Holiday travel can be magical, and there are so many great reasons to visit Branson, Missouri, during the Christmas season.
I’ve been lucky enough to spend part of Thanksgiving week in Branson several times. Fortunately, the city and attractions are already decked out for the Christmas season during Thanksgiving. Seasonal activities begin around the first of November and wrap up at the end of the first week of January. So there’s plenty of time to experience all of the great things to do there!
An Old Time Christmas at Silver Dollar City
One of the best reasons to visit Branson in the Christmas season is enjoying all that An Old Time Christmas at Silver Dollar City has to offer. The theme park is decked out with classic decorations. It really comes alive at night with 6.5 million lights draped over every structure in the park. The feature Christmas tree is eight stories and has thousands of lights creating images and patterns on the tree set to music.
Shows
In addition, there are wonderful holiday themed shows. Two Broadway quality musicals are offered, A Dickens’ Christmas Carol and Coming Home for Christmas. They are both about an hour each and free with park admission. Make sure to arrive about 30 minutes prior to showtime to get a seat. In addition, there’s a 15 minute Living Nativity presenting a musical version of the story of Jesus’ birth. Visit the Old West for the holidays with Frontier Fa-La-La Follies, a 30 minute variety show featuring singing, dancing, and comedic acts.
Music
Christmas music fills the park with the Homestead Pickers playing bluegrass-style Christmas music and various musical acts performing in the gazebo. And you can get into the action yourself by taking a ride on the Sing-Along Steam Train as it chugs around the park.
Characters
Get into the holiday spirit by meeting Rudolf the Red-Nosed Reindeer, Bumble the Abominable Snowman, as well as the big guy Santa himself! Then stay late for Rudolf’s Holly Jolly Christmas Light Parade to see these characters and others in their very own illuminated and musical floats.
All of this is in addition to everything that is usually offered at Silver Dollar City. The park features more than 40 rides and attractions, resident craftsmen doing demonstrations, unique shops for all of your Christmas needs, and delicious restaurants. You can even tour the park’s original attraction, the limestone Marvel Cave.
Christmas Shows
Branson is the home of 40 theaters featuring around 100 live shows. Many of these will feature special holiday productions. Here are some highlights:
- Dolly Parton’s Stampede Christmas Show – enjoy a four-course meal while a cast of human and equine characters sing, dance, trot, and celebrate the Christmas season in style. Choose whether you are rooting for the North or South Pole elves and cheer them on in the games. Santa may just show up to settle the score!
- Sight & Sound Theaters’ Miracle of Christmas – this state-of-the-art theater brings the Christmas story to life complete with a large cast, live animals, spectacular special effects, and original and classic Christmas music.
- Christmas Wonderland – this holiday extravaganza features singers, dancers, musicians, and other performers dressed in elaborate costumes. They perform both traditional and contemporary Christmas songs in carefully crafted sets.
- Snowboat Branson Belle Christmas Cruise – take a lunch or dinner cruise on a classic paddleboat along the Mississippi River. Enjoy delicious food while you are entertained by singers, dancers, and a four-piece band performing classic Christmas carols.
Drive- & Walk-Through Christmas Displays
There’s no shortage of holiday spirit in Branson. The city has over 1,500 Christmas trees decorating every nook and cranny. There are several drive-through light displays in the city. Lights of Joy features 250 towering LED light displays over 1.5 miles. Crowd favorites include a tunnel of light, nativity scene, and Santa’s appearance on weekends.
The Trail of Lights winds through the 160 acre Shepherd of the Hills Homestead. The homestead also has a North Pole Adventure walk-through experience featuring visits with Santa and a hayride. Round out your visit with one of Shepherd’s Christmas shows or a horse-drawn carriage ride.
Polar Express
During the Christmas Season, the Branson Scenic Railway transforms into the Polar Express. Board the train and enjoy cookies and hot chocolate as you listen to the story of the Polar Express. Once you reach the North Pole, Santa boards the train and gives each passenger a gift. Make sure to wear you favorite Christmas jammies!
Winter Sports
While there’s not likely to be much snow in Branson around Christmas, you can still take part in some fun winter sports during your visit. Bundle up for ice skating in a 72 x 100 foot oval rink. This is the same size as the rink in Rockefeller Center in New York City. It’s located adjacent to the Branson Ferris wheel. If you skate at night, you will be wowed by the 16,000 LED lights on the Ferris wheel and nearby community Christmas trees.
If ice skating isn’t your thing, you can check out Snowflex tubing at Wolf Mountain. Snowflex is fake snow made of polymer composite. You can tube down the Wolf Mountain slope covered in Snowflex no matter what the weather is outside. Best of all, it’s not cold and is softer than regular snow when you inevitably fall out of your tube!
Christmas Shopping
Branson is a terrific place to shop for everyone on your list. Artisans at Silver Dollar City create everything from baskets to pottery to handblown glass. You can find something everyone will love. Want more trendy gifts? All of your favorite stores are at Tanger Outlets, and the deals are amazing. If you happen to be in Branson on Black Friday, make sure you stop by for phenomenal sales.
Not sure what to get someone? You will find something at Dick’s 5&10. This store is packed with everything you might want. It also has plenty of things you didn’t know you needed until you saw it!
And you can buy Christmas decor for others and yourself at Kringles Christmas Shop. It’s open year-round! It is right across from Mel’s Hardluck Diner. Stop in for some delicious desserts and to enjoy the singing waiters.
What’s your favorite thing to do in Branson at Christmas?
Tell us below! And check out our other posts about great Christmas travels: Cruising, New York City, and Walt Disney World.