Branson Celebrities Join Great American Pie Show Festivities

Al Roker, the popular weatherman for NBC’s Today Show, is set to attend and perform judging duties at the Great American Pie Show in Branson. And now, some other popular performers are joining the festivities as some of Branson’s biggest stars are scheduled to cook up some of their own delicious dishes.

Andy Williams will be serving up, with the help of a chef, his mom’s chicken pot pie during the Taste of Home Cooking School and Great American Pie Show, scheduled for Friday and Saturday at the Branson Convention Center.

The list of area entertainers joining Williams includes the Lennon Sisters, the Branson Divas, The Comets, Roy Rogers Jr., Paul Revere, Bill Medley, the bakers from Silver Dollar City and the Candy House baker.

The Friday events at the Great American Pie Show will be hosted by Branson entertainer Barbara Fairchild. The Marketplace will be open from 8am-5pm, with over 50 booths with food, kitchen supplies and cookbooks available.

The 12 semifinalists in the pie competition will begin their bake-off at 9am on Friday, and the finals will take place on Saturday from 9am-11am.

Friday, April 24
Semi-Finals 9 a.m. - 2 p.m.
Taste of Home Cooking School 3 p.m.
Pie Judging 3 p.m.
Finalist Announcement 4 p.m.

Saturday, April 25
Finals 9 a.m. - 11 a.m.
Taste of Home Cooking School 2 p.m.
Pie Judging 2 p.m.
Awards Ceremony at the Taste of Home Cooking School 4 p.m.
Al Roker Book Signing/Question & Answer Session 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.
The Easy Breezy Spring Cooking School program will be offered on both Friday and Saturday.

CELEBRITY COOKING STAGE
FRIDAY, 4/24
10 a.m. Lennon Sisters
11 a.m. McFarlains
12 p.m. The Comets
1 p.m. Roy Rogers Theater
2 p.m. Silver Dollar City
3 p.m. Paul Revere

SATURDAY, 4/25
10 a.m. Al Roker
1 p.m. Andy Williams
2 p.m. Candy House
3 p.m. Bill Medley

Cooking demonstrations start on the hour and last no more than 30 minutes.

Andy Williams Moon River Grill Ribbon Cutting Ceremony

The Andy Williams Moon River Grill Ribbon Cutting Ceremony is scheduled for April 23rd at 12pm.

The public is invited to attend and join Andy Williams and the 2009 Moon River Theatre Stars - the Righteous Brothers' Bill Medley, Paul Revere and the Raiders and Bill Haley's Original Comets - for a celebratory event lauding the success of the fabulous Moon River Grill.

While at the event, enjoy Andy’s nostalgic pictures, gold records and his personal pop art collection though out the grill and meet and greet the Andy Williams Moon River Entertainment Complex 2009 Stars!

Branson Blooms with Entertainment this Spring

From March through May, Ozark Mountain Spring’s full calendar will feature the thrill of NAIA college basketball and one of the nation’s largest air shows; collector car auctions and culinary demonstrations; FLW bass tournaments, as well as the international folk music and cuisines of World-Fest at Silver Dollar City and historic downtown’s Plumb Nellie Days, to name just a few.

New in 2009, The Great American Pie Show, featuring NBC’s Al Roker from the “TODAY” show as a celebrity judge, will be held April 24-25 at the Branson Convention Center. Culinary events are popular nationwide and Taste of Home magazine’s cooking demonstrations will be a part of the festivities that weekend. For more information, visit tasteofhome.com/cooking-schools.

Special events are planned each week during Ozark Mountain Spring, including Legends in Concert and Elvis Presley Enterprises 3rd annual “Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist Contest,” the Branson Tri-Lakes Building and Home Show, Kewpiesta at Rose O’Neill’s beloved Bonniebrook and Silver Dollar City’s Bluegrass & BBQ Festival.

Branson Airport, the first privately operated commercial service airport in the United States, will host one of the nation’s largest air shows during its grand opening celebration May 8-10.

• The Baldknobbers Jamboree will celebrate its 50-year anniversary of music and comedy in 2009.

