The annual Three Kings Day Parade brought a Latin American celebration to downtown Cary Saturday afternoon. 

The parade, sponsored by Diamante Inc., a Latino cultural organization, and the town of Cary, is in its 10th year celebrating the largely Catholic holiday of Epiphany, which marks the Three Wise Men’s arrival in Bethlehem bearing gifts. The holiday, Jan. 6, is celebrated throughout Latin America, but the largest parade is in Madrid, Spain. The NC State Marching Band, The Power Sound of the South, was invited to attend the parade in Spain last year.

The more humble parade in Cary, 15 minutes away from NC State’s campus, drew more than 450 people to the event.

The parade included performances by Danza Azteca Tonantzin, a group that has performed at Mi Familia’s SOMOS celebration, White Tiger Martial Arts studio, and a 10-piece band, Banda Guanajuatense. There were also cultural groups from Mexico, Colombia, Ecuador, Cuba and Puerto Rico bearing flags from their country. This year marked the first year that a group from Ecuador participated in the parade. Sponsor Diamante Inc., works to promote Latin American culture in the Triangle. 

Karem Hernandez Quinones of Fayetteville brought her 4-year-old son, husband and mother to Cary to enjoy the festivities. 

“We came to bring Nazied, so that he could see some of his culture and enjoy the parade,” Hernandez Quinones said. 

The parade culminated with a musical and dance performance by Helping Hand Mission Marching Band of Raleigh, which revived the crowd and impressed onlookers. 

Traditionally on Three Kings Day, children receive gifts, and the celebration in Cary was no different.

After the parade, spectators gathered for traditional pastries and hot chocolate. Close to 200 preselected families were able to take home donated toys, clothing and food after the celebration. The Cary Police Department donated bicycles, which were given away at the event.