Silver Dollar City Bluegrass & BBQ Fest in Branson

Come home to the Heartland in Branson and celebrate two of America's greatest traditions during The Bluegrass and BBQ Festival at Silver Dollar City. See the biggest names in Bluegrass music from award-winning favorites to red-hot rising stars throughout this 23 day event. Enjoy 3-time Grammy Award-winning artists the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band in a special concert on May 30! Plus, 6-time IBMA Female Vocalist of the Year Rhonda Vincent comes home to Silver Dollar City May 11-13, 2007, IBMA Entertainers of the Year The Grascals return May 25-29, and 2008 Grammy Nominee Cherryholmes will perform May 26-28.

"Silver Dollar City reaches hundreds of thousands of fans each year making it one of the most significant and vital presenters of live bluegrass music anywhere in the world." - Dan Hayes, Executive Director of the International Bluegrass Music Association.

For over 30 years the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band has been entertaining audiences, gathering numerous Grammy Awards and #1 hits along the way. See this once-in-a-lifetime concert May 30 at 7 p.m. in Silver Dollar City's Echo Hollow® Amphitheatre.

Their Will the Circle Be Unbroken series united living legends with contemporary artists and garnered multiple Grammy nominations. Listen to a sample of these landmark albums and learn more about the band's remarkable journey when you visit the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band's official website.

The 2nd Annual Single Mic Championship will be held May 17 & 18. Watch amateurs and professionals duel for top honors in this exciting musical style.

Back by popular demand, the Youth In Bluegrass Band Contest will be held May 24 & 25. See tomorrow's top stars storm the stage with tight, family-style harmonies. The Youth In Bluegrass Band Contest is sponsored by KSMU.

NEW in 2008 - Chris Jones from Sirius Radio will host the Sirius Bluegrass Concert Series May 26 - 28. Hear The Grascals, Dailey and Vincent Band and Cherryholmes on The Opera House stage, then tune in to hear interviews with the artists taped during their appearance at Silver Dollar City. Check our show schedule for concert times online, or when you visit.

Continue to watch the website for a complete lineup of festival performers and contest details as they become available.

House of BBQSavor the aromas and flavors of an all-American favorite at The House of BBQ!
Try the nation's most popular flavors from Memphis dry rubs and sweet and tangy Carolina vinegars to smoky Texas-style tastes and the Midwest's own Kansas City-style.
Come hungry and sink your teeth into this smokin' all-American pastime.

Information courtesy of Silver Dollar City

Branson, Missouri Goes Upscale

Nearly everyone who's a regular visitor has an I-remember-Branson-when story. Here is Bob Allen's version: "When I first came down here, the only things in Branson were the Presleys, Silver Dollar City and bait shops."

Branson started as an Ozark fishing hole, with the Presley family setting up a metal building on Highway 76 in 1967 to provide wholesome entertainment for the sportsmen who used the man-made lakes. That simple start multiplied into some 50 theaters, earning Branson the title of America's live music capital. The evolution is continuing today, and Allen is a part of it.

Allen grew up in Springfield, Mo., where he was friends with Payne Stewart, the pro golfer who died in a plane accident in 1999 at the age of 42. Now, Allen is the club pro for Branson Hills Golf Co., which is putting the finishing touches on the Payne Stewart Golf Club, a tribute to his friend.

"Each hole of the course tells a story about Payne's experience on the tour," Allen said. "The golf course is $27 million, with five sets of tees from 7,400 yards. We can host national events, everything from Tiger to little tigers."

He led the way through the clubhouse, which has dark wood paneling, an outdoor pool and an area that will display memorabilia, including trophies won by Stewart and pairs of his signature gold-toe golf shoes. Everything in the clubhouse will be linen, crystal and silver — "no paper plates and Styrofoam cups," Allen said. "It's all going to be tip-top, Payne would be proud."

The public golf course will be the 12th in the Branson area — joining John Daly's Murder Rock as the latest additions — and cements Branson's role as a golf destination.

Add the upscale shopping at the new Branson Landing, the growing retirement and second-home community, and the recently opened convention center and second Hilton Hotel, and it's easy to see why Branson's backers say it has turned the corner in attracting the boomers needed to fill the vacancies left by fading World War II-era veterans and their spouses.

While the housing industry in other parts of the United States is ailing, Branson's market is holding its own during the national slowdown, said C. Craig Richards, president of Ozark Mountain Bank. "There's a lot of interest from people outside the area who see real estate in Branson as a good buy," Richards said. "The cost of construction is lower, as is the cost of land. People from California or Florida can sell their home there and buy three or four times the home for the money in Branson. We've got a good school system, good health service. That attracts people who are retirees but also families who want to get away from the big city. There's a strong feeling of family values in the area, probably tied to strong Christian beliefs."

The only downside, for Richards, is increased competition. "We've had five new banks in the last 10 years," he said. "They see the same numbers we do as far as commercial development and new home sales. In 1998, there were two homes that sold for over $350,000. Last year, there were more than 30."

And don't forget the new full-size airport scheduled to open next spring, said Dan Lennon, vice president of the Chamber of Commerce. "As soon as you get outside an eight-hour drive to Branson, some people perceive it's difficult to give up a day to get here," Lennon said. "With the new airport, it starts to be more practical for people to fly in. With those further out markets, Branson becomes a weekend getaway."