• The Welk Resort Theatre has added Lee Greenwood and the Bellamy Brothers to its fall line-up.

• Andy Williams Moon River Theatre will welcome Righteous Brother Bill Medley, Paul Revere & the Raiders and The Original Comets.

• The Haygoods, Tony Roi, plus Red, Hot & Blue, have moved to the New Americana Theatre. The Haygoods have added a fourth show in 2009 — “Cassandré, The Voice of An Angel,” with a full production show of pop, Broadway and classical songs backed by a 10-piece orchestra.

• RedHead Express has a new show at the Circle B Chuckwagon. The band has just come off a winter tour of the South and the Appalachian Mountains, bringing with them a new producer, new CD and sound.

• #1 Hits of the 60’s Show has moved to the Caravelle Theatre.

• Mary Duff will co-star with Daniel O’Donnell and then perform in her own show for limited dates in May.

Information courtesy of Branson Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce

Bob Anderson Entertains with his Incredible Impressions

Bob Anderson had been a fixture of the Las Vegas entertainment scene for more than 30 years, but he was finding it difficult to find work in 2003.

The entertainment philosophy was changing — bigger shows, fewer headliners. Lounge entertainment was disappearing from the Strip, where the likes of Louis Prima and Keely Smith, Don Rickles, Buddy Hackett, Shecky Greene, Alan King and the Mary Kaye Trio had helped make Vegas the Entertainment Capital.

At the urging of his pal, country singer Mickey Gilley, Anderson packed up the family and moved to Branson, Mo.

Anderson returns to Vegas to perform Friday and Saturday at the Cannery.

“There’s more entertainment in Branson than in Las Vegas,” the 58-year-old singer and impressionist says by telephone from his Branson home. “I think Vegas has about 83 showrooms and Branson has like 150.”

Overall the shows aren’t as spectacular as those in Vegas, but they are less expensive — in the $35 to $60 range, he says. You can see a variety of entertainers including Andy Williams, Yakov Smirnoff, the Oak Ridge Boys and Bill Medley. There’s even a wax museum.

“Mickey invited me to come down here because he knew things were getting tough in Vegas,” Anderson says. “He said ‘Come on down here, but don’t do no country — we got enough of that. Just do what you do.’ ”

At one time country music and cornball comedy dominated the Branson entertainment scene, but Andy Williams and others began to broaden the horizon.

“I came here at a time when they were trying to diversify,” he says. “When I came here I brought something totally different from what they’re used to.”

Anderson has been called a saloon singer who does impressions. He has about 100 in his repertoire and focuses on vintage Vegas entertainers, including the Rat Pack, Tony Bennett, Ray Charles and Bobby Darin. His cabaret act is backed by a three-piece combo.

Anderson worked at Gilley’s showroom for a couple of seasons, moved to Club Vegas and then to Club 57, where he has performed since 2006.

The Detroit-area native performs five nights a week April through December in the 150-seat supper club. The other four months are mostly spent entertaining in such places as Chicago, Palm Springs, Great Britain and Florida.

He’s been doing a lot of symphony dates with musical director Vincent Falcone of Las Vegas. They recently performed with the Utah Symphony in Salt Lake City.

“I’ve been doing a lot of big band jazz stuff and a lot of corporate dates,” Anderson says.
He’s looking forward to his homecoming in Vegas.

“It’s going to be a lot of fun for me, a lot of great music,” he says. “And I’ll catch up with a lot of friends I haven’t seen in a long time.”

While here he may be talking to venues about possible long-term engagements, although it’s hard to believe Anderson would give up the bright lights of Branson for little ol’ Vegas.

Information courtesy of Las Vegas Sun

Branson Shows Ready to Shine in 2009

Legends in Concert has announced it has signed a multi-year agreement with GEP Inc., owner of Dick Clark American Bandstand Theater, to become its headline show in 2009.

“Legends has enjoyed tremendous success in the Branson market since 1996,” said Jeannie Horton, general manager for Legends in Concert. “This new theater will allow the introduction of many exciting enhancements to our production. We look forward to an even brighter future as our show moves to this fabulous new entertainment facility, a true state-of-the-art venue.”

