Disneyland’s Main Street Electrical Parade Is Every Bit as Magical as You Remember

Jared CowanCulture

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The Main Street Electrical Parade is the stuff of Disneyland lore. Enthusiasts and collectors have sought out bulbs from the original parade, and its experimental, synthesized score — which sounds like how it might feel to bounce around inside a kaleidoscopic pinball machine — is a far cry from any other Disney soundtrack. The luminous display of more than half a million lights, featuring some of Disney's most beloved characters, premiered along Main Street USA in 1972 and ran until 1996. Except for a brief stint when an updated version of the parade ran at Disney's California Adventure in 2009, the fan-favorite attraction has been absent from the Anaheim resort.

Disneyland had resurrected its famous nighttime parade for a limited time and it's looking (and sounding) better than ever. Catch it before its lights go out on July 18.

UPDATE: Disneyland's Main Street Electrical Parade has been extended through August 20, 2017.

All photos by Jared Cowan. Follow Jared on Twitter at @JaredCowan1.

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