Christmas in Branson leads into “Hot Winter Fun”
By Carolyn Olson
If you’re still looking for a great place to enjoy the holidays, try Branson, an easy, four-hour drive from St. Louis. It’s also a pleasant bus ride for groups making a trip to this Southwest Missouri tourist community.
And if you miss the holiday activities, Branson celebrates winter with events in January, February and March in what is known as “Hot Winter Fun.”
Because snowfall is infrequent (relatively light and short-lived) in Branson, tourism officials report temperatures rise into the 50s, enabling visitors to play golf, visit indoor attractions and museums and fish in the area’s three lakes. Rates at lodges and resorts also can be discounted.
But back to the Christmas season.
Branson put on its holiday finery in the beginning of November, and the Christmas celebration continues at most shows through mid-December. Others attractions, such as Silver Dollar City’s Old Time Christmas, continues through Dec. 30, as do three drive-through holiday lighting displays: the Branson Area Festival of Lights Drive-Through, the Enchanted Forest on Indian Point Road and the Trail of Lights at Shepherded of the Hills.
Silver Dollar City’s Holiday Light Parade has millions of twinkling lights, as does Branson Landing (the outdoor shopping mall along Lake Taneycomo), downtown Branson and nearby Hollister.
On Nov. 15, the official national Christmas tree arrived in Branson for a two-day visit on its way to the nation’s capitol. The 138-year-old sub-Alpine Fir – or Rocky Mountain Fir – left Montana’s Bitterroot National Forest 11 days before arriving in Branson. It was about 100 feet tall when felled, and 77 feet when transported. It was scheduled to be officially lighted on Dec. 2 in front of the U.S. Capitol.
On Dec. 7, Branson celebrates its 60th Adoration parade and Lighting Ceremony along a two-mile parade route in Historic Downtown Branson and Branson Landing. The parade celebrates the religious meaning of Christmas.
Most of the “big-name” shows run until mid-December and a few return for end-of-the-year programs celebrating the New Year. The Showboat Branson Belle sails until Dec. 31.
When the holidays are over, cool, crisp weather in early winter makes outdoor activities appealing to Branson visitors. Fishing, hiking, camping and other activities offer year-round sports opportunities. Table Rock Lake, Lake Taneycomo and Bull Shoals Lake never freeze and they have bass, trout and crappie along with boating and other water activities. Branson also has 13 golf courses that are open most days.
Silver Dollar City opens for the season with Spring Break Days on March 19-22, March 26-27 and March 29. Celebration City, which had been open for five years, closed in October and won’t reopen for the 2009 season. White Water, a water park that is part of the Silver Dollar City “family,” will open in May.
Shows that will be open for “How Winter Fun “ are: #1 Hits of the 60’s, 50’s at the Hop, Dixieland Breakfast Show, Hughes Brothers Show, Joey Riley Music Comedy Revue, Legends in Concert and the Magnificent Seven Variety Show.
Other attractions open include the IMAX theater, Ripleys Believe It or Not Odditorium, Roy Rogers-Dale Evans Happy Trails Theater, Stone Hill Winery and the Titanic Museum.
Some of Branson’s shows will move to new locations in 2009; Andy Williams will take off some time to complete his autobiography and do a book tour.He’ll return to his Moon River Theater Sept. 1 for his 17th season in Branson. The headliners at his theater from April 21 to Aug. 29 will be the Righteous Brothers’ Bill Medley, Paul Revere and the Raiders and Bill Haley’s Original Comets. Williams will be back in September for the Andy Williams All-Star Variety Show; his Christmas show is from Nov. 2-Dec. 7.
On Feb. 12, RFD-TV Theatre will host the 13th Annual Hot Winter Fun Big Show with segments of shows that are open in February and March, plus throughout the year. Entertainers expected to perform include Jim Stafford,Doug Gabriel, Baldknobbers, and the cast of Legends in Concert, Comedy Jamboree, Celebrate America and the White House Theater.
“Hot Winter Fun” was officially organized in 1994 to give Branson visitors a year-round vacation destination. Ross Summers, president and CEO of the Branson/Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce and Convention & Visitors Bureau, explained, “Hot Winter Fun has proven to be very successful. Over the past 13 years, visitor numbers have increased during the winter months. Many visitors have discovered that they can find a great vacation here any time of the year.”