Elena Rossi
Paint the Night is a nighttime parade that debuted at Disneyland during its Diamond Celebration in 2015. It was intended as a spiritual successor to the Main Street Electrical Parade, which first appeared in 1972. The parade features innovative floats, vibrant costumes, special effects, music, and performances. Paint the Night returned to Disneyland on May 16, 2025, as part of the resort's 70th-anniversary celebrations. While there were rumours of the parade moving to Walt Disney World, it seems that it will remain at Disneyland for the time being.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name of Parade | Paint the Night |
| Location | Disneyland Park, Disneyland Resort |
| Type | Nighttime parade |
| Dates | May 16, 2025–Summer 2026 |
| Occasion | Disneyland's 70th Anniversary |
| Previous Appearances | 2015, 2016, 2018 |
| Hiatus | Over 5 years |
| Features | Innovative floats, vibrant costumes, special effects, music, and performances |
| Dining Package | Available at Plaza Inn |
| Reserved Viewing | Available with dining package and guided tour |
| Notable Characters | Tinker Bell, Peter Pan, Anna, Elsa, etc. |
| Lights | Over 1 million LEDs, 500 custom strobe lights |
| Control Universes | Over 200 |
| Float Details | The Little Mermaid float is 32 feet long and 11 feet wide; King Triton is over 12 feet tall; Mack is 54 feet long with 28 moving lights |
Explore related products
What You'll Learn
Paint the Night parade's return to Disneyland in 2025
The Paint the Night parade is returning to Disneyland as part of the Disneyland Resort 70th Celebration, which starts on 16 May 2025 and runs through the summer of 2026. The parade will pause during the holidays and return in 2026, running through the summer.
Paint the Night is a nighttime parade that first debuted at Disneyland during its Diamond Celebration almost a decade ago. It is intended as a spiritual successor to the Main Street Electrical Parade, which has appeared at numerous Disney parks since 1972. The parade features innovative floats, vibrant costumes, special effects, music, and performances. The music includes a custom version of Owl City's "When Can I See You Again?", tunes from Disney and Pixar film scores, and a nod to the theme from the original Main Street Electrical Parade.
The parade features over one million LED lights and 500 strobes, a custom lighting product developed by Disney. It requires more than 200 "universes of control" to manage everything from the video presentations on the floats to the lights on individual costumes. The floats include "Under the Sea" from "The Little Mermaid", "You've Got a Friend in Me" from "Toy Story", and "You Can Fly!" from "Peter Pan".
Guests can purchase a Paint the Night dining package at Plaza Inn up to 60 days in advance, which includes a meal and reserved viewing for the parade.
The Best Way to Paint Cinder Blocks: Prime or Not?
You may want to see also
Explore related products
The parade's history at Disney California Adventure
The Paint the Night Parade was introduced at Disney California Adventure Park in 2018 for Pixar Fest. The parade was a spiritual successor to the Main Street Electrical Parade, which has appeared at numerous Disney parks since 1972. The Paint the Night Parade features Tinker Bell and her handmade wand, capped by a rosette from the original 1972 Main Street Electrical Parade. The Disneyland version of the parade features a 40-foot-long float with over 850,000 points of light.
The parade returned to Disneyland Park on May 16, 2025, as part of the Disneyland 70th Anniversary Celebration and will run through the summer of 2026.
In addition to the Paint the Night Parade, Disney California Adventure Park has hosted several other parades, including the Better Together Parade: A Pixar Pals Celebration, which debuted in 2024 during Pixar Fest. This parade returned to the park on May 16, 2025, as part of the Disneyland 70th Anniversary Celebration and will run through August 3, 2025, and again in 2026. The Better Together Parade features colorful floats, high-energy dancers, and over two dozen Pixar characters, including new characters from Turning Red, Luca, and Soul.
Choosing the Right Hardener for OEM John Deere Paint
You may want to see also
Explore related products
The parade's floats, costumes, and special effects
The Paint the Night Parade is a spectacle of lights, music, and special effects. With over 1.5 million LED lights, the parade is a dazzling display of Disney magic and imagination. The California version of the parade, which debuted in May 2015, was inspired by the long-running Main Street Electrical Parade, featuring 76 performers and a range of floats, costumes, and special effects.
The parade includes four original floats not present in the Hong Kong version, including the Frozen float, which made its debut in May 2025, and the Incredibles float, which joined the parade in June 2018. Other floats include the Little Mermaid float, which had to be modified due to its size, and the Monsters, Inc. float, which was part of the Hong Kong version's parade units.
The parade features a range of Disney characters, with performers dressed as beloved figures from Peter Pan, Winnie the Pooh, Aladdin, and Beauty and the Beast. The costumes are enhanced by LED technology, with interactive "Mickey Mouse Paintbrushes" allowing guests to change the colours of the performers' costumes. The wearable merchandise, such as the "Mickey Glow Mitt" and "Minnie Glow Bow," also adds to the visual spectacle, changing colours throughout the show.
