Holiday 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 Nov. 1 through Jan. 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 and attractions, and warm Ozarks hospitality.
This year marks the 18th Ozark Mountain Christmas season for this Midwest 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 holiday vacation destination.
“Ozark Mountain Christmas offers excellent entertainment value to… travelers from around the world,” said American Bus Association (ABA) president and CEO, Peter J. Pantuso. “It’s fun, it’s different and it’s geographically accessible throughout the United States and Canada,” he said.
“Ozark Mountain Christmas is great for families!” said Larry Gatlin, co-star of the Welk Resort Theatre’s Christmas show starring The Gatlin Brothers and The Lennon Sisters. They can come and be entertained by some of the top shows and theme parks on the planet, all the while being treated like family themselves,” said Gatlin.
Located within a day’s drive of one-third of the country’s population, Branson is an entertainment town that keeps adding yet more to the celebration, creating a magical combination of family traditions, 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. The New Shanghai Circus celebrates the Chinese New Year at their show in November and December.
The Brett Family Show includes a touching Christmas Veteran’s tribute and perennial favorites such as the Baldknobbers Jamboree and Presleys’ Jubilee, along with shows like the Lowes, 50s At The Hop, Doug Gabriel, the Hughes Brothers, the Lowe Family, the Duttons, The World Famous Platters and more are filled with holiday spirit and Christmas fun.
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 chuckwagon 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. Maps highlighting points of interest and entry forms for the 12 Days of Christmas Treasure Hunt vacation give-away contest are available from the Branson/Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce and Convention & Visitors Bureau Welcome Centers (located at the intersections of Hwy. 248 & Hwy. 65 and at Hwy. 160 & Hwy. 65).
Guests 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.