In fact, I was so moved I could hardly speak.”īefore we conclude our look back at the history of Disney’s Candlelight Processional, there are two more things I'd like to show you.
But for all of its grandeur, Disney guests particularly love Candlelight for the way it makes them feel each holiday season.įirst performance of Candlelight Processional at the Magic Kingdom 1971Īctor Howard Keel, who narrated the ceremony at both Disneyland and Walt Disney World in the 1980s, once said, “I’ve never been a very religious person, but when you stand up there for all of those people with that incredible chorus and orchestra beside you, it’s a wonderfully moving experience. It has grown from a simple procession of candle-lit carolers into a magnificent classical concert featuring a thousand voice massed choir, “The Living Christmas Tree”, orchestra, fanfare trumpets, bell choir, soloist, sign-language interpreter, guest conductor, and celebrity narrator. Over the years, the event has become so popular that it was also introduced at Walt Disney World’s inaugural holiday season in 1971 (starting at the Magic Kingdom, and moving to Epcot in 1994). The “Living Christmas Tree,” featuring the Western High School A’Capella Choir, was also incorporated into the Candlelight Ceremony that year as a centerpiece for the massed choir ceremony. This tradition has continued with very famous celebrities including Cary Grant, John Wayne, Henry Fonda, Jimmy Stewart, Gregory Peck, Charlton Heston, James Earl Jones, Olympia Dukakis and many others donating their eloquence to the program. In 1960 the event was moved back to Town Square, and actor Dennis Morgan was invited to read portions of the Biblical Christmas story in between the classical hymns.
Therefore, in December 1958, the first evening Candlelight Processional was held with singers from 16 choirs processing down Main Street to the Plaza where they performed a full concert with the Dickens Carolers singing from the Sleeping Beauty Castle balcony above.Ĭandlelight Procession at Disneyland Park, 1958 Hirt suggested to management that performances by a larger massed choir group would be a welcome addition to future holiday events. The choirs and carolers were so well received by Disneyland guests that in 1958, Dr. The first Candlelight Processional at Disneyland, 1958 Instead, they stood around the Disneyland band and performed in an informal manner. Unfortunately, due to the size of the crowd, the singers were unable to form a circle in the center of the Plaza as planned. In 1957, the event grew larger as choirs followed the “Christmas Around the World Parade” processing together from Sleeping Beauty Castle into the Plaza where they were to perform. Hirt’s direction, the carolers and singers from eight visiting choirs also performed as a group on the station steps, this time accompanied by the Disneyland Band. Massed Choirs perform on Main Street Station on December 15, 1956
On the opening afternoon of the festival, the carolers and a 300-member massed chorus made up of visiting choirs stood together on the Train Station steps and sang Christmas carols accompanied by visiting school bands.