What to expect at Disneyland’s Celebrate Celebration music festival – Orange County Register

The Celebrate Celebrate music event expands back to Disneyland for the first time in several years, laying the groundwork for the Black History Month celebration that Anaheim theme park plans to build into a more festive event.

This year Happy Gospel The music festival at the Fantasyland Theater at Disneyland expanded from a one-day event over the years to two consecutive Saturdays on February 19 and 26.

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According to senior manager Veronica Horton of Disneyland entertainment, Celebrate will showcase and highlight the talents, experiences and cultures of blacks with a wide range of musical genres from traditional gospel to contemporary art. .

“We are really excited to have these amazing artists on hand,” Horton said in an online video interview. “It was just a great musical combination.”

The February 19 Celebration program features award-winning singer, actress and fashion designer Kierra Sheard with the gospel a cappella group Sacred Groove. The February 26 show featured Grammy winner Jonathan McReynolds and Mali Music alongside the Singers of Soul a cappella group.

The Church of Southern California and community choirs that have been working hard during the COVID-19 pandemic will also perform on both weekends.

“The pandemic has changed the way choirs meet and churches meet,” Horton said.

Celebrate Celebrations in the Fantasyland Theater run from 3-7 p.m. all Saturday with community choirs and a cappella group alternating during the first part of the program before each evening concludes with a featured song.

Downtown Disney is hosting even more music throughout February with nightly concerts featuring R&B, Motown, reggae, funk, jazz and doo-wop groups.

Need to warm up before performing the Gospel of the Feast? Gospel acts will perform every Saturday in February from 1-3 p.m. at the outdoor mall next to Disneyland.

Live jazz will also be held every night in February in the lobby of Disney’s Grand California Hotel and Ralph Brennan’s Jazz Restaurant in Downtown Disney.

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Evangelism has been a Disneyland tradition for over a decade – introducing Southern California choirs and community groups to perform every February during Black History Month.

Celebrate Welcome back to Disneyland after spending a few years before the COVID-19 pandemic at Disney California Adventure after starting at Disneyland as part of Magic Music Days.

The celebrate Celebrate Soulful music festival is now part of a new month-long Celebrate Soulful event that celebrates the victories and struggles of African-Americans throughout American history.

Celebrating Soulful – celebrating the work of Black artists through music, dance, food and stories – runs throughout February at Disneyland, Disney California Adventure, Downtown Disney and Disney’s Grand California Hotel.

Similar names try to pack the two events of Black History Month taking place at Disneyland (Celebrating the Gospel) and Walt Disney World (Celebrating Souls) into one cohesive package.

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Horton wears two hats during Gospel Celebration – is also the co-chair of Pulse, a group of Disneyland employees that promote the cultural, educational, and professional development of actors of African and Caribbean descent.

Pulse was tapped to provide insights and feedback from a Negro’s perspective on Gospel and Souls events.

“We can discuss and make that point,” Horton said. “It was a great opportunity for us to ask questions or have questions for us about the things that are important to the Black community in the Black experience.”

Celebrate Soulful emphasizes food as part of the association during Black History Month.

Hearthstone Lounge in Disney’s Grand California Hotel and Ralph Brennan’s Jazz Restaurant in Downtown Disney will feature menu items Celebrate Soulful throughout February.

Disney World has a much stronger Cooking with Soul menu list at Epcot, Disney’s Animal Kingdom, and Disney Springs with dishes that celebrate African recipes and historic black chefs.

Expect food to play a bigger role as Disneyland expands its Celebrate Soulful event in the coming years.

“Those are definitely ideas that we want to capitalize on, but we haven’t gotten there yet,” Horton said.