Branson's annual visitation grew 5.2 percent to 8.39 million last year, Lennon said. Over the last two years, total growth was 14 percent while the rest of the national tourism market was seeing 2 percent annual increases. How those numbers will shake out this year, in the face of high fuel prices and a sluggish economy, was an unknown, he added. Lennon emphasized that the culture that Branson was known for is alive and well. You can still find cornpone humor at the Presleys and Baldknobbers shows, motels still offer "2 for $32.95" in the off-season, go-kart tracks and water slides still line Highway 76, and traffic this summer will crawl as the commercial strip fills with gawkers.

But now you can shop for fancy undies at the Victoria's Secret at Branson Landing, or try out a new boat at the Bass Pro Shop dock on Lake Taneycomo. "The thing that brought the people in the 60s and 70s — the Ozark Mountain experience — that still happens, we've just added these higher amenities," he said. "Fifteen years ago, you'd have the Lawrence Welks. With the boomers, you have Dick Clark, the Acrobats of China, the Liverpool Legends."

The best known side of the town, the live music shows, also has a new player this season. The $65 million Sight and Sound Theater Branson will open May 24 with a stage area of 26,550 square feet, the equivalent of more that five basketball courts. The stage, largest in North America, is 300 feet long and wraps around three sides of the 2,085 seats, giving the audience the feeling of being inside an ark, with all the animals, for a production of "Noah — The Musical."

Sight & Sound Theatres is the nation's largest professional Christian theater company. Its headquarters theater in Lancaster County, Pa., is one of the most-attended live theaters on the East Coast with an annual audience of more than 800,000. Founded in 1976 by Glenn and Shirley Eshelman, the company produces epic biblical stories. Some 100 live animals, 200 "animatronic" animals and 45 human actors will be used in Branson to tell the story of the journey of Noah and his family.

"It's sometimes called Christian Broadway in Pennsylvania," said Joan Chowning, who ushered me into the theater where trainers were working with the live animals. "The employees all profess to be Christians. But we welcome the unchurched, as well as the churched, at our theaters."

Admission for both is $49 an adult, $25 for a teen and $15 for children.

As Allen, the golf pro, mentioned, Silver Dollar City has been around since the beginning. But it also continues to evolve, from a re-created Ozark mining town built above Marvel Cave and featuring arts and crafts, to a quality theme park in a landscaped setting with rides and a full schedule of live entertainment.

The biggest new attraction this season is at Silver Dollar City's sister park, Celebration City, where Roaring Falls, a $2 million water adventure, makes its debut this spring. General manager John Fitzgibbons gave a blow-by-blow description of the new ride: "Twenty passengers go up five stories in a boat, which falls in a 55-degree drop, ending with a splash that gets everybody in the boat, and everybody on the land nearby, wet. It has an Amazon theme, with crocodiles and hippos and fossilized rocks. There'll be fog and a mister going, and Amazon noises."

Celebration City, which is entering its sixth season, now has some 30 rides and attractions, including three roller coasters and a Ferris wheel. The park closes each evening with "Ignite the Night," which uses three projectors to display images on a water curtain, along with lasers and fireworks and music.

"We have a 50-foot Elvis walking on water and singing," Fitzgibbons said. "There's a dance party on the Great Lawn. We get kids, parents and grandparents up and dancing."

Silver Dollar City, which is a short ride away from Celebration City, also has a full schedule of events with World-Fest, April 3-May 4; Bluegrass & BBQ, May 10-June 1; National Kids Fest, June 7-Aug. 10; Southern Gospel Picnic, Aug. 28-Sept. 7; National Harvest Festival, Sept. 11-Oct. 25; and An Old Time Christmas, Nov. 1-Dec. 30.

Lisa Rau, spokeswoman for Silver Dollar City, said the park uses continuing feedback from customers to update attractions and facilities. "The bottom line is: We are not the boss, the guests are the boss and mostly Mom," Rauh said. "Roaring Falls is exactly what they wanted. A big, get wet, whole family, thrill ride."

Information courtesy of St. Louis Post-Dispatch

April Events in Branson

April 2008 Calendar of Events

C-SPAN American Presidents Museum Exhibit

March 3, 2008 - April 30, 2008

Location: The American Presidents Museum

Created by the C-SPAN Cable News Network and the White House Historical Society, this a one-of-it's kind exhibit on the history of the American Presidency. Only in Missouri twice before, at the 2000 and 2004 Presidential Debates in St. Louis.

"Resin Sculpture & Installation" by artist Neil Ward

April 2, 2008 - April 23, 2008

Location: College of the Ozarks, Boger Gallery

Phone: (417) 334-6411

Ward's work incorporates molded forms made from resin and materials suspended in resin.

WORLD-FEST at Silver Dollar City

April 3, 2008 - May 4, 2008

Times: Closed Mondays & Tuesdays. Open Wednesdays - Fridays and Sundays from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturdays 9 a.m. - 7 p.m.

Location: Silver Dollar City

Join us as we celebrate the spirit of Ireland with Ireland's Feet of Fire! This elaborate All-NEW Stage Show features live Irish music, champion step dancers and symbolic fire dancing. See this talented ensemble of Celtic Isles performers as they share their country's traditions and folklore on the world's stage.

BransonFest

April 8, 2008 - April 12, 2008

Location: Dick Clark's American Bandstand Theater

New location for 2008 at Dick Clark's American Bandstand Theater!

At the daily "Big Shows" inside, you can sample some of Branson's best shows each day. If you attend all the Big Shows, you'll sample at least 50, yes, 50 shows! No wonder this festival has been named a "Top 100" Event in North America by the American Bus Association since 2004! The five-day event kicks off on Tuesday, April 8th. Activities begin at Noon on the grounds and the first "Big Show" is in the American Bandstand Theatre at 7 pm. Wednesday through Friday, the outdoor activities begin at 9 a.m. and the daily "Big Shows" are at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. On Saturday, the final Big Show is at 2 p.m. Individual show tickets and packages are available.

