Silver Dollar City lights up for its "An Old Time Christmas" celebration.

BRANSON, Mo., December 4, 2012 —  “Wow, Branson listed along with destinations like New York City’s Rockefeller Center; Orlando’s Disney World, and Chicago’s Magnificent Mile Lights Festival as one of America’s best places for Christmas lights,” said Tammy Johnson, the Director of Operations for the Branson Tourism Center. “What a testimony as to the quality of the Christmas lighting displays people will experience in Branson as part of Ozark Mountain Christmas,” she continued.

Johnson was referring to a recent on line article appearing on Yahoo Travel entitled America’s best places for holiday lights published on Nov. 30. The article listed Branson along with nine other places as “the best places to see holiday lights this year” and specifically referred to its three major Christmas lighting displays, Silver Dollar City’s “Old Time Christmas,” Shepherd of the Hills “Trail of Lights” and the “Branson Area Festival of Lights.”

Silver Dollar City, Branson’s oldest and most popular paid attraction, is an 1880s-styled theme park that is transformed into a glowing Christmas spectacular with over four million sparkling lights throughout the park for its Old Time Christmas Festival. Its twice nightly 100,000 light Holiday Light Parade winds through a town square and by a five-story musical Special Effects Christmas Tree adorned with over one million sparkling lights.

The Shepherd of the Hills Trail of Lights is a drive through light display located on the 160 acre Shepherd of the Hills Homestead. The unique two and a half miles has been integrated into the natural terrain of the “Trail that Nobody Knows How Old” made famous by Harold Bell Wright in his novel, “The Shepherd of the Hills,” and offers a Christmas wonderland unlike anything else anywhere in the world.

The “Branson Area Festival of Lights,” is a one-mile drive display “illuminated with more than 175 displays” that “will delight children of all ages.” It is produced by North Pole Productions and is conveniently located just a few blocks from the heart of the Branson Strip.

“And that’s just the major outdoor lighting displays and doesn’t consider the elaborate Christmas decorations at places such as ‘Branson Landing,’ ‘Big Cedar,’ ‘Chateau on the Lake’ and others as well as in theatres such as the ‘Andy Williams Moon River Theatre’ or the ‘Shoji Tabuchi Theatre,'” Johnson said. She also points out that that Christmas lights are not the only thing sparkling in Branson and that its live shows, attractions and shopping “sparkle,” day in and day out, with entertainment and excitement. For information on Branson’s lighting displays, shows, attractions, shopping or lodging call the Branson Tourism Center through their toll free number 1-800-785-1550.

Mrs. Claus ready to welcome children and their adult guests on board for the "Candy Cane Cruise."

BRANSON, Mo., December 4, 2012 — When Main Street Lake Cruises Landing Princess left her moorings at Noon on Dec. 1st she had some very special passengers on board. About 100 children, parents, grandparents and escorts joined two of Santa’s Elves and Mrs. Claus for a special Christmas experience on Branson’s very first “Candy Cane Cruise.”

Mrs. Claus personally greeted each family as they boarded the Princess and went into the main cabin of the 100 foot luxury yacht. As the Princess pulled away from the dock, Mrs. Claus came in and explained that although Santa was unable to be there for the cruise he had said that he would do all that he could to be at the Branson Landing Fountain when the boat passed by and wave. As the boat started its less than ten minute trip to the Fountain, she answered questions about the North Pole, Santa, the reindeer and other questions that the excited children asked.

Less than ten minutes after leaving the dock, as the Princess approached the Fountain, amid the excitement and hope that Santa would be there, every eye was looking for him to appear. And, sure enough, to everyone’s delight, just a few seconds after arriving at the Fountain, Santa did appear at the top of the stairway to the Fountain and waved.

Santa himself took time from his work to come and greet as the Candy Cane Cruise as it passed.

As the Princess turned to start her downstream leg of the cruise, Mrs. Claus continued answering questions and sharing her personal stories about how Santa does what he does and what goes on at the North Pole. Then everyone joined in with Mrs. Claus and the Elves in singing Christmas songs before she quieted everyone down and read them the story “The Night Before Christmas.” The rapt attention of her young audience as she read was a joy to behold.

After the story, she asked the children to write Santa Claus a letter telling him what they wanted for Christmas and told them that she would see that Santa Claus got them. As the children concentrated on writing their letters, one could almost feel the excitement in the air. It was a very special time, perhaps best summed up by Larry Milton, one of the principle owners of Main Street Lake Cruises as he said, with a big grin on his face, “This is so cool.”