The Dick Clark American Bandstand Theater boasts more than 900 seats.

Legends will perform two shows daily, at 3 p.m. and 8 p.m. except Wednesdays.

At the Andy Williams’ Moon River Theatre, Bill Medley, Rock n’ Roll Hall of Fame inductee and founding member of the Righteous Brothers, will appear in concert with rockers, Paul Revere and the Raiders.

The shows are scheduled for selected dates from April through October 2009.

Andy Williams said, “I have always been a fan of these guys and now I get to see them every day at my theater. This is a great thing for Branson.”

Medley, along with longtime Righteous Brothers partner Bobby Hatfield, created “You’ve Lost That Loving Feeling,” a song which has been touted as the most-played tune in radio history.

Other chart-toppers include “(You’re My) Soul and Inspiration,” “Rock and Roll Heaven,” “Ebb Tide” and “Unchained Melody.”

Teaming with Jennifer Warnes, Medley recorded the mega-hit “(I’ve Had) The Time of My Life.”

Medley said, “We love Branson so much that we’ve bought homes here. The fans are great. And how could it get any better than appearing at Andy Williams’ Moon River Theatre. It’s going to be a fun 2009.”

Often cited as the comedy princes of rock n’ roll, Paul Revere and the Raiders, are best known for their smash hits “Kicks,” “Hungry,” “Good Thing” and their blockbuster “Indian Reservation.”

Fans around the world have dubbed them as one of their favorite live, onstage performance groups.

Bill Haley’s Original Comets have been rocking the world since the early 1950s when they produced never-to-be-forgotten hits such as “Shake, Rattle and Roll,” “Rock Around the Clock,” and “See You Later Alligator.”

Here is a current listing of 2009 shows and attractions and opening dates according to the Branson Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce Web site.

•50’s at the Hop opens Jan. 1.

•’57 Heaven Car Museum opens Jan. 1.

•Acrobats of China opens March 12.

•Amazing Pets opens Jan. 1.

•Andy Williams’ Moon River Theatre opens April 21.

•Baldknobbers opens Feb. 13.

•Bill Haley’s Original Comets opens April 21.

•Branson Landing Cruises Lake Princess opens Jan. 16.

•Branson Landing Lake Queen Sightseeing opens March 13.

•Branson Scenic Railway opens March 9.

•Buck Trent opens Jan. 4.

•Butterfly Palace opens Jan. 1.

•Cassandre’ Voice of an Angel opens March 16.

•Circle B Chuckwagon opens March 5.

•Clay Cooper Music Express opens March 7.

•Comedy Jamboree opens Jan. 1.

•Crossties Bluegrass and Gospel opens Feb. 3.

•Dinosaur Museum opens Jan. 1.

•Dixie Stampede opens March 4.

•Friday Late Night Country USA opens Jan. 30.

•Grand Jubilee opens Jan. 12.

•Hamner Barber Variety Show opens Feb. 12.

•Haunted House opens Jan. 1.

•Haygoods opens March 3.

•Hollywood Wax Museum opens Jan. 1.

•Hughes Brothers opens Feb. 4.

•Imax Entertainment Complex opens Jan. 1.

•Jim Stafford opens Feb. 5.

•Keith Red Allen opens March 17.

•Kirby Van Burch opens March 13.

•Legends in Concert opens Feb. 12.

•Liverpool Legends opens March 10.

•Lomascola’s Million Dollar Piano Show opens March 10.

•Magnificent 7 opens March 9.

•Moe Bandy opens March 19.

•News Country opens Jan. 22.

•Noah! The Musical opens March 20.

•Ozark Mountain Jubilee opens Feb. 15.

•Paul Harris opens March 5.

•Pierce Arrow opens Jan. 1.

•Presley’s Country Jubilee opens March 13.

•Redhead Express opens March 5.

•Red Hot & Blue! opens March 15.

•Ride The Ducks opens March 7.

•Righteous’ Brothers Bill Medley & Paul Revere and the Raiders opens April 21.

•Ripley’s Believe It or Not opens Jan. 1.

•Roy Rogers Jr. Show opens Feb. 26.

•Roy Rogers Museum opens Jan. 8.

