Branson is a great place to visit at any time of the year, but we think it’s a magical place to be during the Christmas season. There are so many things you can do with family and friends and we’ve made you a list of our top 12 favorites.’
1. Silver Dollar City / An Old Time Christmas
At Silver Dollar City, you can see over 6.5 million Christmas lights and 70,000 square feet of breathtaking holiday scenes. Christmas in Midtown has animated reindeer, stars, snowflakes, three light tunnels, two 40-foot moving trains, and a 90-foot Christmas tree. Every night during the festival, Rudolph’s Holly Jolly Christmas Light Parade floats through the park.
2. Dolly Parton’s Stampede Christmas Show
Dolly Parton’s Stampede Christmas show is famous for its live Nativity scenes. You can see the true meaning of Christmas right before your eyes as the three kings ride camels to Bethlehem. In addition, angels will amaze and inspire audiences of all ages with their stunning beauty.
You’ll fall in love with the fun and excitement of the grand performances during Dolly Parton’s Stampede in Branson this holiday season! Get in the holiday spirit with Dolly Parton’s Stampede!
3. North Pole Adventure at Shepherd of the Hills
Celebrate this season of Christmas at North Pole Adventure. This magical walk-through experience takes you on a journey through thousands of twinkling lights, a visit with Santa Clause, Christmas family activities, and over a mile-long hayride through a portion of the Trail of Lights and our farm (NEW)! Make it a family tradition this Christmas Season at the North Pole Adventure, only at Shepherd of the Hills.
4. Holiday Dining
Branson is the perfect place to enjoy a Holiday meal with family and friends. Many businesses are closed for the holidays, but some restaurants offer regular and Christmas options. Click here for a list of restaurants open on Christmas Eve and Christmas.
5. Drive Thru Christmas Lights
It’s impossible not to feel the magic of a Branson Christmas. Christmas lights are the perfect way to enjoy the holiday season. Christmas lights can be seen in a variety of places in Branson. Here are our favorites.
“Lights of Joy” is a drive-through Christmas Light display using super bright, all-LED lights. Over 300 displays will be featured that will remind you that nowhere else celebrates Christmas like Branson, and we never forget the reason for the season. Celebrate by hearing the story of the birth of Christ set to synchronized lights, and don’t forget to look for Noah’s ark!
Branson’s “Trail of Lights” at the Shepherd of the Hills Homestead is a favorite visitor tradition! Displays that run from touchingly subtle to elaborate and exciting, using traditional to contemporary themes, brilliant lights, delightful animation, and your favorite holiday music… keep visitors returning year and year! Religious, patriotic, humorous, and Victorian themes can be found throughout the two-and-a-half-mile annual holiday display. It was winding through the historic Shepherd of the Hills Homestead.
6. American’s Christmas Tree Tour
This 2022 season, Branson will feature over 700 colorful, unique, and creative trees in all shapes, sizes, and colors (not counting the more than 1,000 trees at Silver Dollar City!).
There are traditional evergreens adorned with lights, tinsel, and ornaments, dancing trees of lights, naturally growing trees ablaze in color, and creative trees made out of go-kart tires, wine bottles, and library books.
7. Christmas Show on the Branson Showboat Belle
The Showboat Branson Belle’s Christmas Show features an all-star cast of entertainers in a spectacular variety show featuring singing, dancing, and more festive family fun. Your experience includes a delicious three-course meal prepared fresh in the ship’s galley and gorgeous views from all three decks of the 1890s-style paddle-wheeler.
8. Branson Landing / Wonderlanding
Branson Landing transforms into Winter WonderLanding during the holiday season with a spectacular animated 63′ Christmas Tree in Town Square, music, décor, and more. Make sure to visit the Branson Landing Fountain, the show is presented hourly on the hour starting at noon each day. Even during daylight hours, it is truly amazing to see and hear the bursts from the vertical ” fire canons” coordinated with fountains shooting geysers of water up to 120 feet in the air all musically choreographed, but add darkness and the lights and it becomes spectacular.
Monday–Saturday Fountain Schedule
9. Branson’s Best Christmas Shows
It’s a magical time of year anywhere, but Branson Christmas Shows are especially magical. It’s Christmas everywhere in Branson, with twinkling lights illuminating every corner and every show in Branson. You still have time to see your favorite Christmas show before December 31st.
10. Branson Ferris Wheel
Gather your family at an outdoor, real ice skating rink during Christmas. From mid-November until New Year’s Day, The Track Family Fun Parks will operate a 7,200-square-foot ice rink in partnership with The Holidays on Ice. The Branson Ferris Wheel and the new “United We Stand” community Christmas tree display are nearby.
11. Visit the Titanic Museum
The Titanic Museum Attraction is not simply a museum; it’s an interactive attraction, telling the stories of those who made the famous voyage, a trip that has fascinated the world for more than a century.
Join the Titanic crew for a greeting or admire the sparkling lights and festive decorations. The Titanic Gift Shop will be open every day, including free public access to hundreds of unique Titanic Christmas gift ideas and collectibles.
12. Branson Limousine Christmas Light Tour
Branson Limousine Christmas Light Tours lets you see the season’s lights in comfort and style! Have a professional chauffeur escort you around town while you relax in the comfort of a luxury limousine, sedan, or SUV.
The Christmas light tour of Branson includes the “Joy of Lights” drive-thru, Christmas Coalition area trees, Downtown Branson, Downtown Hollister, and the Big Cedar Lodge “Winter Wonderland.” The 2-hour Tour is from 6:00-8:00 p.m. or 8:30-10:30 p.m. from now to December 30. Tour includes a professional chauffeur, Christmas music, candy canes, and sparkling cider in all vehicles except executive vans.
For more information on Christmas in Branson, click here.
