A legendary Disneyland holiday tradition unlike other
The Candlelight Processional and Ceremony at Disneyland® Resort has been around for 60 years and continues to be a popular event, especially amongst Cast Members who get to participate in the tradition. This year, it was extra special for me because I was fortunate enough to take part in this incredible tradition!
During the ceremony, hundreds of choir members in green and gold robes walk down Main Street, U.S.A., singing classic carols as they walk toward the Main Street Train Station for a performance like no other. California-based Cast Members have the opportunity to audition to be a part of the performance and sing as part of the “Living Christmas Tree” during the ceremony.
That means, if you’re a Disney Professional Intern (like me) or a Disney College Program participant on a fall program, you could have the opportunity to join in on this legendary holiday tradition, too!
For me, Candlelight is one of those things I’d always dreamt of being a part of, but my past two programs were during the spring, so I never had the chance to participate. Fortunately, this year, I had the opportunity to audition and made it into the choir!
Fast forward through months of rehearsals and preparation—we’d finally made it to the performance. The number of times I’d gotten goosebumps as we sang the “Hallelujah Chorus” in a rehearsal hall couldn’t hold a candle to how it felt to be up on the stage as part of the Living Christmas Tree, in a tradition I’d known about since I was little.
As a member of the Disney Cast Choir participating in Candlelight, I’ve been able to revisit my love of choir (even though I was in a choir in college, I began to miss singing during my program) and have the chance to meet people not only from the resort, but from Glendale and Burbank, too! And, seeing Chris Pratt standing not too far away as the celebrity narrator was pretty cool, too.
My advice if you’re thinking about doing something like Candlelight, or other Cast Member-exclusive events like Minnie’s Moonlit Madness or Flashback, is to jump in feet first and just do it! These types of events have made for some of the most memorable moments of my Disney Programs experience and I wouldn’t trade them for anything.
