“What a well deserved honor,” said Tammy Johnson, the Director of Operations for the Branson Tourism Center when she learned that a lighting display of Silver Dollar City’s An Old Time Christmas had been highlighted as one of the “10 Best Christmas Light Displays in the US” by AOL. She continued, “When you are on a select list with the likes of Rockefeller Center in New York, Disney’s Hollywood Studios in Orlando and the National Christmas Tree it reflects just how special the lighting at Old Time Christmas really is.”
She points out that this is at least the second year in a row where Silver Dollar City has received national recognition for its Old Time Christmas lighting displays. Last year, the award winning 1880s themed park won second place in the prestigious Golden Ticket Awards in the “Christmas Event” category, placing higher than either Disney’s ‘Magic Kingdom’ or ‘Disneyland?’ It also won first place in the “Friendliest Park Staff” category and second place in the “Best Food” category.
Although the parks celebration of Old Time Christmas is a Christmas Festival with shows, craftsmen, rides (weather permitting,) food and all the fun and excitement Silver Dollar City is known for, its millions of decorative Christmas lights and lighting displays are special. Johnson said, “Over four million sparkling lights, transform the park into a glowing Christmas spectacle.”
“The focal point,” she says, “Is the City Square and its five story tall Special Effects Christmas Tree. Each day at dusk it comes to life 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 choreographed unison blend into 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.
Johnson says that visitors to Branson and Ozark Mountain Christmas will be able to enjoy An Old Time Christmas Thursdays through Sundays through December 19, plus December 22-23 and from December 26-30. Hours are 1:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. most days. For additional information, specific hours 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.