JEFFERSON CITY, Mo.,-- No matter where you are in the Show-Me State, you’re never too far from memorable holiday season events. All across the state, Missouri celebrates the holidays in a big way. So hop in the car and let the festivities begin….
Christmas comes early in Branson www.ExploreBranson.com, where the Ozark Mountain Christmas celebration kicks off in early November. The season officially begins with the Holiday Promenade of Stars on Nov. 7, with Andy Williams as Grand Marshal and many popular Branson stars performing. www.HolidayPromenadeOfStars.com
Tony Orlando and the Lennon Sisters will sing along with Santa at the Welk Resort in Branson.(Photo Courtesy of the Branson/Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce and Convention & Visitors Bureau)
An Old Time Christmas begins the same day at Silver Dollar City www.SilverDollarCity.com, the 1880s theme park. Ranked by CNN.com as one of the world’s top holiday events and by USA Today, Good Morning America and The Travel Channel as one of the nation’s top events, an Old Time Christmas is not to be missed. With more than four million lights (That’s 350 miles of lights!) and more than 1,000 decorated Christmas trees, the park is a glittering winter wonderland that pleases young and old.
The Miracle of Christmas show that debuts this year at the Sight and Sound Theatre in Branson.
At the Sight & Sound Theatre www.sight-sound.com, the Miracle of Christmas production captures the reason for the season. The Brule and Airo American Indian Rock Opera Christmas Show www.rfdtv.com features a blend of contemporary Native American music and traditional Christmas music. Thousands of white butterflies flutter like snowflakes at White Flight www.thebutterflypalace.com. Dozens of other shows and events in the Branson area round out the Ozark Mountain Christmas festivities.
Springfield’s Jordan Valley Park rings in the holiday season with the lighting of the Mayor’s Christmas Tree at 5 p.m. Nov. 20, followed by a fireworks display at Hammons Field sponsored by the Springfield Cardinals. Special holiday events throughout downtown Springifeld, including productions of “A Christmas Carol” and “The Nutcracker,” continue through Dec. 21st. www.springfieldmo.org.
Central Missouri’s Lake of the Ozarks is awash with lights during the holiday season. Lake of the Ozarks Holiday Light Park, located at the Osage Beach City Park, features 80-plus giant animated displays and is the biggest and brightest light park at the Lake. The park is open Nov. 21 through Jan. 2, and admission is $10 per car. Other light parks include St. Patrick’s Festival of Lights in Laurie, which offers free admission and is open Nov. 26 through Jan. 1. Laurie’s city park is transformed into the Enchanted Village of Lights, Nov. 27 through Jan.1, and features a mile of lighted displays. Admission is free. Visitors also will want to see the Versailles Unity Circle of Lights in its city park. For more information about great Lake of the Ozarks holiday events, visit www.funlake.com.
In St. Louis www.ChristmasInStLouis.org, the holiday season officially begins at 6:30 p.m. Nov. 20 when the Christmas lights are turned on simultaneously in downtown St. Louis and downtown Clayton. After a fireworks display, Santa will lead a procession from Kiener Plaza up 7th Street to Macy’s for the unveiling of the holiday windows, a St. Louis tradition. The festivities continue with the 25th Annual Thanksgiving Day Parade, billed as the Midwest’s best holiday parade. New this year is St. Louis Holiday Magic www.StLHolidayMagic.com a family-friendly event Dec. 4-6 at America’s Center, featuring shopping, carnival rides, live entertainment and more.
The season kicks off in Kansas City www.VisitKC.com with the annual lighting ceremony for the Country Club Plaza’s Season of Lights www.CountryClubPlaza.com. The event, held on Thanksgiving night, showcases the Plaza, which spends seven weeks decked out with more than 80 miles of colored lights. Dozens of other events, from the Mayor’s Christmas Tree at Crown Center www.CrownCenter.com to The Nutcracker at the Kansas City Ballet www.KCBallet.org to the elaborate Holiday Village Model Train.Display at Union Station www.UnionStation.org, join together to make the holiday season in Kansas City a memorable one.
Kwanzaa: An African-American holiday celebration on Dec.30 at Missouri Botanical Garden.
At the Missouri Botanical Garden www.mobot.org, Chanukah: Festival of Lights will be Dec. 6. This traditional Jewish celebration includes music, dance and a menorah-lighting ceremony. On Dec. 30, the Garden will celebrate Kwanzaa: Festival of the First Fruits, a contemporary African-American holiday, with storytelling, African drumming and craft and jewelry displays. St. Louis will wrap up the holiday season with First Night www.FirstNightStL.org at the Grand Center Arts and Entertainment District on New Year’s Eve.
Chanukah: A traditional Jewish celebration will be Dec. 6. at Missouri Botanical Garden.
In nearby Independence www.VisitIndependence.com, experience a Presidential Christmas at the Harry S Truman Library and Truman Visitor Center, or get a taste of frontier holidays with programs at the National Frontier Trails Museum. Revel in the majestic Handel’s Messiah performed by the 220-voice Messiah Choir and the Kansas City Symphony on Nov. 28 at the Community of Christ Temple.
The first weekend of December is a busy one in the state capital, Jefferson City www.VisitJeffersonCity.com. One of the city’s most beloved traditions for almost 20 years, Living Windows takes place Dec. 4. Downtown storefronts and windows come to life with dancers and singers while carolers, hayrides and Santa Claus complete the scene. The Governor’s Mansion is open for Candlelight Tours Dec. 4-5, and the downtown Christmas Parade and the 42nd annual Cantorum Concert at the Miller Performing Arts Center are both Dec. 5.
Hermann www.VisitHermann.com offers yuletide celebrations with an Old World flavor. German-style Christmas markets, or Kristkindl Markt, the first two weekends of December will start your shopping season in style. Don’t miss the rectory tour at St. George Catholic Church Dec. 12-13 for a delightful holiday outing. In St. Charles www.HistoricStCharles.com, the holidays take on a historic aspect with frontier, French and German influences. Towns throughout the state celebrate with light displays, parades, Santa visits, house tours, concerts and craft fairs.
To learn more about holiday getaways with all the trimmings and plenty of memories, log on to www.VisitMO.com, or call 800-519-4800 to get a copy of your 2009 Official Missouri Vacation Planner.
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(Thumbnail Image on the main page is photo Courtesy from Silver Dollar City) |