Tonight, December 7, is the first night of the Candlelight Processional at Disneyland, and the celebrity narrator has been revealed.
2024 Candlelight Processional Narrator
This year’s celebrity narrator is Kathryn Hahn. Hahn is a big name in current pop culture after this summer’s hit Disney+ Marvel original series, “Agatha All Along.” The series was a spinoff from “WandaVision,” where Hahn first appeared. She also voiced Doc Ock in the animated “Spider-Verse” movies.
Disneyland Candlelight Processional Stage
The Candlelight Processional is performed behind the Main Street train station, facing Town Square. Fake stained glass windows have been set up with trees and flowers on either side of the station.
A stage is in the square in front of the train station. Up the stairs is a tiered platform for the show’s chorus. It’s topped with a silver star.
Gold railings are around the stage’s stairs. A lectern at the corner of the stage is for the narrator.
There are wreaths, garlands, pennants, and candles adorning the stage and platforms.
About the Disneyland Candlelight Processional
The first Candlelight Processional was held at Disneyland in 1958, three years after the park opened. The tradition of a celebrity narrator started in 1960 with Dennis Morgan. The show is performed at the Main Street Station, though there was a period of time where it took place at the Fantasyland Theatre.
It features a vocal choir, an orchestra, and a handbell choir. It lasts approximately 45 minutes and tells the story of “The First Christmas,” also known as the birth of Jesus.
The Candlelight Processional at EPCOT is performed multiple times per night every night of the Festival of the Holidays and the showings are open to guests. However, Disneyland only allows invited guests to the main viewing area.
The only way to get a seat for the processional is to be an invited guest. Disneyland barely promotes it because of this. Invited guests are usually Disney VIPs, celebrities, media, and Club 33 members, among other exclusive groups.
Guests are permitted to congregate on Main Street, U.S.A. for a distanced viewing.
The viewing area for guests fills quickly. For this year’s first performance, the area closed around 4:00 p.m. for the 5:30 p.m. show. Another performance will take place at 7:45 p.m. PT.
By contrast, the Candlelight Processional is performed several times at Walt Disney World throughout the holiday season and a schedule of celebrity narrators is announced ahead of time. The first this year was Josh Gad. Watch our video of his first show below.
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