These five Christmas celebrations in Branson are some of my favorites. Each is fresh and fun. All five are worth a repeat performance if you’ve celebrated Christmas in the Ozarks before.
Dolly Parton's Dixie Stampede Dinner & Christmas Show includes a living nativity.
1. Dolly Parton’s Dixie Stampede Dinner & Christmas Show – The performance of Dolly Parton’s Dixie Stampede Dinner & Show combines the best of Branson Christmas traditions at Dixie Stampede. It’s a big production and a lively Christmas pageant of a show. You will get your money’s worth for this dinner and a show fit for a holiday celebration.
Elves from the North Pole and the South Pole will wage friendly competition as they serve you a “finger lickin” good four course meal. Finger lickin means no silverware provided. You will be eating all four courses using your hands only.
Snow falls on the arena’s twinkling lights, evergreens, poinsettias, and dusts the riders who wear old-fashioned holiday attire. Traditional music fills the air as a live nativity scene, complete with three kings riding atop real camels on their way to Bethlehem, brings you with the true holiday spirit. Heavenly angels will stun you with their beauty as they descend from up above.
‘Ole St. Nick arrives in a traditional sleigh of toys to join the entire cast and 32 magnificent horses on a holiday nostalgic adventure that the whole family will treasure.
Dolly Parton’s Branson Dixie Stampede Dinner & Show, 1525 W 76 Country Blvd, Branson, MO 65616, phone: 417-823-8645, Toll-Free: 1-800-987-6298
Show lasts approximately 2 hours. Pre-show starts approximately 50 minutes before the show, cameras and video cameras are only permitted before and after the show, handicap accessible
Janie, the first class maid, prepares for a Titanic Christmas.
2. Titanic Christmas Celebration – the ship is aglow with glittering lights, festive decorations. Meet Santa and come pet two of his special reindeer at the Titanic and get your picture taken. Santa and his reindeer will be at the Titanic November 24, 25, 26 and December 2, 3 and December 9, 10. Don’t miss this opportunity to see real reindeer and the Jolly ‘Ole Elf Himself.
The Titanic Gift Shop will be open every day with hundreds of unique Titanic Christmas gift ideas and collectibles. Titanic-The World’s Largest Museum Attraction , 3235 76 Country Blvd & Hwy 165, tickets: 417/334-9500 Information: toll free: 800/381-7670.
3. The Shoji Tabuchi Christmas Show – Hear the delightful sounds of Christmas during this always fresh holiday performance. Shoji will play Christmas favorites while surrounded by dancing reindeer or toy soldiers, among many holiday characters. If you’ve seen the Shoji Tabuchi show before, the Christmas Show is worth another visit.
You will laugh out loud as children from the audience are brought on stage to join in the festivities. The Sugar Plum Fairy appears for a special not-to-be-missed performance. All the singers and dancers at the Shoji Tabuchi Christmas Show will put everyone in the audience in the Christmas mood. Shoji Tabuchi is an outstanding entertainer, his high energy cast of singers and dancers are the best.
Shoji Tabuchi Show, 3260 Shepherd of the Hills Expressway, Branson, MO 65616, Phone: 417-823-8645, Toll-Free: 1-800-987-6298. Check the website for the holiday schedule. Show lasts about 2 hours, Cameras and Video Cameras Are Not Permitted During Performance, Theater is Handicap Accessible.
Perhaps no other Branson theatre is so noted for the finely decorated restrooms as the Shoji Tabuchi theatre. The men’s room offers a billiard table, fireplace and leather seats. The ladies’ room boasts fresh orchids at each onyx and granite sinks with faucets made of gold, a ceiling that is a reproduction from the 1890’s Empire Period with chandelier. Really.
4. Branson Area Festival of Lights is the kind of event that becomes a Christmas time family tradition. The Festival of Lights Drive-Through is a magical one-mile drive illuminated with more than 175 displays. Located off Shepherd of the Hills Expressway and Roark Valley Road.
Open daily now through Jan. 2, 2012, from dusk until 11 p.m. Price for admission starts from $12 for family Vehicles. Explore Branson.com has a $2 off coupon and a printable map.
Branson Area Christmas Light Tours – If you have never splurged on a limousine ride, this may be the time. Sit back and enjoy some sparkling cider while listening to your favorite Christmas music in a warm and luxurious limousine. The 2-hour limo ride through the sparkles and twinkles of thousands of lights (6-8 pm or 8:30-10:30 pm) is available now through December 31. Prices start at $130.00 for a 4 Passenger Luxury Sedan.
Drive through over a mile of Christmas displays, or reserve a limo for a 2 hour tour.
Branson Limousine and Executive Charter, Inc. Make reservations online Branson Limo Service.com reservations.html or phone: 417-331-1316. Branson Limo also has gift certificates and is taking reservations for Christmas and New Years.
Branson Alert:
5. Andy Williams Christmas Show – Andy Williams will not make a live appearance in his Christmas Show this season. He has bladder cancer and is undergoing treatment and chemotherapy.
Andy’s show will include The Lennon Sisters, Oh What A Night! Quartet, The Lennon Brothers with Gail Lennon, Mike Cathcart, The Warnocks, Pasha & Aliona, Dean Church and Bob
Anderson will be featured in the Andy Williams Christmas Show, through December 10, 2011.
Andy Williams Christmas
I have not seen this revised show. But I have seen several of these performers and it is sure to be a holiday show to remember.
Andy Williams Show , 2500 W 76 Country Blvd, Branson, Missouri 65616, Phone: 417-823-8645, Toll-Free: 1-800-987-6298
Andy plans to return for the 2012 season to celebrate his 75th year of entertainment. I’m looking forward to it.
Branson, Missouri USA has more seats than Broadway and is known as The Live Music Capitol of the world. Please share your Branson holiday favorites in the comments below.
All photos: Branson CVB
