IT'S CHRISTMAS AT SILVER DOLLAR CITY

I usually don't like to see anything "Christmasy" until after Thanksgiving, but the shows in Branson shut down by the 10th of December so the performers can have time with their families during the Christmas season.  Because of all the Christmas shows and lights, this is one of the biggest tourist seasons in Branson.  However, most tourists stay pretty close to home or family the closer it gets to Christmas.  That means you have to have all the Christmas shows and lights when the tourist will come. So, Christmas happens early at Silver Dollar City.  As a matter of fact, it happens early in all of Branson and it starts November 1st.  

 

This is the first year that I have stayed in Branson late enough to see all the Christmas magic around town.  Christmas shows have started, light trails have appeared, city lights on all the properties around town have turned on, but Silver Dollar City is probably the best of all.  It truly is a festival of lights and music.

The park opened at 1:00 and we were there when it opened.

Our long time friends, Mickey and James, went with us.

 

Mr. W and I visiting with Frosty and friends. Baby, it's cold outside!

These lights got much prettier when the sun went down.

There are many Christmas shows happening at Silver Dollar City.  The two main shows are "A Christmas Carol" and "It's A Wonderful Life."  Both are done in their 2 largest venues for shows.  That's a good thing because the lines get really long with everyone wanting to see each show.  Both are Broadway type shows and both were very well done.  I'm not sure how I managed it, but I got in line each time and got in the very next show at each location.  I had prepared myself to stand in long lines and waiting for a long time but it didn't happen. Yippee!

The town people

Mr. Scrooge with the town people
(Scrooge had an unbelievable singing voice.)

Mr. Scrooge gets a visit from the ghost of Christmas past

Tiny Tim and Bob Cratchett
Mr. Scrooge looking on with the ghost of Christmas present.

Happy ending! God bless us everyone!

We left A Christmas Carol and wanted to go to one of the smaller shows, FaLaLaLa Follies but the line was incredibly long and one of the workers told us that we would not get in and would do better to go see something else and come back to a later show.  So we headed over to see It's A Wonderful Life.  The line was forming so we got in line and thought we would be standing there about 45 minutes.  One of the workers came by and said they were going to open the doors in 20 minutes and start seating everyone.  It went by pretty quickly.

When George and Mary fall in love

The head angel is sending Clarence down to earth to try to earn his wings.

Mean Mr. Potter

Clarence and George drying off after George saved Clarence after Clarence jumped off the bridge to keep George from jumping. (That could get confusing!)

George and Mary and all the townspeople who came to help George when George returns after seeing what life would have been like if he had never been born.

Clarence got his wings and all is well in Bedford Falls.

When this show was over and I walked outside, it was getting dark.  The park's lights were really coming to life.  It is hard to describe how beautiful everything looked and just how many lights there were on each street.  They start putting lights up on August 1st and complete everything on October 31st.  They put up 5-million lights.  Can you even imagine 5-million lights?  You guys out there should no longer complain to your wives about putting a few lights on your house each year!

Here are a few pics throughout Silver Dollar City.

At 6:00 and at 8:00 there is an electric light parade.  It goes through the entire park in a big loop. The parade is being led by none other than the leader of all the reindeer, Rudolph.

Frosty

What kind of light parade would it be without Santa?

Real live elves  in a snowglobe

 

The Silver Dollar City railroad was running their train.  You can see a lot of the lights as you ride the train through the park.  Midway through the ride, the train stopped in the woods and "Grandpa" told the Christmas story straight from the Gospel of Luke.  It is a glorious story.  As a Christian, I am so glad that Branson doesn't do things "politically correct."  The performers/shows, merchants, signs, etc., speak very openly and unashamedly about Jesus being the reason for the season.  Can I get an amen?!?

After the train ride, I made my way back to the front to see the "dancing" Christmas tree.  This is a tree that the lights change color and blink and chase around the tree to the beat of music.  I could sit and watch this for hours.  They only play the lights and music for 2 songs every 20 to 30 minutes.

After the tree, it was time to leave.  The park stayed open until 9:00 but it was C-O-L-D and I was ready to go around 7:15.  If you ever get the chance, go see the lights at Silver Dollar City.  It is beautiful and really is a wonderland. On Thursdays, you can get a one day ticket for $30.  The rides are all still running and all the shops are open.  That's a good value for all you get.

Merry Christmas to all and to all a goodnight!

A few more pics: