Branson’s Ozark Mountain Christmas
Recognized as a Top Event in the US

By Jim Day

This year, Christmas cheer and world-class live entertainment combine for an unforgettable 2005 Ozark Mountain Christmas season in Branson, Missouri. Recognized recently as a Top 100 Event in North America by a leading travel industry organization, Ozark Mountain Christmas, celebrated November 1, 2005 through January 1, 2006, transforms America’s live entertainment capital into a holiday oasis for the entire family.

Visitors to Branson can enjoy Christmas-themed, star-studded production shows, millions of holiday lights, theme park festivals, name-brand outlet and boutique shopping, outdoor events/attractions, and warm Ozarks hospitality.

Dolly Parton’s Dixie Stampede Dinner Show is a must see during the Christmas season. The Living Nativity will take your breath away, particularly when a lone white dove flies from the stands on to the waiting hand of an angel suspended high above the Christ Child. The thing that impressed me the most was the fact that the REAL reason for the season – Christ Jesus and His birth – was stressed at Dixie Stampede.

During a recent visit to Branson, although my wife Jenny and I only attended the Dixie Stampede show and spent a wonderful afternoon and evening at Silver Dollar City, I made a number of inquiries to find out which Branson shows stressed the true meaning of Christmas during their performances. According to those I spoke to, the list included The Gatlin Brothers with the Lennon Sisters, Silver Dollar City, The Showboat Branson Belle Cruise, Jim Stafford, Presley’s Country Jubilee, the Braschler Music Show, Doug Gabriel, Dino, Andy Williams, the Pierce Arrow Show, Shoji Tabuchi and Yakov Smirnoff. Several other shows were mentioned, but among those I interviewed, the aforementioned were high on everyone’s list.

This year marks the 18th Ozark Mountain Christmas season for Branson; a town of around 7,000 residents who play host to an estimated 7 million annual visitors. In recent years, USA Today, the A&E Network, and the Wall Street Journal have all recognized the Branson area as an outstanding family holiday vacation destination.

Located within a day’s drive of one-third of the country’s population (about four hours from St. Louis) Branson is a town that keeps adding yet more attractions to expand an already fantastic combination of family entertainment, breathtaking scenery, holiday lighting displays, dazzling performances, and a spirited Ozarks celebration of the joys of the season.

Holiday shows feature live entertainment from performers known around the world. The show bill includes the always popular Andy Williams in his famous Christmas show, and Mickey Gilley together with his talented cast of singers, musicians and comedian, Joey Riley. Branson Variety Theater presents the Bobby Vinton show and “Broadway Christmas Spectacular” starring Jimmy Osmond. Funnymen Jim Stafford, Ray Stevens, Jim Owen and Yakov Smirnoff add Christmas cheer and humor to their already top-notch comedy, music and dance shows.

Neil Goldberg’s “Christmas Dreams,” a unique blend of pageantry, puppets and fantastical twists on holiday tradition, returns to The Grand Palace for its second season while Goldberg’s “Cirque” continues through Christmas at the Remington Theatre. Grand Country Music Hall presents Christmas favorites by quartet New South in the Grand Jubilee Show and the comedy antics of reigning Comedian of the Year, Jamie Haage in Comedy Jamboree.

Judy Garland, Nat King Cole, Roy Orbison, Ann Margret, The Blues Brothers and Elvis impersonators appear at the Legends Family Theatre throughout November and December. Legends and other shows such as Pierce Arrow, with their power-house five-part harmonies, offer special New Year’s shows and the New Shanghai Circus celebrates the Chinese New Year at their show in November and December.

Visitors can immerse themselves in attractions such as the holiday wonderland at Silver Dollar City.  A world-renowned 1880s style theme park that features a dazzling Holiday Light Parade, a dramatic five-story special effects Christmas tree, a popular musical production of the famous classic, A Dickens’ Christmas Carol, the world-famous Vienna Boys Choir in special performances November 18-19, and over four million lights.

The Shepherd of the Hills Homestead harkens back to the era of chuck wagon suppers and cowboy music, humor and holiday stories at the Pavilion Theatre; and, at the 10,000-acre Dogwood Canyon nature park, families can enjoy a fire-side Ozarks Christmas feast with Santa at the Creekside Pavilion, cuddle-up on a brief open-air tram ride, and sing along to traditional Christmas songs at Hope Wilderness Chapel.

Dolly Parton’s Dixie Stampede Dinner & Show features 32 horses and trick riders performing in a holiday competition, a dramatic Living Nativity with live camels and Christmas musical performances. Dozens of exuberant elves serve up a four-course feast.  The Showboat Branson Belle cruises scenic Table Rock Lake during Ozark Mountain Christmas, offering guests festive holiday shows and meals. Branson Scenic Railway sets the scene for holiday romance with their candlelight meal excursions through the Ozark foothills in 1940s-era Zephyr dome cars. Branson’s IMAX Entertainment Complex is a hub for favorite holiday pastimes such as shopping, dining, movie going, and in Branson -- watching live shows.

Just down the road in Eureka Springs, Arkansas, The Great Passion Play invites visitors to go "Beyond Dickens" where they are transported back to first century Bethlehem, complete with Roman soldiers, Shepherds, the citizens and animals of Judea, and Mary & Joseph, to create a live interactive nativity.

The Branson Area Festival of Lights links several Southwest Missouri communities in creating a two-month lighting festival. The all-new Festival of Lights Driving Tour features animated lighting scenes at multiple Branson area locations featuring the 12 Days of Christmas.

Visitors can also enjoy several drive-through light displays such as the Shepherd of the Hills Homestead’s 160-acre Trail of Lights, the spectacular Port of Lights in Kimberling City, the Enchanted Forest at Indian Point Village near Table Rock Lake, and many others. Area businesses participate in the Festival by adorning their storefronts and grounds with colorful lights to further add to the spirit-filled atmosphere of the season.

The 57th Annual Adoration Parade will be held December 4 at 5 p.m. in historic downtown Branson immediately following the lighting of the Nativity Scene on Mount Branson, which overlooks the downtown area.

The Branson area is an ever-popular shopping destination with three outlet centers offering more than 200 name-brand stores. Plus the historic downtown offers the charm of a small town with dozens of shops, restaurants and live music. Engler Block, Silver Dollar City, and dozens of boutique and specialty stores contain one-of-a-kind artwork and collectibles made by local artists and craftsmen.

Maps highlighting points of interest are available from the Branson/Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce and Convention & Visitors Bureau Welcome Centers (located at the intersections of Hwy. 248 and Hwy. 65 and at Hwy. 160 and Hwy. 65). For more information, log on to www.explorebranson.com or call the Branson/Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce and Convention and Visitors Bureau at (800) 214-3661.