Have Yourself an Ozark Mountain Christmas
by Barbara Barton Sloane
With dozens of star-filled Christmas music shows and a glittering array of light displays, including the one-mile Branson Area Festival of Lights drive-through, “The Live Music Show Capital of the World” kicked off its annual Ozark Mountain Christmas celebration on November 1 and it continues through December 30.
Sights, Lights and…Ducks!I had a brilliant and glowing visit to Branson, Missouri recently and experienced the most outstanding Christmas spectacular ever. We were dazzled by Branson’s star entertainers and their elaborate holiday production numbers. From the voice of “Mr. Christmas” – Andy Williams, to the Oak Ridge Boys and the rousing carols of the Twelve Irish Tenors, there’s a multitude of entertainers that showcase Branson’s Christmas spirit. For the kids, there’s a special Holiday Lights Ride the Ducks to see the sights and lights on a sing-along holiday adventure through a lighted forest of twinkling snowflakes, candy canes and holiday ornaments.
Bah? Humbug? Not Here!A place that is truly magical for the holidays is Silver Dollar City. They present a most charming production: A Dickens’ Christmas Carol, with extremely accomplished actors, singers and dancers, a production we found truly Broadway-quality. This 1880s-style theme park transforms into an evening wonderland featuring the Christmas on Main Street light and sound show, 1,000 decorated Christmas trees, a 5-storey special effects Christmas Tree, a Holiday Light Parade, festive holiday foods and over four million (you heard it right) lights!
We can Make-Believe…on the ShowboatWe took a ride on the Showboat Branson Belle, bedecked in Christmas finery, and enjoyed a rousing, fun-filled holiday show topped off with a tasty lunch. And one of the most memorable events on my Branson visit was touring the absolutely fabulous Titanic, the world’s largest Titanic museum, state-of-the-art and world-class, which was decorated with lights and holiday trimmings that recalled an elegant Christmas past.
If you still haven’t had enough Christmas lighting displays, consider touring the Branson Area Festival of Lights and the Trail of Lights at Shepherd of the Hills Homestead. Also, on the first Sunday in December, thousands of people will gather in downtown Branson to watch a Christmas parade which respects this most reverent of seasons and without a hint of commercialism.
So, you say it’s not yet Thanksgiving and the Christmas spirit has yet to hit full force. Visit Branson soon and you’re gonna feel it – big time. In fact, you may just consider it your most enchanting vacation ever. After all, Andy Williams has made a career by informing us that “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year.” In this town, Christmas celebrations are like nowhere else on earth, and when it’s time to return home, you will leave with a little more elf in yourself and a little more jingle in your bells!
Branson 411:
Branson Lakes Area Convention and Visitors Bureau
800-214-3661
www.ExploreBranson.com
Kids Kountry
417-334-1612
www.BransonTracks.com
Ride the Ducks
417-266-7600
www.BransonDucks.com
Showboat Branson Belle
800-775-2628
www.ShowboatBransonBelle.com
Titanic Museum Attraction
800-381-7670
www.TitanicAttraction.com
Silver Dollar City
800-831-4386
www.SilverDollarCity.com
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