•Showboat Branson Belle opens March 20.

•SIX Show opens Feb. 3.

•Strait Country opens Feb. 3.

•Sunday Gospel Jubilee opens Feb. 8.

•Titanic Museum opens Jan. 1.

•Tony Roi’s Elvis Experience opens March 5.

•Veterans Memorial Museum opens Jan. 1.

•World’s Largest Toy Museum opens Jan. 1.



Information courtesy of Branson Daily News

Andy Williams Returns to Moon River Theater for Fall Season

For the seventeenth consecutive year, Andy Williams returns to perform at his Moon River Theater in Branson. But, this time, reminiscient of his legendary TV shows, Williams will present a fun-filled extravaganza featuring not only himslef but a cornucopia of some of the best variety acts in the business for an evening of wholesome family entertainment. The Andy Williams All-Star Variety Show will run from September 5-October 25 with performances Monday-Saturday at 7 p.m.

Joining Williams for the 2008 season will be the husband and wife dance team of Pasha and Aliona, who bring elegance, humor and unique acrobatics to their choreography. Their act is full of surprises and colorful costumes. Also on the bill is world class violinist, fiddler Dean Church, who has been a Branson favorite for many years, delighting audiences of all ages with his outstanding musical ability. Additionally, combining physical comedy, music and eccentric dance, Joe Trammel will bring his unique brand of comedy to the Moon River Theater stage. People magazine called Bob Anderson "the best singing impressionist in show business" and Anderson will bring his versions of some of the entertainment world's most famous voices to the festivities. The dynamic tap dancing duo of Faruma and Floyd Williams will be featured as well.

And , of course, there's the star of the show.

Former President Ronald Reagan once referred Andy Williams' voice as " a national treasure."

William's solo career began when he went to New York to become a regualr performer on Steve Allen's "Tonight Show." In 1956 he had three hits, including his first top ten record, "Canadian Sunset." This was followed by a string of hits, including his first No. 1, "Butterfly," "Are You Sincere," "Lonely Street," "Can't Get Used to Loving You," "Days of Wine and Roses," "Charade," "Dear Heart," "Love Story" and "The Hawiian Wedding Song," for which he received his first of his five Grammy award nominations. During this period he also appeared on the Academy Awards and performed what has become his theme song ever since, "Moon River."

During his career Williams has amassed almost 20 gold albums and three that reached platinum status. In the fall of 1963, Williams premiered his NBC variety show, "The Andy Williams Show," which would last nine years, win three Emmy Awards and lead to the first of his classic Christmas specials. He has since gone on to become a true international superstar, with tremendous worldwide record sales and record breaking tours on four continents.

Branson Vacation Packages Budget Friendly, Full of Fun

ReserveDirect offers some of the best ways to save on your Branson vacation. Their website, ReserveBranson.com, provides a reliable, secure and convenient way to reserve everything you need for your Branson vacation, including Branson vacation packages featuring everything from Silver Dollar City to Noah – The Musical.

The great things about the vacation packages we offer is that they are completely customizable to fit your needs. Our Silver Dollar City Branson Packages, for example, allow customers to choose from 1, 2, or 3 parks including Silver Dollar City, White Water and Celebration City and there are other add-ons, like tickets to the Dixie Stampede or Showboat Branson Belle, available for guests as well. The Silver Dollar City vacation packages allow guests to save 20 percent on overall costs and they are easily reserved online or by phone.

The other packages we feature are geared for a quick getaway or an extended stay if you wish. Because Branson is a short drive from so many destinations, it is an easy locale to reach for a quick weekend of fun. A few of our vacation offerings feature Jim Stafford, Yakov Smirnoff, The Titanic, Andy Williams and The Presleys. Plus, we also offer Stillwaters Resort and Welk Resort packages. The Stillwaters Resort packages include activities like the Dixie Stampede and Silver Dollar City, while the Welk Resort packages include shows like the Tillis Family Reunion, Rankin Brothers and Tony Orlando and the Lennon Sisters. These play and stay vacation packages are convenient, fun and easy on the budget too.

