Here’s the thing about the Ozark Mountains – they’re consummately convenient, laid back and lovely, especially this time of year. Branson is the entertainment epicenter of the region, a small town that attracts some of the biggest acts in the music business.
Here’s a seasonal sampling of some of the shows and sojourns Branson is serving up:
– Through Dec. 8 the Andy Williams Christmas Show keeps a 21-year tradition going, this even though Williams himself died earlier this year. The show sports spectacular sets, dancers and a full orchestra – as well as a video tribute to Williams. All of this is presented in the Andy Williams Moon River Theatre.
– Luminaries Larry Gatlin and The Gatlin Brothers team up with Debby Boone at the Mansion Theater, while over at the Welk Resort Theater folks will get a chance to see Tony Orlando’s Great American Christmas. At the Starlite Theater it’s The Bellamy Brothers Tropical Christmas and Rory’s Farmhouse Christmas.
– If it’s lights you’re after check out Silver Dollar City’s An Old Time Christmas. Through Dec. 30 see how they’ve arrayed some four million lights (that’s 350 miles, guys). Those lights help decorate more than 1,0000 Christmas Trees, as well as a five-story “special effects” tree.
– Break away from downtown and head out for more luminosity. The Shepherd of the Hills Trail of Lights makes its way through an historic 160-acre homestead.
Getting to Branson these days is easy. They’ve got a new airport, one that reflects the tone and tenor of the place the moment you get off the airplane. According to OAG, AirTran offers nonstop service to Branson from Atlanta, Chicago Midway and Houston Hobby. Frontier Airlines also files nonstop to the mountain resort out of its Denver International hub.
(Featured image: doug_wertman)
