Disneyland’s Candlelight Processional

Alpha Gollihugh attended Disneyland’s Candlelight Processional on December 4 and brings us this guest blog.

“Beautiful, Outstanding, and just plain Awesome!”

These are some of the words we heard after the first performance of the 2009 Candlelight Processional at Disneyland, last night. The first weekend in December each year, the train station steps at Disneyland are transformed into a stage for a huge choir, orchestra, trumpeters, and a select few soloists and speakers. Choir members are drawn from local high schools, colleges and Disney cast members. At 5:30 and 8:00 each evening the lights are dimmed and the choir comes down Main Street in only candlelight, and files onto the huge structure fixed for them each year by Disney magicians. Those with dinner packages and other groups like D23 are given seats in the area from the base of the stage and extending into the central park. The rest of us are left to stand in all the rest of the park area,side walks and extending down Main Street. Some wait as long as 3 hours before the performance, standing, so they can be the first behind the seating area. But it IS worth it !!!!

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Here is some of the crowd waiting and the empty stage 1 hour prior to performance. Then the orchestra begins to play and from the far end of Main Street you begin to hear voices singing:

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It takes a while, for there are probably 1000 voices. At least it looked that way to me. When everyone is finally in, the Disneyland Herald Trumpets hails the beginning of the music. The special speaker this year was Jon Voight. He was wonderful and added much to the evening.

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In the center of the stage is the Living Christmas tree, formed by Disney Cast Members, willing to give many extra hours to present this wonderful gift.

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The speaker reads the Christmas story from the Bible and each section is interspersed with Christmas songs, in wonderful harmony and power.

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The performance is a bit over an hour, but the time flies! A few well chosen soloists add to the show as do 2 wonderful bell choirs.

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When the story is complete, and most of the music, the speaker reads “One Solitary Life” which tells more about the life of the Christmas babe. Finally the Choir, orchestra and other specialists perform the Hallelujah Chorus. The last song is all the voices, and those watching, joining in singing,”Silent Night”. You are just lifted to heaven! I have seen and enjoyed this performance at WDW too, but there is nothing like seeing it where it has been done for 54 years, Disneyland.

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Laura Gilbreath is a native of San Diego, CA. She has been making the trek up Interstate 5 to Disneyland since she was a small child and terrified of talking tikis and hitchhiking ghosts. She and her husband Lee enjoy trips to Disneyland and Walt Disney World, as well as sailings on the Disney Cruise Line.

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