EPCOT’s Tapestry of Nations: Quarantine Edition To Premiere August 14

The Great Millennium Walk Continues! Twenty years later, Tapestry of Nations/Dreams Alumni recreate their iconic Millennium Celebration parade from quarantine. More than 150 alumni and their families from nine countries across four continents recreate the beloved parade with an all-new special message of hope during this time of global pandemic. Complete with homemade puppets and props, the celebration includes never-before seen archival footage. The parade will stream live on YouTube starting at 8:00 PM Eastern on Friday, August 14, 2020.

On August 14, 1999, initial casting for Epcot’s Tapestry of Nations parade began. As the “Spiritual Center Piece” of Walt Disney World’s Millennium Celebration, the Tapestry of Nations (and later, Tapestry of Dreams) parade entertained millions of guests nightly all throughout the World Showcase promenade. Twenty-one years later, hundreds of alumni and their families have joined together to recreate the parade from their homes, introducing a new generation to the music, pageantry, and message of hope of this one-of-a-kind celebration.

“We have always been a family that has maintained strong ties over the years,” one alumni said. “For many of us, Tapestry happened at the start of our adult lives. We came of age, found our voices and established ourselves as independent young adults. Several people even married, and families were started, all as a direct result of the bonds we have formed.”

Spanning four continents and nine countries, Alumni from across the globe coordinated their efforts to restage one of Disney’s most cherished parades. Over the course of three months, more than 150 Tapestry Alumni have created handmade costumes, props and puppets, recording performances which has been dubbed “The Great Alumni Walk.” While many elements remain the same and the message of the celebration is timeless, certain aspects have been updated to reflect a message of hope and promise during these uncertain global times.

 

“With everything going on in the world today, the message of Tapestry is even more powerful,” project showrunner William Campbell said. “Inspired by several of our sister stage alums (like Lion King and the Kids of the Kingdom) and their Quarantine at Home videos, we decided to jump in and contribute to the “Alumni at Home” trend. The talent of my fellow alumni is amazing, and what started as something fun just for us has evolved into something larger than any of us could imagine.”

Tapestry of Nations: Quarantine Edition will premiere on a LIVE stream via YouTube on the 21st anniversary of the first Tapestry of Nations casting event, Friday, August 14, 2020 at 8:00 PM Eastern.