Disney parks come alive with lights, wreaths, and festive music every Christmas, but one custom stands out as particularly memorable. This is Disney’s Candlelight Processional, a classic Christmas custom invented by Walt Disney himself. A 50-piece orchestra, a living Christmas tree, and well-known narrators come together to create an unparalleled holiday moment at Disneyland or EPCOT.
What Is The Candlelight Processional?
The Candlelight Processional is a live Christmas ceremony held annually at Disneyland Park in California and EPCOT at Walt Disney World in Florida. A celebrity narrator, a full orchestra, and a large choir come together to use spoken word and music to tell the Christmas story.
This custom started at the very beginning. When Disneyland celebrated its first Christmas in 1955, Walt Disney wanted visitors to experience warmth and happiness all over the park. With the help of music director Tommy Walker and Dr. Charles C. Hirt from USC’s music school, Disney introduced live Christmas carolers and choirs on Main Street, U.S.A.
By 1958, Walt Disney approved something bigger, a formal candlelight ceremony where choirs would perform together in one powerful presentation. That year marked the first official Candlelight Processional.
The Candlelight Processional wasn’t just another show for Walt Disney but a deeply personal one. For many years, seating was invitation-only, making it one of Disneyland’s most exclusive experiences. Walt Disney last attended the event in 1965, just a year before his passing, with Dick Van Dyke serving as the narrator.
What Makes It So Special To Watch?
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As the name suggests, the show begins with a procession. Choir members, dressed in robes and holding glowing candles, enter slowly. Hundreds of voices fill the space, accompanied by rich orchestral music. Between songs, a celebrity narrator reads the Nativity story, weaving the music and storytelling together. The result is powerful, moving, and surprisingly intimate.
At Disneyland, the Candlelight Processional is performed on Main Street, U.S.A., near the train station in Town Square, and usually happens over just two nights. Even today, the narrator’s name is often kept secret until the day of the performance, adding to the excitement.
The celebration is larger and easier to attend at EPCOT. The show runs throughout the holiday season at the America Gardens Theatre as part of the EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays. Guests can attend one of three nightly shows and even book dining packages that include a festive meal and guaranteed seating.
One of the main draws is the rotating list of well-known narrators. Icons from theatre, film, television, and music have contributed their voices to the narrative over time. With performers like Brendan Fraser, Ralph Macchio, Whoopi Goldberg, Henry Winkler, and more in the 2025 lineup, every night feels new and unforgettable.
If you’re visiting Disneyland or EPCOT during the holidays, make space for the Candlelight Processional.
Cover Image Courtesy: Disney World/Website
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