Disney's Candlelight Processional

Each performance is narrated by a guest narrator, typically a celebrity, often who has been previously affiliated with The Walt Disney Company. At Disneyland, the narrator of the event is kept secret until the day of the first performance, while Walt Disney World announces their narrator lineup ahead of time so guests can plan their vacations accordingly to which narrator they would like to see. Dining packages are available to purchase that guarantees a seat inside the American Gardens Theatre at the American pavilion at Epcot. Prior to 1994 the processional was performed at Magic Kingdom, with the first narrator being Rock Hudson.[2]

The term processional refers to the choir entering one by one, typically wearing traditional choir robes, while holding a candle. Originally, singers held real candles with an authentic flame, which have since been replaced by electronic candles. The first guest narrator of the processional was actor Dennis Morgan at Disneyland in 1961. Walt Disney last attended the processional in December 1965 with Dick Van Dyke as narrator.[3]

The event is one of the many seasonal entertainment offerings located at Epcot during the International Festival of the Holidays.[4] At Disneyland, the event is held on Main Street, U.S.A. with a stage setup around the train station in Town Square. At Epcot, the professional a cappella singing group Voices of Liberty are utilized in the show as featured singers and soloists and both versions include a live orchestra.

The songs are custom composed and arranged for Disney to retell the nativity story. The celebrity narrator tells the story in short passages mixed with songs. The show typically has stayed the same year to year, but it continues to be updated. It uses guest choirs, primarily youth choirs, referred to as a mass choir. The show is performed three times each night at Epcot, with youth choirs performing in the first show and Disney cast members in the second two shows. Cast members (employees) are selected to perform in the show based on auditions that are held prior in the year, with rehearsals being held weekly leading up to performance time. Merchandise is sold to honor the event inside the parks, typically including t-shirts and trading pins.

• 2004 - Marie Osmond [5]
• 2005 - Dick Van Dyke [5]
• 2006 - Andy Garcia - Hector Elizondo[5]
• 2007 - Jane Seymour[5]
• 2008 - John Stamos[5]
• 2009 - Jon Voight[6]
• 2010 - Tom Skerritt[7]
• 2011 - Gary Sinise[8]
• 2012 - Dennis Haysbert, Kurt Russell, Edward James Olmos, Lou Diamond Phillips, Dick Van Dyke, Patricia Heaton, John Stamos, Molly Ringwald[9]
• 2013 - Kurt Russell - Blair Underwood[10]
• 2014 - Beau Bridges [11]
• 2015 - Lana Parrilla - Geena Davis [12]
• 2016 - Ginnifer Goodwin[13]
• 2017 - Chris Hemsworth[14]
• 2018 - Chris Pratt[15]
• 2019 - Lin-Manuel Miranda[16]
• 2021 - Sterling K. Brown[17]
• 2022 - Viola Davis[18]

• 1971 - Rock Hudson
• 1972 - Cary Grant
• 1973 - Rock Hudson
• 1974 - Rock Hudson
• 1975 - Dean Jones
• 1976 - Joseph Campanella
• 1977 - Rock Hudson
• 1978 - Ross Martin
• 1979 - Perry Como
• 1980 - Rock Hudson
• 1981 - James Hampton - Darren McGavin
• 1982 - Pat & Shirley Boone
• 1983 - Joseph Campanella
• 1984 - Rock Hudson
• 1985 - Howard Keel
• 1986 - Howard Keel
• 1987 - Dean Jones
• 1988 - Walter Cronkite
• 1989 - McLean Stevenson
• 1990 - Joseph Campanella
• 1991 - George Kennedy
• 1992 - Paula Zahn
• 1993 - James Earl Jones

