The Formentera Council office of local celebrations has announced that their Majesties the Three Kings of the East will arrive by boat, as every year, in the port of la Savina at 5.30pm, Saturday January 5. Joined by pages and the rest of the royal entourage and riding in decorated floats, the Magi will then lead a tour across the towns of the island.

After the stop in la Savina, the cavalcade will continue its circuit up the highway in time for an estimated 6.30pm arrival in Sant Francesc. The party will make its way into town via carrer Jaume I, towards plaça de la Constitució. Once there, their Majesties will stop in at the Sant Francesc Xavier church. Afterwards, they will make an appearance on the balcony of the Formentera Council, greeting the town from their perch and taking part in the administration's official reception of the travelling entourage.

At approximately 7.30pm, the Kings will once again take up the reins and head down the highway towards Sant Ferran. Once in town, the committee will climb carrer Sant Jaume to the town square and enter the church to revere the baby Jesus. All those hoping to meet the Magi can do so in the festival tent which occupies the church plaza, where boys and girls from Sant Ferran will also be able to pick up gifts.

Nearing 9.00pm, again by way of the main highway, the cavalcade will continue in the direction of la Mola. There, they will descend the central arterial towards el Pilar church, where gifts will be distributed to the eagerly awaiting children of that town.

Kids in Sant Francesc must wait until Sunday, January 6, to receive their gifts from the Wise Men. That ceremony will take place at the town's religious school –“Ca ses Monjes”– on the heels of the Epiphany mass scheduled for 11.00am at the Sant Francesc Xavier church.

Accompanying entertainment
The members of the royal party won't be the only ones touring Formentera. This year, while young and old await the Three Kings and company, Campiquipugui will give their production of Rats! thirty minutes before the cavalcade's appearances in la Savina, Sant Francesc and Sant Ferran.

Rats! is a piece of street theatre based on the traditional Pied Piper of Hamelin. In this giant-sized and rakish version of the story, the rats follow on the heels of the musician, who is their flute-tooting guide to a whole new high-altitude world. The rats, of course, author so small amount of mischief as they go. The fun-filled, dynamic and visually-stunning show is suited for all ages.

Department head Susana Labrador announced: “Once again, the Three Kings prepare to embark on an epic journey to bring joy and magic to our streets and gifts to our people”, and offered the Council's appreciation for everyone who has made the cavalcade's 2019 stopover possible: local church parishes, volunteering children, Associació Reis Mags (the Formentera Three Kings' association), the island's youth centre, Quintanilla and Fusteria carpenters, Trasmapi, Baleària, Pitiüsa Sud, Frutos Secos Ibiza, Carbónicas Tur and the staff of our local council.

Formentera firefighters were called into action Thursday to put out a small fire in a single-family dwelling in Porto Saler.

112 notified the brigade of the flames, confined to the home's chimney, shortly before 3.00pm. A three-man crew riding in the fire engine was joined by two local police and a number of civil protection officers.

The first responders came on the smoke-filled scene and proceeded, though not before verifying no injuries were suffered nor serious damage incurred, to air out the residence.

When the chimney cooled, a decomposing bird carcass was removed that had hindered proper ventilation, led to stray sparks in the duct and obstructed the flue.

The operation was completed within twenty-five minutes after the call was received.