Titanic Kick-Off/Third Season

April 10, 2008

Location: The World's Largest Titanic Museum Attraction

Major celebration -- in honor of ther 1912 April 10 maiden voyage.2nd annual Ham Radio Operators to broadcast from Titanic all over the world including Belfast, Newfoundland and Southampton England. Honorary guests to visit from Belfast, Ireland. Titanic honors James Cameron's Titanic movie, 10th anniversary of its release -- See for the first time Kate Winslow "Rose" dresses from the movie and the "Heart of the Ocean" necklace.

Persian Gulf War Cease Fire

April 11, 2008

Phone: (417) 337-8387

Admission: Show tickets will be half price only on April 11, 2007 for soldiers who served during that time. This day commemorates the Official Cease Fire in 1991 of the Persian Gulf War and will be dedicated to the soldiers who served in Iraq during Desert Shield and Desert Storm. Ceremonies and recognition of soldiers will be held at Branson Fest and the Welk Theater. All soldiers from Desert Shield and Desert Storm need to go by the Branson Veterans Task Force Booth at Branson Fest to get information and leave their name. For more information contact Steve Weyher.

3rd Annual Titanic Princess Tea Party

April 12, 2008

Times: Noon to 5p.m.

Location: The World's Largest Titanic Museum Attraction

Admission: $13.50 per child, 17.00 per adult

This event sells out at least two months ahead. We have room for 500 young ladies.

AREA '57 CRUISE IN & Drive-In Movie Night

April 18, 2008 - April 20, 2008

Phone: (417) 332-1960, (877) 588-1957

Branson Collector Car Auction

April 18, 2008 - April 19, 2008

Location: Branson Convention Center

Phone: 800-335-3063

Springtastic Show Spree

April 21, 2008 - April 27, 2008

Admission: Available on-line only.

Fans can see ten of their favorite shows in Branson during the Springtastic Show Spree week. Shows include productions such as Jim Stafford, Yakov, Mickey Gilley, Twelve Irish Tenors, Legends in Concert, Baldknobbers Jamboree, New Shanghai Circus, The Hughes Brothers, Broadway!, The Haygoods, Country Tonite, Magnificent 7 Variety Show, The Dutton's and many more.

Kewpiesta

April 23, 2008 - April 27, 2008

Location: Bonniebrook Park

Phone: 417-561-1509

Kewpiesta is a celebration of Rose O'Neill's famous Kewpie dolls. While enjoying the Kewpie's take a tour of Rose's home Bonniebrook.

Branson Landing's Spring Fashion Show

April 26, 2008

Times: 1 pm

Location: Town Square, in front of the Landing Fountains

Please join us for the Branson Landing Spring Fashion Show. You won't want to miss these exciting spring fashions on display during the Fashion Show from more than 10 Branson Landing Merchants. Each participating retailer will also supply an item from their shop to be raffled off in support of The Hiding Place and our local Crisis Center. With your donation, you will receive a ticket and the chance to take home a new spring fashion of your own. Everyone is a winner in this raffle - because not only will your ticket help in the support of two local charities, but it will also earn you a wonderful discount towards your purchase at the participating shops that day.Be sure to check back for more information and updates on this exciting new event.

Information courtesy of Branson Chamber of Commerce

Branson a Hot Spot for Reunions

Midwest Living Magazine has placed Branson at the top of its list for Best Family Reunion Spot. Branson ranked five stars in the magazine’s categories of appeal, lodging choices, and planning help and three stars for location. Appeal was based on a family’s desire to go to a location. Location looked at convenience and proximity to major cities or airports. Lodgings checked the range of different types of lodging, while planning help took on the dedication of tourism office staff to help families plan their event.

The article said Branson has “lodgings for everyone,” that “music shows, Silver Dollar City theme park and Table Rock Lake bring travelers” to the area. The Branson Chamber of Commerce helps hundreds of families a year plan their reunions by collecting the group’s information and then sending the information to establishments that cater to reunions.

“We were so excited to see the March-April issue of ‘Midwest Living’ magazine highlighting family reunions,” said Lynn Berry, director of public relations for Branson Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce. “And we were so proud that Branson was selected as their top pick.”

Some of the top Branson lodgings chosen for the spread include Thousand Hills, Westgate Branson Woods Resort, Still Waters Condominium Resort and The Village at Indian Point.

Information courtesy of Branson Daily News

The Other Spring Break is in Branson, Missouri

Spring Break is a great time to bring your family to Branson and enjoy one of the best times of the year at this premier vacation destination in the Ozark Mountains. Moms, Dads and kids will love to spend time together at the indoor water park located at Grand Country Inn, take in a giant-screen production at IMAX, get a chance to race each other at The Track on Go-Karts, play a round at 300+ holes of Mini Golf, Ride the Ducks on a fun, scenic tour of the lake, board the TITANIC -- World's Largest Museum Attraction, see the New Shanghai Circus Acrobats of China or visit the The Butterfly Palace & Rainforest Adventure, where you can walk among 1,000 live tropical butterflies from around the world. And don't forget to visit the caves -- Talking Rocks Cavern, Cosmic Cavern and Fantastic Caverns -- all good places to go during a spring shower!

