Today, January 5, 2018 the Magi of the Orient: Melchor, Gaspar and Baltasar arrive with their cavalcade and retinue to Bilbao. The chimney sweeps and Mary Poppins will accompany their majesties. They will be seen at 18:00h with the Nicio of the cavalcade at the confluence of the streets Gran via with María Díaz de Haro. They will arrive in Bilbao in a spectacular cavalcade full of light, sound and color with ten floats, guarded by fire trucks and seven groups of dance animation that lanzará30 kilos of confet and a total of 3.50 tons of candies.
Travel
This year their Majesties will travel all over the Gran via until they reach the city hall. 20:3pm: Welcome to the girls and boys in the Arab room. The most Txikis will be able to deliver their letters full of desires and illusions.
18:00 h: Exit of the Cavalcade, of great way to the height of María Díaz de Haro.
19:30 H: Arrival of the first chariot to the town hall.
19:30 h: Reception of the Mayor Juan Mari Aburto to the Magi of the Orient, their Majesties Melchor, Gaspar and Baltasar.
19:50 h: Greeting from the balcony of the main building of the town hall.
20:10 h: Reception for girls and boys in the Arab room.
The Entourage
This year's cavalcade will feature a unique royal retinue consisting of ten floats, two fire trucks, two theatrical animation groups, seven dance animation groups and seven sweepers. In total, more than 400 people will participate in this procession between actors, dancers, technical and security personnel, organization and cleanliness. In addition will be present professionals of the teams of firefighters and Municipal police of Bilbao.
A fire truck will start the cavalcade, and, followed, will come the Guardians of the Stars, a peculiar battalion that will flow through the streets transforming the space from a different point of view: the air. With a staging inspired by Salvador Dalí 's melting dreams, the public will enjoy a torrent of fantastic animals swarming over their heads. An avant-garde spectacle that will surprise by its originality.
Then comes the chariot of the Great star of the Orient, which heads the cavalcade to guide the Magi to the village with its long wake of flashes of LED lights and robotic lighting.
After the star, the Royal Express Mail Department will pick up the last letters with wishes. This year, the city council has reinforced this postal collection service with twelve dancers, two actresses and four mosquitoes. This group of messengers will accompany to the carriage of the Postal department, which is responsible for sending to each king the corresponding letters.
News
One of the novelties of this year is the chariot of toys and tales where the characters of the stories will come to life. The Tin Soldier, the dancer of the Music box, Little Red Riding Hood and the wolf will make smile to the children's audience and also to the adult who will be able to remember the games of his childhood. Next to the float a group of twelve dancers will represent the popular story of the Tin Soldier.
Following the stories, one of the most beautiful stories of children's Tales "101 Dalmatians" will have its space in the entourage. This chariot will revive the adventure of this childish film with Cruella de Vil chasing in his car to the Dalmatians that run around him.
The protagonists of the children's program of ETB3 "3 Txulo" will also form part of the royal courtship. From his chariot, Victor, Laura and Isabel will greet the little thanking that each day follow their adventures from their homes.
The chimney sweeps and Mary Poppins
Another of the novelties are the sweepers of the Disney movie "Mary Poppins" who will perform their legendary dance to encourage the public. After them, the most magical nanny, Mary Poppins, will arrive.
The cold and snow will also come to the Villa with a chariot in which a magical winter is presented and in which there will be a playful and mischievous character, an ice Age squirrel. You will be accompanied by a spectacle full of lights and music and, for the second consecutive year, the ice dancers who will be dressed with luminous Led wings will arrive in Bilbao.
After this spectacle, their Majesties Melchor, Gaspar and Baltasar will open their way. One more year, the floats will incorporate swivel chairs in order to greet all the families that come to the Gran Via Bilbaina.
The parade will close one of the most anticipated floats, the candy factory. For safety reasons throughout the courtship no candy will be distributed and the most "sweet" moment will be reserved for the end. The Candy Factory will be responsible for handing out 3.5 tons of gluten-free candies through its powerful turbines. In addition, and to make it more spectacular, will be launched throughout the courtship over 30 kilos of biodegradable confetti.
The final brooch to this show will be put by the seven sweepers and the cleaning team of the Bilbao City Council that will remove the waste from the streets of Bilbao so that everything will be in perfect condition again.
Universal Cavalcade
In order to make the cavalcade accessible to all citizens, the city Council of Bilbao has prepared a series of integration measures. On the one hand, the candies that will be distributed during the cavalcade are suitable for celiacs.
Children in wheelchairs or mobility problems will have a space reserved in front of the palace of the Diputación Foral de Bizkaia (Gran Via 25) in order to see the cavalcade. Special access will be provided on the side of the city Hall to assist the reception of the Kings in the Arab hall.
The Magi will be accompanied by a sign interpreter during his message from the balcony and at the reception of the Arab room for those little ones who need it.
Composition of the Cavalcade
Fire trucks
Guardians of the Stars (street animation)
Star (Chariot)
EXPRESS Mail (street animation)
POSTAL Department (Chariot)
Soldiers of lead (street theatre)
Story Store (float)
101 DALMATAS (Street animation)
3TXULO (Chariot)
Chimney sweeps (street theatre)
MARY POPPINS (Chariot)
ICE DANCE (Street animation)
The Ice Age (chariot)
King MELCHOR Squadron (Street Animation)
King MELCHOR (Chariot)
King GASPAR's squadron (Street Animation)
REY GASPAR (Chariot)
King BALTASAR Squadron (Street Animation)
King BALTASAR (Chariot)
Candy Factory (float)
Reception at the city Hall
In the main building of the city Council of Bilbao, the Magi from the Orient will be greeted by Mayor Juan Mari Aburto and offer his traditional message from the balcony. Then, about 20:10 hours, they will keep their meeting with the girls and boys in the Arab room and they will be able to hear all their desires for that magical night.