Manny Vega, Museo del Barrio / Dia de Reyes / January 6, 1982. Collection of El Museo del Barrio
El Museo del Barrio is delighted to present the 44th Annual Three Kings Day (Virtual) Celebration on Wednesday, January 6, 2021, titled Fuerza Colectiva: Celebrating our Roots and Diversity. The upcoming celebration honors and embraces our community’s collective strength in response to the pandemic and injustice, and the cultural contributions of the African diaspora.
The Museum’s first-ever virtual celebration, hosted and directed by TV personality and Producer, Rhina Valentin, will include musical performances from La Grupo R with the participation of Beto Torrens from Puerto Rico, Los Pleneros de la 21, festive skits by Victor Cruz’s animated character TITA, cameos by our famous giant puppets, and saludos from this year’s honorees.
This year’s Three Kings poster was created by Bronx-born, Nuyorican artist
Manny Vega. Created in 1982, the poster depicts a happy crowd watching the parade, complete with animals and the larger-than-life puppets of Melchior, Gaspar, and Baltasar, whose African heritage reflects Vega’s own interest in African diasporic spirituality. You can also enjoy works, notably murals, by Manny Vega found throughout El Barrio.
Image courtesy El Museo del Barrio
This year’s three Honorary Kings are Rosa Clemente, Journalist, Scholar-Activist, and Political commentator; Félix Matos Rodríguez, Chancellor of the City University of New York; and Juan Sanchez, Artist. This year’s Madrinas and Padrinos are: Jorge Ayala, Founder, La Fonda Boricua; Seantell Campbell, Chef and co-Founder of El Barrio Fridge; Darrielle Carter, Chef and co-Founder of El Barrio Fridge; Calixto Chinchilla, Founder, New York Latino Film Festival; Valerie Garcia, Senior Librarian, New York Public Library Aguilar branch; Loira Limbal, Filmmaker, Activist, and Artist; Edmundo Martinez, Community Organizer, Friends of Concrete Plant Park; Alexis Mena, Community Organizer, Co-Founder of Universe City NYC; Power Malu, Activist; and Minerva Solla, former Young Lord and Cultural Community Activist. Learn more about the honorees at El Museo’s YouTube channel, featuring interviews with Rhina Valentin.
Learn more about the Three Kings Day celebration through a fun-filled morning of storytelling, a musical performance and workshop by Los Pleneros de la 21, and special guests.
6:00pm – 7:00pm | All Ages
The Three Kings Day festivities continue from the comfort of your homes (or phones) featuring a parranda by Beto Torrens live from Puerto Rico, a special appearance by actor and comedian Victor Cruz’s beloved animated character TITA, saludos from this year’s honorees, and more!