Many of Branson's live performance venues introduce their new acts and new shows in the spring of each year, and 2008 offers an unprecedented variety of music, comedy, magic, acrobats, Broadway-style production shows and more. And if you are into golf, the area's newest course, Murder Rock Golf and Country Club, is ready for play. You can take your family for a hike along an Ozarks nature trail, or take a boat out on the lake and enjoy some of the best fishing this time of the year on Table Rock Lake, especially for lunker bass.

The award-winning theme park, Silver Dollar City, has Spring Break Days that run Thursdays through Sundays, March 20 -30, except Saturday, March 29. The park offers rides, attractions, crafts and entertainment. Hours are 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. each day (except Sunday, March 30 when the park opens at 9:00 a.m.), with a line-up of entertainment for kids and families wanting to make the most of spring break. The park will host singing groups from The Branson Brothers to the Sons of the Silver Dollar along with an interactive science show.

Silver Dollar City kicks off its biggest festival year ever on April 3 with World-Fest presenting an Irish Celebration with an all-new Irish production show, Feet of Fire, featuring a full cast of singers, dancers and musicians plus authentic fire dancing. Hundreds of performances from around the world celebrate the cultures and heritage of exotic lands.

Once a year, Branson packs a little bit of everything it has to offer into five fun-filled days with eight shows featuring world-class performers, local arts and culture, free shows in the Great American Entertainment tent and authentic Branson fare. BransonFest welcomes spring each year with a virtual smorgasbord of everything this amazing tourist destination has to offer -- and all in one location! Celebrating its 16th year, BransonFest 2008 is set for April 8-12 at Dick Clark's American Bandstand Theater complex.

The Showboat Branson Belle launches its season March 14, with cruises on select days in March. Headlined by ventriloquist Todd Oliver and his trio of live talking dogs, Branson's premier lake experience includes a 3-course dinner, a cruise on Table Rock Lake and a world-class production show, in the 700-seat theater aboard the paddlewheeler. Cruises begin March 14 and run Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays through March, with cruises at noon and 4 p.m., except March 24.

Information courtesy of Branson Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce Convention and Visitors Bureau

Branson Events for March 2008

March Events for Branson, Missouri

TITANIC Salutes the Irish

March 1, 2008 - March 17, 2008

Location: The Titanic Museum

A celebration of Gaelic traditions and music.

2008 Branson Victory Campaign

March 6, 2008 - March 8, 2008

Times: Thurs. 7:00 p.m.; Fri. 9 a.m., 2 p.m. & 7 p.m.; Sat. 9:30 a.m. & 6:30 p.m.

Location: Faith Life Church: 3701 West Highway 76; Branson, MO 65616

Phone: 800-600-7395

Jump into faith. hope. love. health. wealth. Fullness of Blessing at the 2008 Branson Victory Campaign. Join us for total immersion in the Word of God with speakers Kenneth & Gloria Copeland.

12th Annual Branson Tri-Lakes Building & Home Show

March 7, 2008 - March 9, 2008

Location: Branson Convention Center

Phone: 417-334-1200

For 12 years, this first class consumer show has been hosting the areas leading companies in one location to bring you everything from home improvement, remodeling, landscaping, home security, kitchen and bath and so much more! For the first time in 12 years the Branson Tri-Lakes Building and Home Show will be held at the beautiful Branson Convention Center at the Branson Landing. This year could be one of the largest in number of vendors and attendees! Our three day event will include vendor booths, prizes, seminars and special guests.

NAIA Division II Men’s Basketball Tournament

March 12, 2008 - March 18, 2008

Location: Keeter Gymnasium at College of the Ozarks

Phone: 417-334-6411 ext. 4393

The Division II championship is a 32 team, single-elimination tournament featuring the champions of the Division II conferences, regional tournaments and at-large berths.

Silver Dollar City's Family Spring Break Days

March 20, 21, 22 2008

March 27, 28, 30 2008

Times: 10 a.m.-6 p.m.

Location: Silver Dollar City

15th Billboard World Song Contest Awards Presentation Show & Performance

March 29, 2008

Location: Mansion America Theatre

Phone: 918-624-2100 or 918-827-6529

The top three winners in each of the eleven categories will have their song featured on a CD that is distributed exclusively to music industry decision makers - record company heads, producers, A&R executives, music publishers, important artists and celebrities, agents, managers and others in the music industry. They listen! This contest offers unparalleled exposure for up-and-coming songwriters. It's the songwriter"s springboard to success. Song categories are: Rock/Alt Rock, Pop, Country, Latin, Folk/Americana, Jazz, Contemporary Christian/Gospel, R&B/Blues, Dance, Rap/HipHop and World. New category Electronica/Soundtrack seeks entries to this growing niche.

Information courtesy of Branson Lakes Area Chamber & Visitors Bureau

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

Branson Celebrates the Holidays

Christmas in the Ozarks has become big business for Branson. The southwest Missouri town of 7,435 welcomes the holiday season with dancing Santas, reindeer, penguins and millions of twinkling lights.

Twenty years ago, Branson nearly shut down after Halloween until the spring season. But now, November and December are Branson's second busiest period — exceeded only in numbers of visitors by the summer onslaught of families with kids interested in miniature golf, bumper cars and boats, go-karts and swimming in the area's three lakes.

Branson's older visitors are often the town's best customers during the holidays. On a recent Friday night, 24 buses (or coaches, as insiders refer to them) sat outside fiddler Shoji Tabuchi's show.

Another favorite — singer Andy Williams — sings about Christmas being "The Most Wonderful Time of the Year." He'll celebrate his 80th birthday on Dec. 3 with 4,000 of his closest friends in two shows he'll be doing that day at his Moon River Theatre.

