such as Jose Angel’s flower shop, which set up at a street corner to take advantage of the increased foot traffic. "For me it's important, because a lot of people who aren't familiar, our flower shop, will now be exposed to it because there will be a lot of people here today," Angel said.
City Commissioner Manolo Reyes also highlighted the parade’s importance, "When COVID came, it stopped, and then nobody brought that up, and this was a tradition for 40-some years, so we decided and I decided that it was about time that we bring it [back]", as he shared with WSVN.
The parade commemorates the visit of the Three Wise Men to baby Jesus. People from various backgrounds, including visitors like Miechael Krasulak from Poland, took the opportunity to experience the local culture. Krasulak told CBS News, "Generally, it's an experience, because generally, it's my first time when I see the parade like that. So everything is great."
In light of recent tragedies like the deadly mass gathering in New Orleans, the parade had heightened security measures. Miami Police Chief Manny Morales mentioned the presence of uniformed and plainclothes officers, while Mayor Francis Suarez emphasized the importance of visible police presence, stating, "We've seen what has happened in mass gatherings and to the chief's credit I mean I think you've seen the fortification of what he's done to make sure we don't have any incidents like what we've seen," in a CBS News report.