When you start to plan your Branson vacation, be sure to check in to see any new Branson vacation packages we have available. And, of course, on ReserveBranson.com, you can always create your own package perfectly customized to fit your schedule, preferences and pocket book.

Branson, Missouri is the Place to Be for Summer Fun

The summer season is in full swing in Branson, Missouri, evident by the full line-up of entertainment, activities and perfect Branson summer weather. During the tough economic times many families are facing, Branson is reaching out to let visitors know they are not only visitor friendly but budget friendly as well. The great thing about Branson is there are a lot of sights to see and outdoor fun to pursue that is completely free! Now, there’s one word that’s music to everyone’s ears. Branson is also being proactive about helping visitors save money by offering stimulus check incentives, gas buster cards and other discounts throughout the area.

With the discounts available for visitors to Branson, guests can concentrate on the activities available in town and plan a great getaway trip. As always, Branson’s Silver Dollar City is a hot spot for families. This year, going to Silver Dollar City is even easier with the money-saving Silver Dollar City packages available. Plus, you can also get two days for the price of one at Silver Dollar City on ReserveBranson.com.

There are plenty of other exciting things happening in Branson this summer, including a variety of entertaining shows featuring everything from country music to rock ‘n roll. Branson, Missouri show schedules are filled with a multitude of performers and show times so it’s possible to see up to 3 shows a day if you’d like. Branson shows like Shoji Tabuchi, Dixie Stampede, Baldknobbers, Andy Williams, Showboat Branson Belle and Noah – The Musical sell out quickly, so making advanced reservations are recommended.

Attractions in Branson also provide a great way to pass those summer days. Many families venture to Celebration City after spending time at Silver Dollar City. Celebration City is the place to be after dark. The carnival-like atmosphere, coupled with rides, delicious food and an end-of-the-night fireworks show is a definite family pleaser. Ride the Ducks, a land and water cruise, is another Branson tradition popular with visitors. And, The Track is always a visitor favorite. With an unlimited Track Go-Card, the amount of fun you have is up to you!

When you travel to Branson, Missouri you’ll be happy to find a variety of lodging options available. There are discount Branson hotels, pet friendly Branson hotels and hotels in Branson with Internet Access, which means every option you might be searching for is here.

This summer, treat yourself to a vacation...Branson style!

Andy Williams and Ann-Margret Headline Branson Show

Versatile international performing icon Ann-Margret opened a seven-week Branson run Friday, June 6.

The singer and actress will perform shows six nights a week with Andy Williams at Williams’ Moon River Theatre on 76 Country Boulevard.

She met Williams in the early 1960s when she performed on his television show. Several years ago he called her about joining him for a limited run at his Branson venue.

Ann-Margret was born in Sweden and moved to the Chicago area as a preschooler.

She appeared in more than 50 films, including a role opposite Elvis Presley in “Viva Las Vegas.”

She was tapped for Academy Award nominations in the ‘70s for “Carnal Knowledge” and “Tommy.” Ann-Margret won five Golden Globe awards and garnered five Emmy nominations. She was in the ‘90s’ “Grumpy Old Men” and its sequel, “Grumpier Old Men,” with Walter Matthau, Jack Lemmon and Sophia Loren.

Ann-Margret has also had an extensive recording career, producing more than 40 compact discs, more than 20 soundtracks and 30-plus vinyl records.

Show times at the Moon River Theatre are 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday. Tickets range from $39.06 to $47.32.

The theater will be closed on Sundays and on July 4. The run ends July 26.

Information & Image courtesy of Branson Daily News

Noah~The Musical Hits the Branson Stage

Everyone in America knows and loves the story of Noah, with its flood, its ark and its animals marching in two-by-two. On May 24th the Millennium Theatre in Branson, Missouri, raised the curtain on “Noah—The Musical," featuring more than 40 actors, along with 75 live animals and 75 animatronic ones. Branson, one of the great musical capitals of America, has no shortage of theatres, but the new Millennium is its largest building and the country's largest Christian theatre.

