Disneyland’s Candlelight Processional, Christmas Traditions 2012
Christmas at Disneyland is always magical. The park is themed down to the smallest detail, decked out to its finest for this merry season. Plus, where else can you experience snow in Southern California? You know, besides the mountains?
My all time favorite tradition is the Candlelight Processional, where the entire Town Square is transformed, where the lights of Main Street dim, where hundreds of choirs walk through the park singing Christmas carols, where the Gospel of Jesus is read to the masses.
If you have never made it to one of these very special nights, I would highly recommend it. And for the first time ever, in its 54 years of celebrations, Disneyland expanded the tradition from its 2 night spectacle into a 20 night long extravaganza. Almost every single night of this merry month, Disneyland commenced the procession not just once but twice nightly.
I have been unable to attend the last few years as it was only the first weekend of December, but this year Rachel and I made it to last week’s performance with Dick Van Dyke as narrator.
After seeing this show more than a few times, Mr. Van Dyke is my all time favorite narrator. He graced us with his presence the very first year my husband and I ever attended. His voice just gives me chills. My favorite moment this year is walking within 20 feet of this Disney legend as he was ushered to backstage. He was just as happy and sweet as I could have imagined. And of course I was in such shock to see him before the show, I didn’t even grab of a photo of this adorable man!
Dick Van Dyke, narrates 2005 Candlelight Processional, the first time I ever saw the performance. source
Anyway, back to the Processional. To give you a few more details, the Candlelight Processional begins with hundreds of choir members, walking down a dark Main Street, illuminated only by candles. The procession ends at the train station where a stage has been elaborately set up. From there the choirs grace us with many a Christmas song interspersed with a special guest celebrity narrator reading the story of Jesus’ birth.
It’s quite a unique event, one somewhat unusual in this politically correct world. This is one event that I hope Disney keeps and I hope to always be able to attend in support of this glorious tradition.
Tomorrow is the last event for the year with John Stamos as narrator. If you can’t make it this year, there’s always next. 🙂
Decent photos are hard to get so I am thankful for finding the above photos via Google. Below is a video from last Wednesday’s 7:30 performance, the one I was able to attend.
