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A Very, Merry Branson Christmas!
Christmas Surprises Are Everywhere in Branson
by Pat Lindsey
It’s that wonderful time of the year and if you’re not ready for the holidays, just visit Branson and Silver Dollar City. Every shop, theater, and restaurant is already decked out in their holiday best.
Even though my husband and I have been to Branson many times, we never run out of things to do and places to go. There are always new shows and entertainment venues and we never know when we’re going to be surprised by something or someone.
On our most recent trip the first weekend in November, I got the best surprise ever–a hug and a selfie with actor Dennis Quaid! He was in Branson to do a one-night show at the Majestic Theater with his band, The Sharks, and he made a surprise visit to the crowd gathered for a tree lighting in Liberty Square. He was even kind enough to let my husband get into a second photo with us! That set the tone for a phenomenal weekend.
Andy Williams Tradition Lives on
The show ticket in Branson that is sure to give you Christmas spirit is Andy Williams’ Christmas Extravaganza Hosted by Jimmy Osmond of the Osmonds, it stars The Fifth Dimension, the Lennon Sisters, and Rick Thomas Illusionist. There are also special performances by ventriloquist Steve Hewlett, incredible dancing by Pasha and Ilona, gorgeous vocals by 20 year-old Charlie Green, and music by The Moon River Band and the Andy Williams Singers and Dancers throughout the show.
The entire production is reminiscent of Andy Williams’ televised holiday variety show that families across America looked forward to every year. And, even though we lost Andy a couple of years ago, his legacy lives on in his Moon River Performing Arts Center & Theater. Videos of Andy and his guests during past holiday shows are shown on large screens on both sides of the theater intermittently throughout the extravaganza.
If laughter is good for the soul, this is a soulful experience. The five members of the Fifth Dimension sound as good as they did when “Aquarius” and “Wedding Bell Blues” were playing regularly on the radio. And Steve Hewlett and Rick Thomas keep the audience laughing with ventriloquism, illusion, and audience participation.
Rick Thomas had us spellbound when he crushed a gentleman’s watch and later pulled it out of a pouch in perfect condition, but even from the third row, we could not figure out how Ilona made costume changes in the blink of an eye while her husband, Pasha, gracefully twirled her around the stage during their beautiful ballroom dances.
The Lennon Sisters (and Lennon granddaughters) did not perform on opening night when we attended, but they will appear in the show on other nights.
For ticket information, call 417-334-4500 for visit: www.andywilliamspac.com.
As we left the theater, the mellow sounds of Andy Williams’ unique voice were ringing in our ears and we were filled with memories of Christmases gone by. It was a wonderful way to begin our holidays and feel comforted to know that Andy’s legacy continues.
Our next and final stop for the evening was the festively decorated Hilton Branson Convention Center on Branson Landing, where we had a lovely room overlooking the train depot. If we hadn’t had such a long day, we would have joined the fun in the hotel’s lounge or walked through the landing to enjoy a glass of wine or sing to dueling pianos.
The landing’s nightlife is a welcome change from several years ago when it was difficult to find anything open in Branson after 10 p.m. The abundant shopping, dining, and nightlife on Branson Landing and in Old Downtown Branson was beckoning me, but that will have to be put on hold until our next trip.
As we neared the end of our Christmas Celebration in Branson we just had to say, “Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night!” For a complete list of Branson shows and events: explorebranson.com.