The cast, animals and robots included, performs on a 330-foot (100-metre) wrap-around stage in a 339,000-square-foot building. The theatre's dome, which resembles an ancient temple, can be seen from many points around Branson's rolling surrounds. The huge complex has its own training facility and indoor zoo for zebras, camels, donkeys, llamas and even skunks. The animals are trained to handle stage lights, applause and music. Some beasts parade down the theatre's aisles to board the four-story ark.

Branson has more than 50 theatres featuring an array of acts, from old crooners like Andy Williams to Yakov Smirnoff, a Russian comedian. But none is like the Millennium, which is owned by Sight and Sound Theatres in Pennsylvania. The theatre has its own generators so that if local electricity cuts out, the show will go on. Near the stage is a green room for the animals where they will be dressed in their costumes. The musical will run for two years before the company adds new shows, on other biblical themes.

Branson is a logical spot for the spectacle. The town of 7,000 got its touristy start with “The Shepherd of the Hills," based on a 1907 feel-good novel that brought visitors from around the country to the Ozark mountains. Today the play is America's longest-running outdoor drama. Tiny Branson manages to attract 7.2million tourists a year and is reachable within a day's drive by half of the country's population. Although tourism hasn't slowed as much in Branson as other parts of the country, that could change because of rising petrol prices. But Branson hopes that Noah and his ark will keep the town afloat during the summer months.

Information & Image courtesy of The Economist

What's New in Branson for 2008

Live Shows

Sight & Sound Theatre, opening May 24, presents NOAH - The Musical. This “Christian Broadway” production is an amazing bible-based show with more than 50 live animals and 50 animatronics animals and a 4-story reproduction of the Ark.

Andy Williams and Ann-Margret perform together at the Moon River Theatre June 6 through July 26. The new Andy Williams Variety Show opens September 5 through October 27. The variety show will be patterned after his Emmy-Award winning television shows and will have up to 6 different specialty acts performing with Andy.

There is a new morning show at Andy Williams Moon River Theatre. “The Entertainers” perform everything from dueling banjos to Phantom of the Opera, Motown to bluegrass, all by local musicians who are “stars” in their own right, from other shows in Branson.

The Oak Ridge Boys will open in their new theatre on Shepherd of the Hills Expressway. Country Tonite will move to the Oak Ridge Boys Theatre. Dalena Ditto's Country Variety Show will perform at the Oak Ridge Boys Theatre, April through December.

Dick Clark’s American Bandstand Theatre welcomes Larry Gatlin & the Gatlin Brothers to their stage in a morning show. Dick Clark’s American Bandstand complex opens up Area ’57 with special events, such as BransonFest 2008, April 8-12, and more planned throughout the year.

Justin Flom and the Imaginary Theatre will feature Branson Divas and the Emmy award-winning comedian Bob Nelson.

Bobby Vinton will be performing at The Mansion this November and Tom Mullica as Red Skelton is appearing at The Mansion.

At the Welk Resort Theatre, The Rankin Brothers Classic Music Revue will debut in March and run through December. Matt and Mark Rankin, along with their cast of outstanding musicians and performers, will present timeless, classic hits covering six decades of music. The Welk Stars Reunion is set for Sept. 3-7 and The Tillis Family Reunion, starring Mel Tillis & Pam Tillis, will return from Sept. 16 through October 25. Tony Orlando’s annual Veterans Salute is Nov. 11 and he will join The Lennon Sisters for an all-new Christmas Celebration, November 1 through December 6.

Yakov Smirnoff welcomes country star Joe Diffie to Yakov’s theatre in September. Shows will feature his friends and family members, as well as comedian Paul Harris.