Special effects are also utilised in the parade, with over 1.5 million LED lights creating a stunning and immersive experience. The combination of lights, music, and special effects transforms the parade into a magical and memorable event for guests of all ages. The California version of the parade also featured a unique opening announcement, adding to the sense of occasion and spectacle.
The Creation of Adam: A Renaissance Masterpiece
You may want to see also
Explore related products
The parade's music and soundtrack
The Paint the Night Parade is a nighttime parade at Disneyland, featuring a mix of music and stunning visuals. The parade first premiered at Hong Kong Disneyland on 1 October 2014, with the Disneyland version opening on 22 May 2015. The parade is set to run through the summer of 2026.
The parade's soundtrack is an integral part of the experience, featuring a newly arranged version of the "Main Street Electrical Parade" theme song, "Baroque Hoedown". This classic tune has been a staple at Disney parks since 1972 and has undergone a modern transformation for the Paint the Night Parade. The soundtrack also includes a special arrangement of Owl City's "When Can I See You Again?" from the film Wreck-It Ralph, with new lyrics and vocals by Adam Young of Owl City.
In the original Hong Kong version, there was an interactive show stop where performers engaged with the audience using LED Paintbrushes. This segment featured a bilingual song in Cantonese and English, titled "Paint the Night". Unfortunately, this portion of the parade was discontinued in November 2015.
The music in the parade creates a magical atmosphere, with each thematic unit having a unique two-and-a-half-minute tune. The music begins with a variation of the "When Can I See You Again?" chorus, transitioning into a ""Baroque Hoedown" melody, and continues to delight guests with snippets of various theme songs. The Disneyland introductory music, featuring Owl City, sets the tone for the parade:
> "Switch on the sky and the stars glow for you
> Go see the world 'cause it's all so brand new
> Don't close your eyes 'cause your future's ready to shine
> It's just a matter of time, before we learn how to fly
> Welcome to the rhythm of the night
> Something's in the air you can't deny (deny)
> Put your hands up 'cause the night is young
> Kick your heels up when you join the fun
> And as the magic sets us all aglow
> Oh oh I gotta know (my friends) when can we do this again?
> Oh oh oh oh I never want this to end..."
The Paint the Night Parade truly comes alive with the energy and excitement of the music, creating an unforgettable experience for guests of all ages.
Thinning Automotive Touch-Up Paint: Airbrushing Techniques for Beginners
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Paint the Night parade's future at Walt Disney World
Paint the Night is a nighttime parade at Disneyland and, formerly, Hong Kong Disneyland and Disney California Adventure. The parade features innovative floats, vibrant costumes, incredible special effects, unforgettable music, and energetic performances that the whole family can enjoy.
The parade was intended to serve as a spiritual successor to the long-running Main Street Electrical Parade, which has appeared at numerous Disney parks in several different incarnations since 1972. It uses a newly arranged version of that parade's theme song, "Baroque Hoedown", alongside an arrangement of Owl City's "When Can I See You Again?" from the 2012 Walt Disney Animation Studios film, Wreck-It Ralph.
The future of the Paint the Night parade at Walt Disney World is uncertain. While there were rumors and hopes that the parade would move to Walt Disney World, it appears that it will remain at Disneyland for the time being. The parade is currently a part of Disneyland's 70th-anniversary celebration, which started on May 16, 2025, and will run through the summer of 2026.
However, it is important to note that Disney World and Disneyland have simultaneously had night parades in the past. In 2025, both parks will feature night parades once again with the debut of the Disney Starlight Night Parade at Magic Kingdom in Walt Disney World. While there is no confirmation of the Paint the Night parade coming to Walt Disney World, it is possible that Disney may decide to bring it to the park in the future, especially considering the parade's popularity.
For now, it seems that guests will have to visit Disneyland to experience the Paint the Night parade, with its over one million LED lights and 500 custom strobe lights, bringing magic and joy to families and Disney fans alike.
Unraveling the Duality of "The Two Fridas
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
Paint the Night Parade is not coming to Disney World. However, it is returning to Disneyland Park as part of the Disneyland Resort 70th Celebration, which started on May 16, 2025, and will run through the summer of 2026.
Paint the Night is a nighttime parade that first debuted at Disneyland Park for the Disneyland 60th Anniversary in 2015. It features innovative floats, vibrant costumes, special effects, music, and performances.
The parade features characters from Peter Pan, Monsters, Inc., Cars, The Little Mermaid, Toy Story, Disney Princesses, The Incredibles, and Mickey Mouse.
The parade will run through the summer of 2026, taking a break during the holiday season.
