Disney is celebrating Halfway to the Holidays today with tons of big updates about what fans can expect during the upcoming holiday season in the parks!
Epcot’s Candlelight Processional
Last year, certain holiday events including EPCOT’s classic Candlelight Processional, were canceled due to the pandemic. Will Candlelight Processional be returning to EPCOT in 2021? Here’s what we’re seeing.
Earlier today, Disney shared a whole bunch of updates about the festive entertainment, decor, seasonal food and drinks, and more that we’ll all be able to enjoy during the 2021 holiday season. There will be a new After Hours event in Magic Kingdom, projections in Disney’s Hollywood Studios, and more.
But, one thing noticeably missing from Disney’s announcements was…EPCOT’s Candlelight Processional.
EPCOT’s Candlelight Processional
In Disney’s “sneak peek” of the special events fans can expect this holiday season, Disney mentioned the return of the EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays, and noted that there would be performances by the Voices of Liberty, the return of the Cookie Stroll, and more. But, Disney’s announcement does not specifically mention anything specifically about the Candlelight Processional.
Epcot Candlelight Processional
Again, to be clear, Disney’s announcement doesn’t specifically say that the Candlelight Processional will be coming back in 2021, nor does it officially note that the Candlelight Processional has been canceled for 2021.
Candlelight Processional at EPCOT
So far, the Candlelight Processional page on Disney’s website does not appear to have been updated. It indicates that the event is temporarily unavailable and has a message indicating that the 2020 Candlelight Processional was canceled, but still doesn’t mention 2021. That could, however, be updated in the future.
©Disney
Right now what we know is that while many other holiday events were mentioned in Disney’s latest news release as events that will be returning this year, Candlelight Processional was not mentioned. This could mean that the event will not be returning this year, but Disney could also release an update later on about this event. We’ll be on the lookout for more information and we’ll be sure to share that all with you.
Click here to see the best news about the EPCOT Food & Wine Festival this year.
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Will there be anything relating to the true meaning of Christmas as has always been done at Disney World or are they doing away with anything relating to Christianity? I noticed during the Food and Wine Festival this upcoming season, that I did not see any Christian artists performing at the American Theater. .In the past, I’ve had cast members at The Hollywood Studios tell me the background story of Walt and his search for the perfect nativity crèche , so I know it was important to him to recognize the biblical Christmas Story. Those today in charge of all things Disney seem to be going out of their way to rid any semblance to the Disney World that Walt Disney started. Thank you for allowing me to comment.
Disney Auditions just announced on July 8 that the Candlelight Processional Voices of Liberty auditions would be held on July 11. That is a good sign, but not proof positive.
I hope they come back with the Candlelight processional and program. We go to Disney World every other December. We celebrating our 50th anniversary this year. (Actual anniversary is October 23rd, but we felt Magic Kingdom would be very crowded in October.). One of the highlights of Christmas is Epcot’s candlelight processional.
Knowing Disney and how they’ve been operating lately, they are probably just holding off announcing it because they are trying to figure out the best way to make it a “Hard Ticketed Event”
Mark my words. I guarantee it. I’m just surprised they’ve never done it before.
Christmas with out the candle light event will not be the same . I guess people will be to close to each other it is a shame I hope Disney will come up with some kind of event that will be safe .
Candlelight Processional is a huge logistical process for Disney World. In addition to coordinating guest choirs, which involves audition tapes and extensive pre-planning, the Cast Choir itself must be reimagined every year. This starts with auditions in June and July, and rehearsals from August through November. Given that the Company is still rebounding from the pandemic, it would not surprise me if, instead of the choirs, the Voices of Liberty step up and deliver the Christmas music. From a logistics perspective, this makes the most sense.
I HAVE MANY FAMILY MEMBERS (OUT OF STATE) COMING FOR THE HOLIDAY TO SEE THE CANDLELIGHT PROCESSIONAL
PLEASE HOLD THE WONDERFUL EVENT FOR THE HOLIDAYS. BY DECEMBER THAT MANY MORE
SHOULD HAVE REC’D THE SHOTS . REQUIRE US TO WEAR MASKS DURNING THE EVENT.
ITS OUTSIDE. PLEASE
I am concerned for the performers. Jammed shoulder to shoulder singing can sure spread airborne pathogens. I plan on going to enjoy the ambiance, decorations and food with or without the amazing candlelight performance .
epcot barely even decorates anymore,,,and without international cast, lack of cast in general, and half the restaurants down, I cant see the processional working this year, there is no way they could sell dining packages with so many locations not running. Also as mentioned with all the choirs etc too many people crammed together. Epcot is in the worse shape it has ever been in in its entire history, they have completely destroyed the park both physically and aesthetically. The lagoon is now destroyed for this over produced fireworks mess. Not to mention all the other “no direction” steps they have been taking thanks to idiocy management.
really is sad times.
Why are the other parks ( Sea World, Universal) returning to normal for the Holidays but Disney is not? I wonder how the shareholders view this? The CLP has been such a wonderful part of the Christmas celebration for so many years. Their seems to be a leadership here issue? Sad times for Disney.