An annual holiday tradition is returning to EPCOT this year. From November 26th through December 30th, the Candlelight Ceremony will be returning to the America Gardens Theatre. It continues a tradition that dates back to 1958 at Disneyland. A celebrity narrator will tell the story of Christmas with the help of the Voices of Liberty, an orchestra, and the Disney Cast Choir.
While not all dates have been announced for narrators yet, there is an impressive collection of celebrity narrators coming to tell the traditional story of Christmas. This year the list of narrators includes Chita Rivera, Jodi Benson, Alton Fitzgerald White, Lisa Ling, Steven Curtis Chapman, Blair Underwood, and Pat Sajak. More names will be announced in the coming weeks.
At this time, the narrators are scheduled to be appearing and telling the Christmas story on the following dates:
- Chita Rivera
November 29 through December 1 - Jodi Benson
December 2 through December 4 - Alton Fitzgerald White
December 5 through December 7 - Lisa Ling
December 11 through December 13 - Steven Curtis Chapman
December 23 through December 25 - Blair Underwood
December 26 through December 28 - Pat Sajak
December 29 through December 30
Along with the return of the Candlelight Processional will also be the return of the Candlelight Processional Dining Packages. Guests will be able to purchase dining packages starting on October 26, 2021.
Along with the return of the Candlelight Processional, the Disney Parks Blog also announced the return of several Festival of the Holidays traditions. This includes:
- Las Posadas at the Mexico pavilion
- Canadian Holiday Voyageurs in the Canada pavilion
- Chinese Lion Dance celebrating the new year in the China pavilion
- A Hanukkah storyteller along the promenade and delightful holiday storytellers in France, Italy, Japan, Norway and the United Kingdom
- And outside The American Adventure, you can wave hello to Santa Claus as he gets ready for the big day.
Holiday Kitchens will also be cooking up some seasonal recipes from around the globe. Different dishes that will be offered include slow-roasted turkey, holiday pot pie, pumpkin gingerbread cheesecake, and even peppermint sundaes. The new Chestnuts & Good Cheer Holiday Kitchen will also offer fire-roasted chestnuts and cinnamon-glazed almonds and cashews.
The Holiday Cookie Stroll will also offer another way to enjoy seasonal sweets. Guests will be able to purchase five cookies and also get five stamps for the Festival Passport as they make their way through the Holiday Cookie Stroll. Once the five stamps have been acquired, guests will be able to present them at the Holiday Sweets & Treats to receive a special cookie. Some of the cookies available for the Holiday Cookie Stroll are the SNICKERS®-Doodle Cookie made with SNICKERS Bars or the tasty Chocolate Crinkle Cookie made with DOVE® Dark Chocolate.
Another fun activity is Olaf’s Holiday Tradition Expedition Scavenger Hunt. Guests can search for holiday traditions Olaf has collected from around the world. There is also the opportunity to purchase a map and stickers from festival locations as long as supplies last.
There will also be merchandise and many other food options to experience at EPCOT during the Festival of the Holidays presented by AdventHealth. This year’s festival will be even more special as Walt Disney World continues to celebrate its 50th Anniversary. Find EARidescent merchandise throughout the festival and the parks at Walt Disney World during the holiday season. The Festival of the Holidays is available for all to experience with a valid EPCOT admission with park pass reservation.