And a few other acts include:

— Singer-comedian Jim Stafford gives audience members a reason to ho-ho-ho as he dons a Santa suit each night at his show.

— Fiddler Shoji Tabuchi, who performs holiday tunes, is often surrounded by 7-foot tall reindeer standing on their hind legs. The reindeer return later wearing hula skirts and coconut bras to do another dance with Tabuchi, who wears an aqua blue jacket emblazoned with sequined pineapples.

— Russian comedian Yakov Smirnoff is backed up by Frosty the Snowman, Santa and a Russian dance troupe.

— Country's Larry Gatlin & the Gatlin Brothers, Lawrence Welk's Lennon Sisters, "Mr. Banjo" Buck Trent and Mel Tillis spend much of the holidays entertaining busloads of tourists and those who "drive on their own" to Branson. Many of the big-name shows will shut down by Dec. 15 until the spring season begins in early April.

SILVER DOLLAR CHRISTMAS

By far the biggest Christmas spectacular is "An Old Time Christmas" at Silver Dollar City, which switched this year to more energy-efficient lights, cutting its energy usage to 20 percent of what it was a year ago, explained Brad Thomas, park general manager.

This year, the park's Main Street features a five-story special effects Christmas tree covered with 300,000 lights that glow and flash in unison to music that begins at 5:30 p.m. and continues every 15 minutes after that. More than 450,000 lights adorn the surrounding 10 storefronts and 250 cut pine trees. A Gifts of Christmas Light Parade with 80,000 lights winds through the park twice each night. In addition, Silver Dollar City's excellent production of "A Dickens' Christmas Carol" with 14 actors is performed six times daily, along with a "live" nativity scene.

On a recent Saturday night, a wedding party delayed the ceremony to watch the tree-lighting before exchanging vows in the park's picturesque Wilderness Chapel.

Toby Thompson of Topeka, Kan., brings his wife, son and in-laws to Branson each year for Thanksgiving and a family reunion. However this year, the reunion has moved to Fort Worth, Texas. But they took a quick three-day trip to Branson over Veteran's Day weekend, anyway. "We enjoy coming here for the Christmas activities and staying in a log cabin," he said. "The area is just so beautiful that we love coming here. And the women love to go shopping here."

The Branson/Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce survey confirms that 88 percent of its nearly 8 million visitors last year report going shopping in Branson compared with 84 percent attending shows, 36 percent going to theme parks and 33 percent to museums. Other tourists went to the lake (29 percent), participated in outdoor activities (8 percent) and played golf (5 percent).

NEW SHOPS

Branson's newest shopping complex, the $420 million Branson Landing, which opened in May last year, has been renamed Branson Winter WonderLanding for the season, with Santa setting up in a 50-foot illuminated Christmas Treehouse with its own fireplace. The outdoor mall along Lake Taneycomo is adorned with 20 million sparkling lights. The $7.5 million Branson Landing fountains are choreographed to holiday songs as they shoot water 120 feet into the air and five cannon blast fireballs above the lake.

Information St. Louis Post-Dispatch

Branson Festival of Lights Duck Style

Ride The Ducks is a unique way to see the Branson Area Festival of Lights. The special tour runs through December 16, with Ride The Ducks offering 5:30 pm and 6:30 pm tours that include the Festival of Lights.

Duck Style is the fun way to see the lights! Ride through the Ozarks and the Festival of Lights while you Quack along with the Christmas music, all aboard our fully enclosed ducks in Branson, Missouri.

The 60-minute Holiday Light Adventure includes a fun-filled narration of the sites and sounds of the Ozarks. A special price of $15 for Adults and $8 for children 4-11 (plus tax) includes your entry into the Festival of Lights. (No splashdowns into the lake take place during these special adventures.)

Guests can choose their departure point. Adventures that depart from the duck dock at 2320 W Highway 76 will travel through Branson’s entertainment district before seeing the Festival of Lights. The Branson Landing location will ride through downtown Branson first.

Ride The Ducks will also continue to offer its unique land and water tours during the holiday season. From the Branson 76 location, guests can Ride to the top of Baird Mountain and enjoy incredible views of the Ozarks, Splash into Table Rock Lake for a fun cruise and Quack along with the captain as he tells his stories of Branson past and present. From the Branson Landing location, guests Ride through historic downtown Branson, Splash into Lake Taneycomo for a fun cruise and Quack along with the captain as he, too, tells his stories of Branson past and present. These tours run from 10am to 5pm daily from either location.

Ride The Ducks of Branson is the fun way to see the Ozarks. Operating for over 35 years, safely entertaining over 5,000,000 guests, Ride The Ducks is a Branson tradition. Ride The Ducks of Branson is a Silver Dollar City attraction.

Information courtesy of Branson Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce

America's Brightest Christmas Happens at Branson's Silver Dollar City

One of the nation's brightest, most elaborate Christmas celebrations has it all -- from a 5-story tree with a million-dollar light-and-sound special effects show to a Dickens production, a light parade and four million lights. It takes place throughout the holiday season at Branson's Silver Dollar City theme park. The park, set in the Ozark Mountains of Branson, Missouri, excels in delivering an unparalleled Christmas experience.

"Where else can you get this kind of family entertainment package --from a 5-Story Special Effects Christmas Tree to roller coasters at night?" said Silver Dollar City General Manager Brad Thomas. "Not only does Silver Dollar City do Christmas in a spectacular way, but the whole entertainment destination of Branson lights up, from the live shows to the holiday light drive-throughs."

