As 2023 International Festival of the Holidays kicks off today, so does the first EPCOT Candlelight Processional for the 2023 holiday season. The long-running holiday event features a celebrity guest narrator; tonight, bringing the holiday magic for the first time this year, celebrity narrator Chrissy Metz graced guests with her rendition of the classic story.
EPCOT Candlelight Processional
At the top of the show, the musicians, Voices of Liberty, and the conductor take the stage.
The Voices of Liberty fill choral risers in the shape of a Christmas tree. A star hangs over the choir, which illuminates throughout the show. Voices of Liberty is dressed in red and green robes.
A choir formed of talented Cast Members wearing gold robes joins the stage to create a robust, powerful chorus. These Cast Members have volunteered their time to sing during the Candlelight Processional. As attending this event is high on many guests’ holiday tradition lists, so it is for Cast Members who audition and practice each year to fill the America Gardens Theatre stage with a joyful sound. The choir comes up the aisles of the theater, each holding a candle, before filling the stage. Local high school students also join this choir.
The celebrity narrator for the show, Chrissy Metz, takes the stage and introduces the story.
Throughout the evening, she shares a version of the Biblical story of the birth of Christ.
Not unlike many other celebrity narrators in years past, the opportunity to perform in this special show moved Metz to tears.
The choir sings and the band plays classic religious holiday songs between sections of the story.
Check out our video of this first Candlelight Processional of the season below:
Celebrity Narrators for 2023 Season
Each performance of the EPCOT Candlelight Processional will feature one celebrity narrator to tell the story of the birth of Jesus Christ according to Christian tradition. Each of the narrators shares the story, interspersed with classic Christmas songs. This year’s celebrity narrators are:
- Chrissy Metz (NEW): Nov. 24-25
- Luis Fonsi (NEW): Nov. 26-27
- Ann-Margret (NEW): Nov. 28-29
- Simu Liu: Nov. 30-Dec. 2
- John Stamos: Dec. 3-5
- Neil Patrick Harris: Dec. 6-8
- Marlee Matlin: Dec. 9-11
- Brendan Fraser (NEW): Dec. 12-14
- Eva Longoria (NEW): Dec. 15-16
- Joey McIntyre (NEW): Dec. 17-18
- Sterling K. Brown (NEW): Dec. 19-20
- Jordan Fisher (NEW): Dec. 21-23
- Steven Curtis Chapman: Dec. 24-26
- Audra McDonald (NEW): Dec. 27-28
- Lisa Ling: Dec. 29-30
Will you be checking out the Candlelight Processional at EPCOT this holiday season? Who is narrating during your Walt Disney World trip? Let us know in the comments.
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