NEWS: ‘Candlelight Processional’ Celebrity Narrators, the Return of JOYFUL! and More Coming to EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays Presented by AdventHealth

The calendar says November, so it’s almost time for the EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays presented by AdventHealth, happening during The World’s Most Magical Celebration! This is one of Guests’ family’s favorite events of the year, with so many wonderful things to see and do. When Guests stroll through the park and reach the magnificent Christmas tree in World Showcase Plaza, the biggest question becomes: Do we start on the left toward Mexico or go right toward Canada?

This year, Guests will probably want to start right in the middle and kick things off with the return of “JOYFUL! A Celebration of the Season” on the Showcase Plaza Stage. This stirring and uplifting performance of music celebrating Christmas and Kwanzaa never fails to fill Guests with energy!

Venturing into World Showcase, there’s a wealth of holiday storytellers, musical acts, and other performers to discover, from the Canadian Holiday Voyageurs and their musical memories across the Great White North to the Chinese Lion Dance, Italy’s La Befana, France’s Père Noël and more. And from Nov. 26 – Dec. 24, Santa Claus pays a visit to The American Adventure, where Guests can step right up and let him know their fondest wish for Christmas.

Of course, Guests love to cap off a day of holiday fun at EPCOT with a performance of the “Candlelight Processional” at America Gardens Theatre. This year, the incomparable Voices of Liberty will form a living Christmas tree at center stage, flanked on either side by a choir of Disney Cast Members pouring their hearts into every song. And there’s nothing quite like having those songs played by a full orchestra and hearing the traditional Christmas story told by a celebrity narrator. The lineup of narrators for 2021 includes award-winning actors, singers, and television hosts … and two Disney princesses! Here’s who is scheduled to appear:

11/26 – 11/28: Auli’i Cravalho
11/29 – 12/1: Chita Rivera
12/2 – 12/4: Jodi Benson
12/5 – 12/7: Alton Fitzgerald White
12/8 – 12/10: Bart Millard
12/11 – 12/13: Lisa Ling
12/14 – 12/16: Andy Garcia
12/17 – 12/19: Ana Gasteyer
12/20 – 12/22: Courtney B. Vance
12/23 – 12/25: Steven Curtis Chapman
12/26 – 12/28: Blair Underwood
12/29 – 12/30: Pat Sajak

The EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays starts Nov. 26 and continues through Dec. 30.

About the Author: DBTN - FOUNDER, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF OF DBTN

My enthusiasm for all things Disney all started when my parents took our family to WDW for a vacation. My first trip was at age 13. Since that first time, I have made a trip to WDW almost every year from age 13. As far as I knew there was only one place to vacation! My fascination with WDW began on that first trip. I wanted to know how things at WDW operated and what made it so magical. I wanted to know details like how many people worked there and the length of the monorail track. It is that fascination that fueled my interest in WDW. Each year that my family vacationed at WDW, I learned more about WDW as they built more parks and added more attractions. I am not the average fan; I want to know all the details and I love researching the facts of WDW. I research facts through the Internet, books and DVDs. To me, the best part is to conduct research trip at WDW. After college, my father was transferred to Orlando and I moved with my parents. Seeking employment, I applied for a job at WDW. I passed the first rounds of interviews and was proud to join the Disney family as a security cast member! The job was great. It included Disney-specific training and security training before assuming four duties: driving a security vehicle, standing a post, working in a resort or walking a park or other area. Sometimes I even had special duties like working the Epcot Christmas Processional. I would escort the celebrity guests from backstage to onstage. Interestingly, every cast member is given a WDW fact book monthly to aid in answering guest questions. The pocket book contained great Disney facts that added more fuel for my thirst of Disney facts. Well, all-good things must come to end so we moved back to NJ. In the summer of 2010 I moved back to Florida I am now living in Orlando less then 15 minutes from WDW and living the dream and have fun along the way. Favorite Park – Magic Kingdom Favorite Character – Mickey Mouse Favorite restaurant – California Grill Favorite attraction – Toy Story Mania Favorite resort – Bay Lake Tower / Contempoary First time at a disney park – 1976 & have been every year since Who was on your first disney trip – My entire family Favorite disney memory – My first trip and my first trip with my kids How far do you live from disney now – 15 minutes When is your next Disney trip? – every weekend Favorite Disney Movie – Jungle Book & Toy Story

NEWS: ‘Candlelight Processional’ Celebrity Narrators, the Return of JOYFUL! and More Coming to EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays Presented by AdventHealth