Visitors entering Silver Dollar City can't miss the towering 5-Story Special Effects Christmas Tree, which becomes even more impressive when its 350,000 lights blaze and flash in high-tech, split-second synchronization to Christmas songs. The tree is joined in its nightly shows by 250 lighted Christmas trees, hanging light canopies and lighted shop fronts – a million lights in all just for the Christmas on Main Street shows.

And it's clearly Christmas throughout the park -- a Holiday Light Parade with musical, brightly lighted floats glides through the streets each evening, strolling carolers sing, Santa visits with kids and Christmas shows play in several entertainment venues. Take in the Broadway-style production "A Dickens' Christmas Carol" or The Living Nativity, and dine on hearty foods from prime rib to a traditional turkey and dressing dinner.

The adventurous can take a night ride on any of the park's thrill rides from roller coasters to this year's new Giant Swing, while demonstrating craftsmen make blown glass ornaments, copper fountains and handmade pottery serving platters perfect for Christmas gifts.

Profiled as one of the top Christmas celebrations in the country by USA Today and People Magazine, and spotlighted in the Wall Street Journal, Silver Dollar City continues to shine as a holiday destination. And Branson's 52 theaters feature holiday sets, songs and costumes in their live shows, rounding out the area's entertainment options.

Silver Dollar City is open through December 30.

Information Courtesy of Silver Dollar City

An Old Time Christmas Celebration at Silver Dollar City

Come home for the holidays to An Old Time Christmas at Silver Dollar City! In Branson, Missouri, see all your family's favorites along with new surprises amidst the glow of over 4 million dazzling lights. You'll create special holiday traditions, celebrate the true meaning of this magical season and take home memories that will last a lifetime!

A NEW Christmas Light Spectacular premieres on Main Street!

Silver Dollar City's square becomes the setting for the All-NEW Christmas on Main Street, our biggest light show ever! The musical 5-story Special Effects Christmas Tree serves as the grand centerpiece as it twinkles and dances in unison, for the first time ever, with over 450,000 lights adorning the surrounding buildings and trees! That's over 720,000 lights illuminating the City's Square!

Hear traditional favorites as well as new musical numbers when you join the tree lighting celebration at 5:30 pm each evening during An Old Time Christmas. The Celebration features piano virtuoso Tracy Heaston, and includes the following moving musical selections:

• Carol of the Bell by David Foster from The Christmas Album
• Interlude by Steven Curtis Chapman from The Music of Christmas
• Joy to the World by the Boston Pops Orchestra from Sleigh Ride
• Medley by Michael W. Smith from Christmastime
• Suite from the Polar Express by Alan Sylvestri from The Polar Express Motion Picture Soundtrack
• Sleigh Ride by the Boston Pops Orchestra from Sleigh Ride

The celebration continues as 2 songs play every 15 minutes throughout the evening. Can't wait until Christmas? Then turn up your speakers and listen to a sample of the music right now!

A Dickens' Christmas Carol!

The grandest production show ever performed at Silver Dollar City, this original musical adaptation of the famous classic by Charles Dickens features astounding special effects, stunning Victorian scenery and exquisite period costuming.

The production showcases a talented cast of 14 actors, accompanied by a live band, in an inspiring story of redemption and hope. Presented November 10 - December 30, 2007 at the Opera House Theater.

• The Living Nativity - Transport your family to the little town of Bethlehem where the real reason for this joyous season is revealed in a celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ.
  Holiday Light Parade - Emblazoned in over 80,000 lights, the Gifts Of Christmas Holiday Light Parade glides through the streets of the City as colorful floats highlight the joys of the season (twice each evening - weather permitting).
• Meet world-renowned visiting artisans Ibrahim Giacaman, craftsman of the Wilderness Woods Nativities from Jerusalem, Israel, Nov. 15 - Dec. 8, 1 p.m. to 8 p.m. and Emanuel Fontanini of the famous Italian Nativity design family from Bagni Di Lucca, Italy, Nov. 23, 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. and Nov. 24, 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.
• Kringle's Krossing - Pay a visit to St. Nicholas, at his home away from home.
• Holiday Shows resound throughout city streets with the sounds of the season!
• Rides & Attractions open during our festival, weather permitting, include The Giant Swing, Flooded Mine, Fire-In-The-Hole, Frisco Sing-Along Steam Train, Geyser Gulch, Grandfather’s Mansion, Homestead Barnyard, Marvel Cave, Thunderation, Tom Sawyer’s Landing, PowderKeg®, WildFire™ and the Grand Exposition!
• The tastes of the season are in abundance throughout the park from traditional feasts to your favorite treats! Children can even have Lunch With Santa (available on select dates, reservations required).

Celebrate the Holiday Season with an Ozark Mountain Christmas

Do you find yourself asking, "Whatever happened to a traditional family Christmas?" Come to Branson, Missouri, and celebrate the true meaning of the Christmas season. Nationally recognized by newspapers and travel associations as one of the top Christmas destinations in the nation, America's Live Entertainment Capital is all aglow in the spirit of the season. It all begins on November 1! With lots of star-filled Christmas shows, the famous 76 Strip and a glittering array of animated lighting displays including the 1-mile Branson Area Festival of Lights drive-through, a visit to Branson will create beautiful memories and new Christmas traditions for your family.