• 2006 - Rita Moreno, Marie Osmond, Steven Curtis Chapman, Kirk Cameron, Gary Sinise, Marlee Matlin, Brian Dennehy, Maureen McGovern, Mario Lopez, Cuba Gooding Jr.[19]
• 2007 - Andi MacDowell, Kirk Cameron, Monique Coleman, Marlee Matlin, Rita Moreno, Chita Rivera, Neil Patrick Harris, Steven Curtis Chapman, Gary Sinise, John O'Hurley, Edward James Olmos, David Robinson, Dennis Franz[20]
• 2008 - John O'Hurley, Neil Patrick Harris, Brian Stokes Mitchell, Virginia Madsen, Marlee Matlin, Monique Coleman, Abigail Breslin, Chita Rivera, Angela Bassett, Courtney B. Vance, Steven Curtis Chapman, Edward James Olmos[21]
• 2009 - Isabella Rossellini, John O’Hurley, Steven Curtis Chapman, Anika Noni Rose, Andy Garcia, Abigail Breslin, Brian Dennehy, Edward James Olmos, Angela Bassett, Courtney B. Vance, Whoopi Goldberg, Chita Rivera[22]
• 2010 - Isabella Rossellini, John O'Hurley, Corbin Bernsen, Susan Lucci, Jodi Benson, Whoopi Goldberg, Steven Curtis Chapman, Thomas Gibson, Trace Adkins, Brad Garrett, Marlee Matlin, Edward James Olmos[23]
• 2011 - Mira Sorvino, Geena Davis, Isabella Rossellini, Neil Patrick Harris, Chita Rivera, Marlee Matlin, Blair Underwood, Trace Adkins, Edward James Olmos, Susan Lucci, Michael W. Smith[24]
• 2012 - Geena Davis, Lea Salonga, Jodi Benson, Neil Patrick Harris, Whoopi Goldberg, Blair Underwood, James Denton, Alfre Woodard, Amy Grant, Gary Sinise, Trace Adkins, Andy Garcia, Marlee Matlin[25]
• 2013 - Gary Sinise, Neil Patrick Harris, Ashley Judd, Whoopi Goldberg, Sigourney Weaver, Dennis Haysbert, James Denton, Edward James Olmos, Trace Adkins, Steven Curtis Chapman, Blair Underwood, Amy Grant[26]
• 2014 - Jodi Benson, Neil Patrick Harris, Jonathan Groff, Whoopi Goldberg, Levar Burton, Edward James Olmos, Joe Morton, Chita Rivera, Ana Gasteyer, Marlee Matlin, Isabella Rossellini, Blair Underwood, Steven Curtis Chapman[27]
• 2015 - Gary Sinise, Neil Patrick Harris, Whoopi Goldberg, Joe Morton, Ana Gasteyer, Meredith Viera, America Ferrera, Chandra Wilson, Daniel Dae Kim, Edward James Olmos, Blair Underwood, Amy Grant[28]
• 2016 - Steven Curtis Chapman, Neil Patrick Harris, Whoopi Goldberg, Edward James Olmos, Anthony Mackie, Robby Benson, Meredith Viera, Jim Caviezel, Joe Morton, Ming-Na Wen, Cal Ripken Jr., Jodi Benson[29]
• 2017 - Laurie Hernandez, Matt Bomer, Ana Gasteyer, Whoopi Goldberg, Pat Sajak, Jodi Benson, Jaci Velasquez, Warwick Davis, Chandra Wilson, Kurt Russell, CCH Pounder, Trace Adkins, Neil Patrick Harris[30]
• 2018 - Chita Rivera, Helen Hunt, Alfonso Ribeiro, Robby Benson, John Stamos, Neil Patrick Harris, Whoopi Goldberg, Bart Millard, Blair Underwood, Gary Sinise, Pat Sajak, Auli’i Cravalho, Joey Fatone, Cal Ripken Jr., Jodi Benson[31]
• 2019 - Ming-Na Wen, Neil Patrick Harris, Whoopi Goldberg, Isabella Rossellini, Alton Fitzgerald White, Gary Sinise, Pat Sajak, Geena Davis, Steven Curtis Chapman, Edward James Olmos, Marlee Matlin, Lisa Ling[32]
• 2021 - Auli’i Cravalho, Chita Rivera, Jodi Benson, Alton Fitzgerald White, Bart Millard, Lisa Ling, Andy Garcia, Ana Gasteyer, Blair Underwood, Pat Sajak, Courtney B. Vance, Steven Curtis Chapman[33]
• 2022 - Simu Liu, Chita Rivera, Raul Esparza, Daymond John, Josh Gad, Mariska Hargitay, Angela Bassett, Courtney B. Vance, Neil Patrick Harris, Whoopi Goldberg, Isabella Rossellini, Gloria Estefan, Marie Osmond, Cal Ripken Jr.[34]

In 1999, the Epcot Candlelight Processional was professionally recorded and released on Walt Disney Records cassette and cd with Phylicia Rashad as guest narrator.[35] The Epcot Candlelight Processional was also recorded and released in 1997, with Louis Gossett Jr. as narrator.[36]

• Information about Epcot's Candlelight Processional