It truly is the most wonderful time of the year, and what better place to celebrate it with your group than in Branson, Missouri, a destination named one of the top five Christmas Destinations in the country by ABC's Good Morning America.
With so many options of things to do, see, and eat during Christmastime in Ozark Mountain Country, how will you know where to start? No worries, we have all the information you are going to need to start planning your trip today!
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Christmas Shows
Regardless of the season, Branson is very well-known for the selection of live Broadway-style shows and musicals, and Christmastime is no exception! Some of the season's most popular shows include the following: Miracle of Christmas at Sight and Sound Theatre, Andy Williams Ozark Mountain Christmas Show, A Brett Family Christmas, Dolly Parton's Stampede Christmas Dinner & Show, A Dickens' Christmas Carol at Silver Dollar City, It's a Wonderful Life at Silver Dollar City, The Texas Tenors "Deep in the Heart of Christmas" Show, Legends in Concert Christmas Spectacular, and Oak Ridge Boys Christmas.
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Silver Dollar City's Old Time Christmas
Silver Dollar City is undoubtedly the king of Christmas here in Branson, this theme park proclaimed as 'the most illuminated park on earth'. See over 6.5 million lights on display, as well as over 1,000 trees, as you explore the shows, shopping, and food of the Old Time Christmas. In 2007 ABC's Good Morning America named this entire spectacle, which lasts from November 2nd to New Years Day, one of the Top 5 Holiday Events in the Country. Silver Dollar City hosts 2 Broadway Style musicals, as mentioned above, a Christmas themed showboat cruise, an onsite parade (Rudolph's Holly Jolly Christmas Light Parade), and the much-adored Christmas in Midtown Light Spectacular.
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American Christmas Tree City Tour
See over 500 of the areas largest and most interesting Christmas tree displays with the American Christmas Tree City Tour, one of the most impressive collections of uniquely decorated trees in the entire country. In 2018 there were nearly 700 trees displayed in more than 90 locations, not including the 1,000 at Silver Dollar City. To see an interactive map of the locations of the trees this season and get more detailed info on each, click here.
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Christmas Parades
There will be no shortage of Christmas parade fun throughout Branson during the holiday season, with three major events to consider during your visit: The Most Wonderful Time of the Year Parade (the first week of November at Branson Landing), the Branson Adoration Parade (December 1st, Downtown after annual lighting of the largest area nativity scene at dusk), and Silver Dollar City's Rudolph's Holly Jolly Christmas Light Parade (nightly at 6 and 8 pm through park).
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Snow Tubing at Wolfe Mountain
Wolfe Mountain in Branson features ziplining and a fairly new Snowflex Synthetic Snow Tubing Hill, the latter enjoyable year-round and open to all ages. The hill features a 400-foot slope and has enough girth to allow 6 tubes to go down at once. This is a more adventurous way to celebrate the season, and if you are lucky it will snow during your visit, making the hill even more authentic!
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Polar Express Train Ride
The Branson Scenic Railway features a special holiday train ride each Christmas season, during the weekends in November and most weekdays in December. The Polar Express Train Ride comes complete with a reading of the book, music from the soundtrack, holiday treats like hot cocoa and cookies, and likely some scenic snowy views of the Ozark landscape.
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Drive-Thru Light Displays
If Christmas lights are what you most desire this holiday season, then Branson is most definitely the right spot to be! Each year the city offers several different major drive-thru light displays, the largest and most-attended being Let There be Light at the Promised Land Zoo, Branson's Gift of Lights, and Trail of Lights at Shepherd of the Hills. There will be a bonus of live reindeer at the Promised Land Zoo as well.
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Christmas on the Showboat Branson Belle
As mentioned before, Silver Dollar City's Showboat Branson Belle offers special holiday cruises during the Christmas season as well. Enjoy a 3-course holiday feast, live entertainment, and, of course, Santa! Each Saturday and Sunday morning during the holiday season there is also the Santa's Pancakes and PJ's cruise option, perfect for the kiddos!
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Winter Wonderlanding
The Branson Landing transforms into a literal Winter Wonderland beginning on November 1st each season, the popular entertainment district boasting holiday lights, reindeer sculptures, a 50 foot Christmas tree centerpiece, regular live performances, and a multitude of holiday-themed shopping and dining options. You will also be able to visit Santa at the Christmas Tree House from November 3rd to December 24th!
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Gingerbread Village at Chateau on the Lake
Enter a real-life gingerbread village at Chateau on the Lake, this hotel lobby transforming into a dreamy candy paradise from early November to Christmas each season. This Branson tradition takes weeks of work and is lead by chef Doug Knopp and several volunteers. The end product features a mostly edible village consisting of 4 storefronts, two houses, and a church each standing at about 3 feet tall. Fun Fact: the display includes over 330 pounds of powdered sugar, 120 pounds of egg whites, and 600 pounds of various candies and treats.
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