Video: 2015 Osborne Family Spectacle Lighting Ceremony at Disney’s Hollywood Studios

Walt Disney World‘s holiday season celebrations are in full swing, and the final season of the Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights is drawing huge crowds each night to the Streets of America at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Recently, I brought you video of the Spectacle, featuring three full performances from the Dancing Lights. After that posting, some readers wondered whether the small ceremony that kicks off each evening’s illumination is still occurring. Well, wonder no more, because I’ve brought you this complete video of the 2015 Osborne Family Spectacle lighting ceremony:

About ten minutes before the Osborne Family Spectacle is scheduled to start for the night (currently around 5:50 p.m.) the following brief sound and light show is played to introduce the event. It includes a tribute to Jennings Osborne, founder of the spectacle, along with a flurry of faux snow. The lighting ceremony concludes with the appearance of Santa Goofy, who flips a giant switch to ignite the lights with the aid of a special guest selected from the crowd.

It’s worth noting that, while you can freely enter the Streets of America area up until the Spectacle starts, once the lights come on the area quickly becomes gridlocked even on slower days.

Once the area is at capacity, cast members enforce one-way traffic through the area, with the primary entrance to the area near the MuppetVision exit and Premiere Theater.

However, during my most recent visit I was able to enter and exit the Street of America through the Studio Catering Company as late as an hour after opening; your mileage may vary.

There’s also a semi-secret entrance outside Watto’s Grotto, which could be a good choice for those attending the Merry & Bright party.

A final warning: though Disney doesn’t switch the lights off right at closing time, the Osborne Family Spectacle does officially end operations at the same time as the rest of the park. While cast members may allow guests already on the Streets of America to linger for a little while, don’t expect them to let you enter the area after closing time.