The City Square with its five story Christmas Tree and the "Holiday of Lights Parade" passing through.
“How exceptional is Silver Dollar City’s ‘An Old Time Christmas?’ In 2009 it won second place in the prestigious Golden Ticket Awards in the “Christmas Event” category, placing higher than either Disney’s ‘Magic Kingdom’ or ‘Disney World,'” said Tammy Johnson, the Director of Operations for the Branson Tourism Center. She points out that it has also been recognized as one of the nation’s top Christmas celebrations and is one of the major center pieces of Branson’s celebration of Ozark Mountain Christmas. Running from November 6 through December 30, An Old Time Christmas will conclude Silver Dollar City’s season long celebration of its 50th anniversary in spectacular fashion sharing the spirit of the old time traditional Christmas with its guests.
“What a year!” said Peter Herschend, co-founder of Silver Dollar City. “We’ve laughed and cried and shared memories with thousands of people whose families have been coming to see us for 50 years. Now, with one last hurrah of the celebration, we present the brightest festival of all – and the one most steeped in family traditions,” Herschend continued.
Johnson says that An Old Time Christmas transforms the 1880s-style theme park into a glowing Christmas extravaganza with over four million sparkling lights throughout the park. The focal point of the celebration is in Silver Dollar City’s square, which is the setting for “Christmas on Main Street,” Silver Dollar City’s biggest light show ever!”
The park’s Christmas centerpiece, a 5-Story Special Effects Christmas Tree is located in the City’s Square. It comes to life each day at dusk playing Christmas music such as “Carol of the Bells, “Joy to the World,” “Suite from Polar Express” and more as its many colored Christmas lights twinkle and dance in unison with the one million plus lights of the surrounding City square area.
The “Gifts of Christmas Holiday Light Parade,” with over 100,000 lights, passes through the park twice each evening if the weather permits. Although it is a spectacular sight anywhere in the park as it passes by the Christmas Tree and its lights are combined with the lights of the tree and surrounding square it is truly a breathtaking sight.
The Christmas lights and Light Parade are just part of the joy and fun that is An Old Time Christmas. There is a variety of shows including, the Broadway style production of an original musical adaptation of “A Dickens’ Christmas Carol,” produced by Silver Dollar City; “The Living Nativity” and” Frosty.” Weather permitting and in temperatures down to 42 degrees F there are rides where you can “soar into the night” for a unique and inspiring view of the lights far below.
In addition there’s Santa Claus at Kringles Krossing, the creation of one-of-a-kind handmade gifts showcased by Silver Dollar City‘s 100 demonstrating craftsmen, and festive holiday foods offering the tastes of the season “throughout the park, including a prime rib buffet and traditional favorites such as turkey with all the fixings.” Branson Tourism Center’s Johnson said, “Factor all that in with the award winning friendliness of Silver Dollar City’s staff and spirit of the traditional Christmas that seems to permeate throughout Silver Dollar City during the event and the result is the type of inspirational special Christmas memory that could last a lifetime.”
She points out that An Old Time Christmas runs Thursdays through Sundays through December 19, plus Wednesday, November 24 and December 22-23. It is closed Christmas Eve and Christmas day and open daily December 26-30. Hours are 1:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. most days. For additional information or tickets for An Old time Christmas or any of Branson’s other shows and attractions or for lodging arrangements please contact the Branson Tourism Center (BTC), one of Branson’s largest and most respected vacation planning services. BTC can be reached by either calling their toll free number 1-800-785-1550 or through their website www.BransonTourismCenter.com.