Celebrate 4th of July in Branson, Missouri

America’s Independence Day is a great time for families and friends to gather and celebrate with food, fireworks, and fun. No place celebrates the 4th of July better than Branson, Missouri where more than 7 firework displays occur over the holiday. An amazing array of firework displays, barbeques and activities drive thousands of families to travel to Branson each year to take part in all the fun. This year, let one of those families be yours!

Branson Firework Displays to Enjoy during the 4th of July:

Big Cedar Lodge Fireworks Display
Date: July 4th
Time: Begins at Dark (around 9:00-9:30)
Location: Big Cedar Lodge
Admission: FREE
Phone: 417-335-2777
Grab your blanket or your lawn chair and join us on the Big Cedar lawn to light up the night sky with a spectacular fireworks display. Listen to music set to the fireworks with your family and friends. You won't want to miss this most patriotic of holidays at Big Cedar.

Branson Landing’s 1st Annual Liberty Light Up!
Date: July 3rd
Time: All Day with Concert at 7:30pm and fireworks at dark (9:00-9:30)
Location: Branson Landing
Admission: Fireworks are FREE; other activities do have a charge

The local community and visitors are invited to “Light Up” their Independence Day celebration a day early, beginning on Thursday, July 3rd with a host of family friendly activities and events planned throughout the day, ending with a special all-American musical tribute and state-of-the-art fireworks extravaganza! Beyond your standard July 4th fireworks celebration, the Landing’s first annual “Liberty Light Up” promises to light up the lives of young and old alike. From an outdoor “Red, White & Blue Town Square BBQ” sponsored by Famous Dave’s BBQ to some All-American family games and contests including, The Red, White & Blue Bubblegum Contest, The Boom Blaster, Hoola Hoop Contest, Uncle Sam Bean Bag Toss and more, the day’s activities will celebrate the American way of life!

Chateau on the Lake Experience Independence Day Celebration
Date: July 3-6, with Fireworks Display held on July 5th
Time: Fireworks will begin at dark (9:00-9:30)
Location: Chateau on the Lake
Admission: Fireworks are FREE; other activities do have a charge.
Experience Independence Day Chateau style under the most spectacular fireworks display in Branson. Summer is in full swing on the lake, in the mountains. After our outdoor BBQ event, complete with live music, we will light up the evening sky to celebrate Independence Day and you won't want to miss it. The BBQ and fireworks will be on Saturday, July 5th. Make your room reservations early and enjoy a weekend full of activities.

Fireburst Fourth of July Celebration
Date: July 4th
Time: Begins at Dark (9:00-9:30)
Location: Kimberling City, but Fireworks can be seen by boat on Table Rock Lake or by land near and around the lake area.
Admission: FREE
Table Rock Lake is the perfect setting to enjoy an amazing display of beautiful fireworks. Whether by boat or by land, you and your family are in for a real treat during the Fireburst Celebration. The lake creates a mirror image effect, and the night sky, lit up in all its glory, is truly incredible.

Fireworks Display and BBQ
Date: July 4th
Time: Begins at Dark (9:00-9:30)
Location: Flat Creek Resort in Cape Fair
Admission: FREE
Phone: 417-538-2222
Join us for food, fun and fireworks!

Hollister’s 55th Annual 4th of July Celebration
Date: July 4th
Time: Begins at Dark (9:00-9:30)
Location: Hollister; Old Hollister Elementary School
Admission: FREE
The longest running fireworks display in Taney County, Hollister lights up the night sky with a dazzling array of fireworks.

Rockaway Beach July 4th Celebration
Date: July 4th
Time: Begins at Dark (9:00-9:30)
Location: Rockaway Beach
Admission: FREE
Phone: 800-798-0178
Join Rockaway Beach for an Independence Day celebration complete with Fireworks.

Shell Knob 33rd Annual Fire & Thunder Fireworks
Date: July 4th
Time: Begins at Dark (9:00-9:30)
Location: Shell Knob
Admission: FREE
Phone: 417-858-3300Fire and Thunder, in its 33rd year, is the longest consecutively running show on Table Rock Lake. This year's display will once again be choreographed by Aaron Mayfield, an award-winning pyrotechnician. Fireworks will be fired from a site one mile east of the Shell Knob Bridge, and the display can be viewed by land or water. Good viewing locations include any spot with a clear view of the southwest side of Shell Knob Mountain.

Branson Landing's 1st Annual Liberty Light Up

Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness…America’s independence will be celebrated across the country and Branson is no exception…especially at The Branson Landing—Branson’s premiere shopping and dining entertainment destination located in Historic Downtown Branson on Lake Taneycomo.