As the children finished their letters they were picked up and put in a basket by one of the Elves and everyone enjoyed milk and cookies. While they were writing the letters and having the cookies and milk the children were given the opportunity to go into the bridge and steer the boat under the watchful eye of Captain Ayers.

As the Princess docked and the children left the boat, the last thing they saw leaving the cabin was the basket filled with their letter to Santa Claus that Mrs. Claus was going to deliver. Unknown to the children, Santa Claus had already “answered” their letters with a response that each of the adult guests received as they left the boat and could deliver to the children at the appropriate time. Mrs. Claus wished everyone a “Merry Christmas” and each was given a Candy Cane by one of the Elves.

Although the inaugural and remaining 2012 “Candy Cane Cruises were fully booked, they were free and offered by Main Street Lake Cruises and the Branson Tourism Center as a way of wishing the families in the Branson area a “Merry Christmas.” If the excited looks of happiness on the faces of the children and their adult guests as they left the boat were any indication they not only enjoyed their cruise and time with Mrs. Claus, but are ready to continue having a “Merry Christmas.”

Live "angel" sharing butterfly with family during "White Flight."*

BRANSON, Mo., November 25, 2012 — “It may not be the ‘White Christmas’ dreamed about in the popular song, but ‘White Flight,’ brings its own unique beautiful ‘White Christmas’ to Branson,” said Tammy Johnson, the Director of Operations for the Branson Tourism Center. Currently appearing for its sixth Christmas in Branson, “White Flight” is a unique limited engagement Christmas exhibit made up of thousands of white butterflies flying in a rain forest sparkling with thousands of lights, living angel statutes, colorful white and red poinsettias and filled with the beautiful sounds of Christmas music. It is being shown at Branson’s Butterfly Palace & Rainforest Adventure (Butterfly Palace) through January 15, 2013.

Sarah Bolend, General Manager of the Butterfly Palace, said that the thousands of white butterflies used in “White Flight” are comprised of about 20 different species of tropical white butterflies with the most common being the “Paper Kite Butterfly,” also referred to as the “Rice Paper Butterfly.” Bolend indicated that the majority of the butterflies used in White Flight, as is the case with all the exhibits at the Butterfly Palace, are shipped to them by air express in their chrysalis (cocoon) stage from tropical rain forests. After the butterfly emerges from the cocoon and its wings dry, it is released into the exhibit, aviary, where it lives out its average three week life span in a predator free environment.

“White Flight” starts in the Butterfly Palace’s theatre with the viewing of a very well filmed, interesting and exciting 15 minute movie on the life of a rain forest butterfly. After the movie the guests step from the theatre into the aviary where there is a unique opportunity to interact, “up close and personal,” with thousands of tropical rain forest butterflies. During “White Flight” the butterflies are all colored white and provide a spectacular and unique display. Bolend said that from January 16 through the start of White Flight on November 1, the display is just as spectacular, but is composed of 50-60 species of different brightly colored butterflies.

She points out that in addition to the butterflies in the aviary “White Flight” also includes the presentation of the centuries old art form of “living statutes” in the form of White Angels. As people walk through the exhibit and butterflies alight on and flutter around the angels they present a picture of angelic beauty and tranquility.

Almost imperceptibly, the statutes slowly and subtly come to life. It might be just a change in the position of a head or the extension of a hand, but it’s fascinating to watch the ability of the artist playing the angels to interact with the guests.

The aviary is decorated with a number of poinsettias and other flowers and highlighted by a large poinsettia Christmas tree that provides an excellent place to take a picture. The whole “White Flight” experience, from the thousands of White Butterflies to the living angel statutes and beautiful music, is a unique experience that the whole family will enjoy.

Branson Tourism Center’s Johnson reminds Branson visitors that “White Flight” is just one of the many special events that are part of Ozark Mountain Christmas. For additional information or tickets for “White Flight” and the Butterfly Palace & Rainforest Adventure, Ozark Mountain Christmas or any of Branson’s other shows and attractions or for lodging arrangements please contact the Branson Tourism Center one of Branson’s largest and most respected vacation planning services by calling 800-785-1550.

*Courtesy  Butterfly Palace & Rainforest Adventure