The Candlelight Processional is a holiday stage show performed at Epcot’s America Gardens Theatre every November and December as part of the EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays. The performance retells the nativity story through scripture narration paired with a live orchestra and a massed choir, and it has become one of Walt Disney World’s most enduring seasonal traditions.
The tradition traces back to 1958, when Walt Disney introduced a formal candlelight procession at Disneyland after a few years of smaller caroling performances. The show came to Florida with the opening of Magic Kingdom in 1971 and was relocated to Epcot’s America Gardens Theatre in 1994, where it remains the centerpiece of the park’s holiday festival today.
Stats at a Glance
- Location: America Gardens Theatre, EPCOT, Walt Disney World, Orlando, FL
- Type: Seasonal holiday stage show
- Debuted: 1958 (Disneyland)
- Moved to Epcot: 1994
- Venue capacity: about 2,100
- Shows per night: 3
- Famous for: Rotating celebrity guest narrators
The Show Experience
Each performance pairs a live orchestra with the Voices of Liberty and a mass choir of more than 150 Disney cast members and community singers, all backing a celebrity guest narrator who reads the Christmas story between musical numbers. The show runs three times nightly at the outdoor America Gardens Theatre, with the venue filling well before showtime during peak holiday dates.
Guests can watch from the general standing and lawn areas for free or purchase a holiday dining package at a nearby World Showcase restaurant, which guarantees a reserved seat inside the theater. The narrator lineup changes every few nights through the run and has included actors, athletes, musicians, and television personalities.
A Holiday Tradition Since 1958
The Candlelight Processional began as a small caroling event at Disneyland in the mid-1950s before Walt Disney formalized it into a dedicated nighttime show in 1958. The tradition crossed the country when Walt Disney World opened in 1971, running at Magic Kingdom before finding its long-term home at Epcot’s America Gardens Theatre in 1994.
Longtime conductor Dr. John V. Sinclair was recognized in 2022 for leading over 1,000 performances of the show at Walt Disney World, reflecting how consistently the event has run each holiday season aside from a pause during 2020.
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Candlelight Processional FAQs
Where is the Candlelight Processional held?
It takes place at the outdoor America Gardens Theatre in Epcot’s World Showcase, near the American Adventure pavilion.
How many times does it run each night?
The show is performed three times each evening during the EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays, which runs through November and December.
Do I need a reservation to see it?
No reservation is required for general viewing, but a holiday dining package at a nearby restaurant guarantees a reserved seat inside the theater.
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Photo: HesioneHushabye / Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.