The local community and visitors are invited to “Light Up” their Independence Day celebration a day early, beginning on Thursday, July 3rd with a host of family friendly activities and events planned throughout the day, ending with a special all-American musical tribute and state-of-the-art fireworks extravaganza! Beyond your standard July 4th fireworks celebration, the Landing’s first annual “Liberty Light Up” promises to light up the lives of young and old alike. From an outdoor “Red, White & Blue Town Square BBQ” sponsored by Famous Dave’s BBQ to some All-American family games and contests including, The Red, White & Blue Bubblegum Contest, The Boom Blaster, Hoola Hoop Contest, Uncle Sam Bean Bag Toss and more, the day’s activities will celebrate the American way of life!

Plus, the celebration continues into the night with the kick off of the Landing’s Tribute to America Concert Series with a special musical performance by “Bucky and the Boys”, culminating into an amazing star-spangled fire in the sky display over Lake Taneycomo, produced especially for this extraordinary event by Premier Pyrotechnics, Inc.

“The local community has long loved Bucky Heard as the lead singer with the Horn Dawgs and his show-stopping performances at The Legends Theatre as one of the Blues Brothers – to his latest run with the one and only, Andy Williams. His amazing talent and fan base is duly noted by his being honored as the “Branson Singer of the Year in 2005” and, for being the voice that sings on the unforgettable “Listen to the Music” Commercial, promoting Branson. And now… "this much enjoyed artist will bring an unforgettable cast of talented musicians to our outdoor concert stage in front of the beautiful Branson Landing Fountains for a special salute to American music for both locals and visitors to enjoy,” stated Tammy Scholten, Director of Marketing for the Branson Landing.

The evening’s FREE concert, beginning at 7:30 PM in front of the Fountains launches the start of the Landing’s Summer Lineup Concert Series, showcasing some of the best loved American music throughout July and August, as well as some dates in September. The Branson Landing Concert Series Lineup is as follows:

July 3rd: 7:30pm - Bucky & The Boys

July 5th: 7:00pm - SIX

July 12th: 8:00pm - Christie's Ex – A Billy Joel Tribute Band

July 26th: 8:00pm - Cruize Control – A Jimmy Buffet Tribute Band

Aug. 2nd: 8:00pm - Bad Habit

Aug. 9th: 8:00pm - Sequel Dose

Aug. 16th: 8:00pm - Julia Burton & The Northfork Band

Aug. 17th: 6:00pm - Last Place

Aug. 23rd: All Day - 20th Annual Downtown Branson Fiddle Festival

Aug. 30th: 8:00pm - Chain Reaction – A Journey Tribute Band

Aug. 31st: 8:00pm - Take It To The Limit – An Eeagles Tribute Band

Sept. 14th: 7:00pm - Jake Simpson – 2004 Star Search Winner

Sept. 21st: 6:00pm - The Springfield Symphony with Special Performances by Carrie April Tillis and Andy Williams!

Information & Image courtesy of Branson Chamber of Commerce

Branson Landing Becomes Great Place to Eat

Branson Landing offers three things tourists come to Branson for — shopping, entertainment and food. And since it opened two years ago, the Landing has attracted several popular restaurants and all sorts of specialty food stores.

While the Landing is a shopping mecca, it has also become a restaurant destination for Branson residents and visitors.

The Landing restaurants offer everything from seafood to sandwiches to steaks.

Where else but the Landing could one find a Mexican restaurant within a stone’s throw of an Irish pub?

“What do people come to Branson for? They come to see shows, they come to shop and they come to eat,” said Texas Land & Cattle Steak House General Manager David Bearce.

While the restaurant has only been open since April, Bearce said it has had a good response, particularly with the dinner crowd, and attributes it to the “built in crowd” that comes with the Landing.

“People are going to ride the trolley, they’re going to window shop and after awhile they’re going to go, ‘We’re hungry,’” Bearce said.

Chris Lemons, general manager of Cantina Laredo, said the authentic Mexican restaurant stays “continually busy” and he has “a lot of regular guests” who keep coming back.

One restaurant offers entertainment and food all in one place. Ernie Biggs Dueling Piano Bar and Grill serves its menu of specialty pizzas, pastas, burgers and more from 11 a.m.-p.m. through the week but stays open into the wee hours of the morning.

“The nightlife is our target market,” said manager Travis Fields, adding the 8 p.m. crowd is the busiest time for the restaurant because that is when the dueling pianos begin.

The spirited pianists can keep the tunes going until after 1 a.m., performing an eclectic array of jukebox favorites and Top 40 hits to entertain the crowd long after the kitchen has closed.

Visitors will soon have three more restaurants to choose from when they come to the Landing. Shorty Smalls will open at Gage’s Branson Landing Marina and Shops later this month and following later this summer will be a Romano's Macaroni Grill and Mama Milano’s Italian Restaurant.

Not to be forgotten are the specialty food stores at the Landing. Those in search of a quick bite rather than a sit down meal can get a pretzel from Auntie Anne’s, a slice of pizza from Chicago Gyro’s & Pizza or a sandwich from Charley’s Grilled Subs.

“The options are abundant,” said Tammy Scholten, director of marketing for the Landing. “Whatever your palate prefers the Branson Landing restaurants are certain to satisfy your appetite.”

Information courtesy of Branson Daily News