Branson's star performers, special effects and elaborate holiday production numbers are ready to dazzle visitors and their families in November and December. From the famous voice of "Mr. Christmas" Andy Williams to the multimedia extravaganza of The Christmas Sounds of Mannheim Steamroller at The Grand Palace, as well as Mel Tillis and Connie Smith at the Welk Resort, there's a multitude of Branson Christmas shows that deck the halls with boughs of holly and showcase the holiday's finest talent. Music fills the air at Branson's family shows like the Presleys, The Baldknobbers, and the Hughes Brothers and peals of laughter roll through the aisles at Jim Stafford, Hamner-Barber and Yakov Smirnoff's shows. From the Lennon Sisters with the Gatlin Brothers to Barbara Fairchild, the Twelve Irish Tenors and Broadway's Spirit of Christmas with The Osmonds, Branson wraps up its musical packages with one-of-a-kind holiday family fun. And, for the kids in all of us, there's a "magical" Christmas celebration as well, at world-famous Kirby VanBurch's Christmas Spectacular.

Silver Dollar City, an internationally awarded theme park, presents an all-new, $1 million light and sound extravaganza for "An Old Time Christmas" the park's biggest light show ever. Called "Christmas on Main Street," the show features a new 5-Story Special Effects Christmas Tree that blazes to the musical movements of Christmas songs, joined by one million lights on trees, shop fronts and hanging canopies all flashing, as surround-sound fills the Square. The entire park glows with millions of flickering lights and a Holiday Light Parade with colorful, musical floats winds through the streets.The acclaimed Dickens' "Christmas Carol" returns with the special effects said to be one of the best productions in the history of the park. Plus, holiday food, strolling Christmas carolers and the roller coasters are open after dark for the thrill of the lights from above.

The Showboat Branson Belle is bedecked in Christmas finery and charts a course for holiday food and fun on Table Rock Lake though December. Also, the World's Largest Titanic Museum Attraction will be decorated with thousands of merry lights and holiday trim that recall those elegant Christmases past. Your family can discover Branson's newest "Winter Wonder Landing" at the Branson Landing waterfront, featuring a promenade of trendy specialty shopping and dining establishments, the brilliant water and fire spectacular that dances to the sounds of the season in the Town Square and Santa Claus, who has even been known to vacation in Branson himself!

For all of your Christmas shopping, there are three name-brand outlet malls, boutique shops at the Grand Village and Ozarks craftsmen at Branson Mills and Engler Block with their stores all decked out in lights with elaborate holiday decorations that beckon Yuletide visitors.

A host of Branson lodging options are available from a cozy cabin at one of the lakeside resorts to luxurious hotel rooms and condos throughout the area.

While in the Branson/Lakes Area you can also enjoy a Christmas light display at the Enchanted Forest on Indian Point Rd. and the Christmas on the Trail show and Trail of Lights at Shepherd of the Hills Historic Homestead. On the first Sunday in December, thousands of people gather in downtown Branson to watch a Christmas parade dedicated to "the true meaning of the season." This year marks the 59th Adoration Parade in Branson, an evening event with dozens of high school bands and lighted floats. The theme has always been "Keeping Christ in Christmas."

"When I started my solo career, I believe God told me to come to Branson and sing with my kids. I'm a Southern California guy, but Christmas in the Ozarks is truly magical," says Righteous Brother Bill Medley, member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, who performs at Dick Clark's American Bandstand Theater.

Branson's Veterans Homecoming, Nov. 5-11, pays tribute to our nation's heroes from all wars and conflicts and all branches of service. For details about this weeklong series of events, tribute shows, reunions and more, click the above link.

Outdoor activities in the Ozarks like fishing, hiking, camping and other outdoor pursuits are year-round opportunities for sporting enthusiasts in the Ozarks. The cool, crisp weather in late autumn and early winter is an appealing time for outdoor activities. Those three pristine lakes never freeze, so they are ideal for fishing for bass, trout, crappie and other species, and there is boating and many other types of water activities even in mid-winter. The mild winters also allow visitors to enjoy the area's dozen championship Golf courses.

Information courtesy of Branson Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce

Branson Festival of Lights display Holiday Cheer

The Shine of Christmas lights will be coming from a different part of Branson this holiday season. Beginning on November 1 and all aglow through December 31, this year’s drive-through will be located at Shepherd of the Hills Expressway and Expressway Lane, close to the new Sight & Sound Theatre.

Experience the magic of an Ozark Mountain Christmas with the Branson Area Festival of Lights 2007 as all of Branson sparkles for the holidays. From fabulous Christmas shows and dazzling lights to spectacular shopping and breathtaking scenic beauty, Branson is a special gift for everyone in your family at this festive time of year.

The centerpiece, Branson Area Festival of Lights Drive-Through, will delight children of all ages. Your journey begins with a magical 1-mile drive along a path aglow with over 120 displays. Conveniently located off of Shepherd of the Hills Expressway at Expressway Lane, this one-of-a-kind family experience promises to be memorable.

Also in the Branson/Lakes Area you can enjoy extraordinary Christmas lighting displays at Silver Dollar City’s Old Time Christmas celebration, the Enchanted Forest on Indian Point Rd. and the Trail of Lights at Shepherd of the Hills.

“It’s the perfect facility for the festival to grow, so we can add some new elements over the next couple years,” said Chamber Director of Tourism Development Krystal Simon.

2007 will mark BAFOL’s second year back in Branson after a one-year hiatus in 2005 due to the construction of Target, Home Depot and TJ Maxx in the Branson Hills area. Last year, the festival returned to Branson Hills Parkway but added traffic and the current Wal-Mart Supercenter construction project forced the chamber to look for a new venue for the holiday tradition.

“Expressway Lane has all the criteria that we need,” Simon said. “The drive-through was 1.25 miles long last year, so we’ll have plenty of room to make it about that length again. There is plenty of access to electricity, and there will be minimal interference with residential traffic.” Simon all stated that all of the 120 light displays used last year will again be utilized this season. “We’re going to be working with an individual to come up with a new design and configuration for the displays.”

