In the Absence of a Daytime Parade, Disney Doubles Down on Nighttime Entertainment

As Disneyland Park prepares to mark its 70th anniversary, a noticeable change is unfolding during daylight hours: there’s no daytime parade on the schedule.

Magic Happens, the park’s most recent daytime parade, quietly ended its run last August, and Disney has not announced a replacement. But while Main Street remains quiet during the day, it won’t stay that way once the sun sets. This summer, Disneyland is turning the spotlight back to one of its most visually arresting spectacles—Paint the Night.

Credit: Disney

Once shelved in 2018, the fan-favorite nighttime parade will soon return to Disneyland Park, bringing its high-energy LED floats, dynamic soundtrack, and colorful cast of characters back to the forefront of the resort’s entertainment lineup.

Paint the Night Returns With Double Performances

First debuting at Hong Kong Disneyland in 2014 and introduced to Anaheim the following year, Paint the Night quickly became a guest favorite. After a brief transfer to Disney California Adventure, the parade disappeared, fueling years of speculation about its return.

Now, Disney has confirmed that Paint the Night will begin nightly performances at Disneyland Park starting May 16—and this time, it’s doubling down. According to the official Disneyland website, the parade will be performed twice nightly at 8:45 p.m. and 10:45 p.m., at least during its initial run.

Credit: Disney

“Guests can look forward to not one but two nightly performances of Paint the Night once it returns in May,” the site reads.

The return also marks the first time since the original Disneyland Park run that Anna and Elsa will appear in the parade. The Frozen sisters had previously been cut from the lineup due to float restrictions at California Adventure. Other returning characters include Sorcerer Mickey, Tinker Bell, Ariel, Belle, Buzz and Woody, Mike and Sulley, Peter Pan, and Rapunzel.

As before, the parade will be set to Owl City’s “When Can I See You Again,” the anthem first used in the end credits of Wreck-It Ralph.

A Broader Entertainment Shift for Disneyland’s 70th

Paint the Night is one of several new and returning offerings planned for Disneyland Resort’s 70th anniversary celebration, which will officially kick off in May and continue into summer 2026.

Wondrous Journeys, the fireworks and projection show that debuted during Disney100, will return to Disneyland Park for the occasion. Pyrotechnics will be presented on select nights only, though projections will remain a nightly feature.

Disneyland is also introducing a new daytime cavalcade called Celebrate Happy, featuring Mickey and Friends in commemorative 70th anniversary costumes. Duffy and ShellieMay will join the lineup, a rare treat for U.S. audiences familiar with their international popularity.

Credit: Disney

Across the esplanade, Disney California Adventure Park will debut World of Color Happiness!, a reimagined version of the popular nighttime fountain show. The performance will be led by Joy from Inside Out, and guests will be able to vote on the featured emotion for each night’s show using the Disneyland app. A Muppets-themed pre-show starring Kermit the Frog, Gonzo, and other favorites will precede each performance.

The return of Paint the Night may help fill the entertainment void left by Magic Happens, which was last performed in August 2024 ahead of the resort’s Halloween celebration. Though no daytime parade has been announced to replace it (no, a cavalcade does not count), the addition of nighttime favorites—especially those with double showings—signals Disney’s evolving approach to managing crowds and extending entertainment into the evening hours.

Are you excited for the return of Paint the Night?