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Branson Landing Night Lights

BY BOB LINDSEY

With all the excitement of the World Series celebration over, it was only a short drive and a few days later with normal fall weather and it was time for the holidays, Branson-style.

The Branson media extended weekend featured all the usual local Celebes and entertainers, plus new shows and attractions geared for the entire family. They are promoting this “fifth season” as the biggest and best in Branson history. Although we were only able to stay for two days, it was enough time to appreciate an early Christmas experience.

Most of the big shows start their holiday entertainment the first week of November and many conclude in early or mid-December. We try to see something new each visit down here but there are always old favorites you enjoy over and over such as the lights and shows of Silver Dollar City for the holidays.

The Circle B Chuckwagon & Cowboy Music Show is a newcomer to Branson, but like many of the others this is a family production. And production it is, as the Horn family performs, cooks and serves a tempting brisket and sausage dinner with all the cowboy side dishes. The Horns arrived two years ago from the Black Hills of South Dakota where they’ve had a successful cowboy dinner and show for the past ten years. They call their Branson troupe “The Riders of the Circle B” and let you know up front that their music is western, not country. The songs are more in the Dale Evans and Roy Rogers mold. (They even show some of those old black and white cowboy movies as part of the pre-show).
The Duttons have a web site at www.circlebchuckwaon.com or phone (800) 678-6179

The Duttons is a Branson music family show with mom and dad Dutton and their talented grown children. They specialize in, what else: the fiddle or violin and can they ever play the string instruments. Not just fiddles, but banjos, guitars, the bow fiddle and others. Each family member has won individual accolades and one brother is a U.S. dance champion. Watch for the 17 grandchildren who get into the act. The Duttons have expanded their operation with the Dutton Deli and Dutton Inn. For information call 888-DUTTON, or web site: wwwtheduttons.com.

Shoji Tubuchi and Andy Williams are probably the two biggest names in Branson and for good reason. We saw both a few years ago and it’s nice to report that the Christmas shows are completely different and upgraded. Shoji maintains the demeanor of a newcomer to this country, but he’s been here for more than 20 years-—at least half of that time in Branson at his opulent theater known for its lavish restrooms. The last time we saw Shoji his daughter Christina was in grade school; now she’s a grown woman and an accomplished singer and musician. She’s trying the Nashville recording scene, something Shoji is obviously proud of, but you sense he’s worried about losing her star power in his show.

We hadn’t seen Andy Williams holiday show in more than a decade and it’s actually even better than before. There are fewer silly comedy routines and more of Andy’s wonderful voice, which seems to never age. Andy does include a crowd pleasing animal act of performing poodles. Both Shoji and Andy have the most elaborate holiday sets that can get you in the Christmas spirit even while the fall foliage is still evident in the Ozarks. Both shows conclude with the carols reminding all of the real meaning of Christmas.

Silver Dollar City’s Old Time Christmas is a must see stop in any holiday plans down this way. The Ozark theme park is transformed into a wonderland of over four million lights and 1,000 decorated trees. In the town square is the five-story, special effects moving Christmas tree with over 250,000 lights. There’s also the nightly Holiday Light Parade featuring musical floats, A Dickens’ Christmas Carol presenting an all-new scene set inside a snow globe and the dramatic Living Nativity.

Special holiday shows at Silver Dollar City include: Cedric Benoist and the Cajun Connection, the Frontier Fa-la-la Follies and the Cumberland Quartet in “A Christmas Homecoming.” Silver Dollar City keeps the holiday going longer than most of the others as the park is open now through Dec. 30, Thursday through Sundays except Dec. 24-25. For information call 1-800-831-4FUN or visit: www.silverdollarcity.com.

Almost all the Branson showrooms feature Christmas programs such as the shows performed by the Lennon sisters and the Gatlin brothers. The Dixie Stampede pits the North vs. South pole with sleighs, ice-skaters and a live Natavity scene. The Showboat Branson Bell has a new holiday show every year and returns Todd Oliver and his talking dog Irving featured recently on the David Lettermen Show. Other special events this holiday season include: the new and world’s largest Titanic Museum all wrapped up in holiday bows including the Grand Staircase, the Music of Mannheim Steamroller playing their first Christmas in Branson at The Palace Theater, and Dick Clark’s American Bandstand Theater featuring some well-know early rockers and crooners.

You can drive through the two-mile Branson Area Festival of Lights and walk the “Winter Wonderlanding” as they call it this holiday season at the new Branson’s Landing located down on the waterfront near old Branson (see accompanying story)

For a complete list of shows, attractions and other information visit www.explorebranson.com or call (800 214-3661. You can also get around on the “Ducks” and the Branson Looper double-deck buses.

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