The BAFOL Drive-Through will be open daily November 1st through December 31st from 5-11p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 5p.m.-midnight on Friday and Saturday.

Admission fees for 2007 will be $50 for full-sized motorcoaches, $25 for mini-coaches, church vans and limos, and family vehicles will be $10.

Information courtesy of Branson Daily News and Branson Chamber of Commerce

November Events in Branson

Branson Area Festival of Lights
November 1, 2007 - December 31, 2007
Join the community wide celebration as all of Branson is aglow for the holiday. Special holiday shows, drive through light displays and spectacular shopping and dining provide all the reasons to celebrate the holidays in Branson. Contact the Branson Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce for more information.

Trail of Lights
November 1, 2007 - December 31, 2007
Location: Shepherd of the Hills Homestead
Phone: 800-653-6288

White Flight
November 1, 2007 - January 15, 2008
Location: The Butterfly Palace & Rainforest Adventure
Available exclusively during the holidays, White Flight will feature thousands of white butterflies fluttering like living snowflakes amid a rainforest sparking with thousands of twinkling lights. All of this while holiday music fills the soul. Simply unforgettable! This holiday journey also includes a stop in our 3-D theatre, rainforest critter center, and Emerald Forest Mirror Maze.

An Old Time Christmas
November 3, 2007 - December 30, 2007
Location: Silver Dollar City(Open Wednesdays-Sundays through Dec. 2, Thursday - Sundays, Dec. 6-23, daily Dec. 26-30)
An Old Time Christmas takes one of its most popular icons and makes it bigger -- presenting a new 7-story Special Effects Christmas Tree for a Christmas Light Spectacular around the Square. One of the nation's most acclaimed holiday events, the festival includes the Holiday Light Parade, the popular show A Dickens' Christmas Carol, and over 4 millions holiday lights.

Veterans Homecoming
November 5, 2007 - November 11, 2007
Times: 2 p.m. Location: Branson
Admission: FREE
Opening Ceremonies will be held at Mansion America Theater. Open seating, first come first served.

Sunchon Tunnel Massacre Survivors Book Launch
November 6, 2007 Times: 9-11 a.m.
Location: Vendor Village at Celebration Hall
Admission: Open to the public
Six of the survivors plan to present. Ed Slater, Sherman Jones, Walt Whitcomb, Valdor John, Jim Yeager and Bob Sharpe.

Vietnam Wall Opening Ceremony
November 6, 2007
Location: Welk Resort Center
Phone: 417-337-8387
Admission: Open to the public

Women Veterans Rose Petal Ceremony
November 6, 2007
Times: 10 a.m.
Location: Keeter Center, College of the Ozarks
POW/MIA Remembrance ServiceNovember 7, 2007 Times: 8 a.m.Location: Welk Resort BransonSpeakers, wreath laying. The WALL is open Nov 5-11 for viewing.

11th Annual Military Gala & Banquet
November 9, 2007
Times: 5:30 p.m.
Location: Chateau on the Lake Resort, Spa and Convention Center
Admission: $49 a person
Cocktail hour with a cash bar begins at 5pm. Evening includes dinner, salute, candlelight POW/MIA service, outdoor fireworks, entertainment and dancing. The evening honors all veterans and this year salutes veterans and service members in the SPECIAL OPERATIONS COMMAND. Reservations required. Mess dress/business suits/cocktail dresses preferred. You need NOT be a veteran to attend.

232nd Marine Corps Birthday
November 10, 2007
Times: 9 p.m. to last call
Location: Radisson Hotel Branson
Admission: $10
Join us for birthday cake, entertainment, Hors D’oeuvres, cash bar. Casual attire please.

Tuskegee Airman Reunion
November 10, 2007
Times: 6 p.m.
Location: Chateau on the Lake Resort, Spa and Convention CenterCall for reservations.

73rd Veterans Day Parade & Ceremony
November 11, 2007
Times: 11 a.m.
Location: Historic downtown Branson
Sponsored by American Legion Post 220.

Tony Orlando Show and Closing Ceremony
November 11, 2007
Times: 2 p.m.
Location: Welk Theater

CityHopper Getaway Package for Branson, MO

Branson, Missouri is a top family destination for many reasons. The wholesome entertainment and exciting outdoor fun create the perfect vacation atmosphere. Some of the most popular things to do in Branson are visit Silver Dollar City, White Water and Celebration City. These three great parks provide family fun in the sun, no matter what time of day it is. That’s why when they’re combined they make for the perfect family getaway. In order to provide our customers with the best vacation opportunities, ReserveDirect has partnered with Silver Dollar City for a one-of-a-kind Getaway Package.

The CityHopper Getaway Package is the best value for fun for your family. The CityHopper package allows families to receive unlimited admission to Silver Dollar City, Celebration City and White Water for up to 4 days! Families can choose between a 4 Days, 3 Parks, and 3 Nights lodging for a family of four or a 3 Day, 2 Parks, and 2 nights of lodging. The 4 day package price starts at only $599! The 3 Day package price starts at $419!

The Getaway Package also allows families to choose from several great Branson hotels, including the Chateau on the Lake, Grand Oaks Hotel, Radisson Hotel and Cascades Inn. After purchasing the package, guests also receive 50% off of adult admissions for the Showboat Branson Belle and can cruise on Ride the Ducks for only $10 a person!

The CityHopper Getaway Package is your families best value! A great vacation in Branson, Missouri begins with Silver Dollar City and ReserveDirect!