The Candlelight Processional along with the Celebrity Narrators are making a return to the EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays.
The Candlelight Processional returns, a Disney Parks tradition dating back to 1958 at Disneyland park. The production at America Gardens Theatre will feature the Voices of Liberty and a choir of Disney cast members, a live orchestra, and celebrity narrators retelling the traditional Christmas story.
This year’s celebrity narrators will include Broadway Legend Chita Rivera, Jodi Benson, Alton Fitzgerald White, Lisa Ling, Steven Curtis Chapman, Blair Underwood, and Pat Sajak with more names being added over the next few weeks. Candlelight Processional Dining Packages are also returning and can be booked online beginning Oct. 26.
During the festival, holiday traditions of the world come to life around World Showcase, such as Las Posadas at the Mexico pavilion, Canadian Holiday Voyageurs in the Canada pavilion, Chinese Lion Dance celebrating the new year in the China pavilion, A Hanukkah storyteller along the promenade and delightful holiday storytellers in France, Italy, Japan, Norway and the United Kingdom and outside The American Adventure, you can wave hello to Santa Claus as he gets ready for the big day.
Holiday Kitchens will cook up seasonal recipes from around the globe – from slow-roasted turkey and pot pie to pumpkin gingerbread cheesecake and more. New this year is Chestnuts & Good Cheer Holiday Kitchen which will feature will fire-roasted chestnuts and cinnamon-glazed almonds and cashews.
Get ready to enjoy sweet treats during the Holiday Cookie Stroll. Purchase any five cookies – from the SNICKERS®-Doodle Cookie made with SNICKERS Bars to the tasty Chocolate Crinkle Cookie made with DOVE® Dark Chocolate – from any of the official Cookie Stroll locations featured in the Festival Passport and collect a matching stamp. Once you’ve collected all five stamps, bring your passport to Holiday Sweets & Treats to get your specialty cookie.
Olaf’s Holiday Tradition Expedition Scavenger Hunt is another fun activity for guests. Search for holiday traditions Olaf has gathered from around the world and lost along the way. Purchase the map and stickers from select Festival merchandise locations while supplies last.
How excited is everyone for the return of the Candlelight Processional?
Barry joined Thrillgeek in 2016. He has been a journalist for over 20 years. He is one of the co-hosts of the Thrillgeek Podcast, Editor and Digital Content Coordinator here at Thrillgeek. When he is not going to the theme parks, traveling with his wife, Cyn or playing with their dogs. He is playing drums, going to concerts, trying some of the amazing food or enjoying many of the amazing performing arts we have in Orlando.