Attractions

The internationally-awarded 1880s-style theme park Silver Dollar City launches its biggest festival year ever, with new original stage productions, performing groups, and festival showcases. New to open the Spring season: an Irish Celebration with World-Fest’s all new Irish production show, Feet of Fire, featuring authentic fire dancing. Then it’s Bluegrass & BBQ, celebrating Americana at its best with hundreds of award-winning bluegrass performances and fresh-off-the-grill foods. Summer brings family adventures at the park’s biggest Kids Fest ever, presenting a nationally-recognized slate of entertainment with The Magic of Peter Gossamer, a Kid Concoctions interactive world of play, a VeggieTales live stage show produced exclusively for Silver Dollar City, and even an Ice Circus with skating performers from around the world. Fall’s Southern Gospel Picnic features the top traditional and contemporary entertainers in the genre; and the National Harvest Festival brings the largest gathering in America’s Heartland of demonstrating craftsmen, harvest-time foods and musical performances, plus special events: A Salute to the American Cowboy and an all-new Tribute to the American Farmer. An Old Time Christmas, nationally recognized by media from USA Today to Good Morning America and Southern Living as one of the best holiday light shows in America, dazzles with the 5-story, Special Effects Christmas tree and all-encompassing sound and light show on the Square and the all-new Frosty, an interactive show for kids.

Debuting in September, Silver Dollar City, long known as “Home of American Craftsmanship,” celebrates its roots with a very special project to highlight the theme park’s most authentic focus: the interactive art of demonstration. The new Silver Dollar City Culinary & Craft School is designed to pass along knowledge of America’s heritage through fine crafts, handiwork and culinary arts. Interactive classes will be held within the stylishly decorated and themed timberframe structure, set on a hillside within the City, with experts from top chefs to renowned craftsmen teaching culinary classes and craft seminars. Along with the seminars from national experts, Silver Dollar City Master Craftsmen will feature heirloom displays, multiple demonstrations and hands-on activities for take-home skills.

The Branson Entertainment Hall of Fame & Museum, located in the Branson Mall, honors those instrumental in Branson’s entertainment success and showcases historical items for public viewing daily.

Butterflies at Branson is a community-wide art exhibit that will be decorating the Branson area from March 29 until October 10. Area artists, including Yakov Smirnoff, will turn a huge fiberglass butterfly into a work of art to benefit a local charity.

Celebration City, Branson’s Biggest Nighttime Attraction, presents the biggest park expansion to date, and the largest new ride in the Ozarks for 2008. Roaring Falls, a $2 million water adventure ride, takes riders on a water-filled journey through fast-moving rapids and features a 5-story, 55-degree angle drop for an enormous splash finale. Celebration City is a 20th-century themed family amusement park featuring more than 30 rides and attractions including Ozark WildCat, a wooden roller coaster eight stories high. Celebration City hosts "Ignite the Night," a spectacular multi-million dollar nighttime special effects show presenting a stunning finale to the day’s fun along with a boardwalk full of games, uniquely themed shopping and family-style dining.

There is new fun on the water at Gage’s Branson Landing Marina & Shoppes. Branson Landing Cruises offers daily excursions aboard the luxurious 100-foot yacht Landing Princess or the authentic paddlewheel riverboat Lake Queen in the midst of spectacular Branson Landing and Lake Taneycomo waterfront.

Tall Timber lumberjack show is moving to Hwy 76 West in 2008, located two blocks west of Silver Dollar City, across the street from Uncle Ike’s trail rides.

White River Fish House at Bass Pro Shops in Branson Landing sits on Lake Taneycomo. You can feast on local favorites like catfish and trout or enjoy a delicious hand-cut juicy steak, grilled to perfection. Come hungry for your next adventure at White River Fish House.

Developments

The new Branson Convention Center offers convention and conference goers 220,000 square feet of flexible space in a stunning, state-of-the-art setting. A curving, exposed timber pedestrian concourse gives visitors a pleasant view of the Lake Taneycomo waterfront as they travel between the center’s meeting and exhibit facilities and the adjacent Hilton Branson Convention Center Hotel.

The Hilton Branson Convention Center Hotel is located within walking distance of Historic Downtown Branson and the sprawling new Branson Landing shopping, dining and entertainment district. The new Hilton offers guests a chance to experience the pampered luxury of a metropolitan hotel in the heart of small town America. The 12-story hotel has 293 rooms, including 194 traditional rooms and suites, and 99 condotel units that will also be available for nightly rental.

There are two more championship golf courses in Branson – the Murder Rock course at Branson Creek and the Payne Stewart Tribute course at Branson Hills.

The Branson/Lakes Area community is looking forward to the first flight landing at the new Branson Regional Airport in May of 2009.

Information courtesy of Branson Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce