Wednesday, December 11, 2024

Silver Dollar City Shines For The Holiday Season In Branson Missouri

Tucked away in the Ozark mountains in Branson, Missouri is the award winning 61-acre amusement park Silver Dollar City. They officially opened their 2024 Old Time Christmas season on Saturday, November 2. In the past, the season ended on December 31, but this year they have extended the season until January 4. The festival features over 6.5 million lights, one thousand decorated trees, two musical productions, classic amusement rides, holiday shopping, and tasty holiday food favorites. 

Silver Dollar City Shines For The Holiday Season
Photo Credit: Amy Harris/The Travel Addict
Photo Credit: Amy Harris/The Travel Addict

Silver Dollar City has been recognized time and time again for their amazing experiences offered. In 2007, ABC’s Good Morning America declared it one of the top five holiday events in the country and USA Today readers again chose it as the “Best Theme Park Holiday Event” for the sixth time in a row.

Silver Dollar City Shines For The Holiday Season
Photo Credit: Amy Harris/The Travel Addict

Christmas in Midtown

I visited the theme park for the first time this year and was blown away by the park and the spectacular Christmas display. Located behind Main Street near the entrance of the park, The Christmas in Midtown Light Spectacular can be viewed again for its eighth year in a row. The mini town-like area features a 80-foot light pole Christmas tree, a 50-foot Santa and sleigh, a large globe 30-feet in the air, 30 flying angels, three lighted tunnels, two 40-foot moving trains, and dozens more lighted shapes and items. Nearly every building is covered in lights. 

Silver Dollar City Shines For The Holiday Season
Photo Credit: Amy Harris/The Travel Addict
Photo Credit: Amy Harris/The Travel Addict
@thetraveladdict.com

Silver Dollar City’s An Old Time Christmas is filled with over 6.5 million lights for the holiday season. It was amazing to experience the park at night lit up while riding my new favorite roller coaster Time Traveler! You can also catch Rudolph’s Holly Jolly Christmas Light Parade and a performance of A Dickens’ Christmas Carol nightly. @Silver Dollar City #silverdollarcity #silverdollarcitychristmas #christmaslights #branson #bransonmissouri #visitbranson #christmas #holiday #holidaycheer #dickenschristmas #anoldtimechristmas #timetraveler

♬ original sound – thetraveladdict

The main attraction of the Midtown Light Spectacular is the 6-story lighted tree. The tree shaped structure is covered with thousands of LED lights that glimmer into animated imagery along to music. The Christmas on Main Street light and sound spectacular begins at sundown and is performed every 15 minutes throughout the evening. The show provides guests with six different songs, two performed during each show for a total of three unique shows.

Photo Credit: Amy Harris/The Travel Addict
Photo Credit: Amy Harris/The Travel Addict

Holiday Seasonal Menu

While at the park, I was treated to several items from the Tastes of the Seasons menu. This is definitely not your normal theme park food. The fall flavors were perfect for a chilly evening at Silver Dollar City. The dinner sampling started with Brown Butter Toffee Hot Chocolate which was hands down the best hot chocolate I have ever tasted. I would fly back to Branson just to get this hot chocolate again. Roasted Red Bell Pepper Gouda Soup with Cheese Twist followed with Buffalo Chicken Grilled Cheese sandwiches served as a main course. The meal was topped off with Ginger Bread Funnel Cake and Red Velvet Funnel Cakes as a sweet treat.

Photo Credit: Amy Harris/The Travel Addict
Silver Dollar City Shines For The Holiday Season
Photo Credit: Amy Harris/The Travel Addict

Before leaving the park I was also able to try the Apple Dumpling with Cinnamon Ice Cream which was the perfect late evening snack. I only wished we had more time in the park to try more of the tasty treats located throughout the park. Visitors can buy a special Christmas Tasting pass for $35 to try five different treats from the holiday menu items.

A Dickens’ Christmas Carol Performance

It is easy to get into the Christmas spirit by seeing a performance of A Dickens’ Christmas Carol while in the theme park. This 60-minute Broadway-level musical reimagines Charles Dickens’ timeless classic with humor and heart, delivering a powerful tale of redemption, hope, and the life-changing impact of a single prayer. Featuring a talented ensemble cast, a live band, breathtaking special effects, beautifully crafted Victorian backdrops, and exquisite period costumes, this adaptation offers an unforgettable theatrical experience.

Photo Credit: Amy Harris/The Travel Addict
Silver Dollar City Shines For The Holiday Season
Photo Credit: Amy Harris/The Travel Addict
Photo Credit: Amy Harris/The Travel Addict

We highly recommend taking time out of your visit for this classic Christmas story. You can also purchase reserved guaranteed seating for each performance for $15 per person.

Silver Dollar City Shines For The Holiday Season
Photo Credit: Amy Harris/The Travel Addict
Photo Credit: Amy Harris/The Travel Addict
Silver Dollar City Shines For The Holiday Season
Photo Credit: Amy Harris/The Travel Addict

Silver Dollar City Thrill Rides

It’s no secret that I love thrill rides and Silver Dollar City doesn’t disappoint in this area. The park’s standout coaster, Time Traveler, is the world’s fastest, steepest, and tallest spinning coaster. Riders experience a dizzying combination of forward and backward spins, multiple inversions, and a breathtaking 10-story vertical drop. The ride’s innovative design provides a unique experience every time, as the cars rotate freely while navigating the track, making it a favorite for adrenaline seekers. I don’t know if the big thrill came from riding the coaster in the dark for the first time, but this ride has now taken over my top spot of favorite rides in the country.

Photo Credit: Amy Harris/The Travel Addict

Another iconic attraction is Outlaw Run, a wooden coaster that redefines expectations with its record-breaking speed and inversions. This coaster takes riders on a high-speed journey through the wilderness, featuring steep drops and a barrel roll inversion that pushes the limits of traditional wooden coaster design. Wildfire and Powder Keg offer equally exhilarating experiences, with the former boasting stunning views of the Ozarks and the latter launching riders from 0 to 53 mph in just a few seconds. Whether you’re a thrill enthusiast or simply looking for a memorable adventure, Silver Dollar City’s roller coasters promise an unforgettable ride.

Rudolph’s Holly Jolly Christmas

If you’re looking for some family fun, the Rudolph’s Holly Jolly Christmas light parade runs twice each night, usually at 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. The parade features nine musical floats covered in 100,000 LED multicolor lights. The floats include characters like drumming bears, cymbal-playing penguins, dancing ballerinas, Santa and Mrs. Claus, and of course Rudolph. 33 different costumed characters accompany the floats. 14-foot moose characters, 12-foot tall elves, 10-foot candy canes, and more will walk alongside the lighted floats. 

Photo Credit: Amy Harris/The Travel Addict
Silver Dollar City Shines For The Holiday Season
Photo Credit: Amy Harris/The Travel Addict
Photo Credit: Amy Harris/The Travel Addict
Silver Dollar City Shines For The Holiday Season
Photo Credit: Amy Harris/The Travel Addict
Photo Credit: Amy Harris/The Travel Addict
Silver Dollar City Shines For The Holiday Season
Photo Credit: Amy Harris/The Travel Addict

The park and its activities are usually open Thursday through Monday from 1 p.m. to 9 p.m., but schedules and hours may vary.  Single-day tickets at the gate or online are $92 for adults and $82 for children ages 4 to 11 (children under 3 are free). To truly experience all Silver DOllar City has to offer, buy a two-day ticket for $112 for adults and $102 for children. The festive entertainment opportunities are endless at Silver Dollar City during their Old Time Christmas Season and it’s such a beautiful sight to get you into a jolly mood for the holiday season.

Latest

Exploring Hagia Sophia: A Journey Through Time in Istanbul’s Iconic Landmark

During our latest trip to Istanbul, Turkiye, we had...

Cirque Du Soleil and Grupo Vidanta Announce LUDÕ

LUDÕ, a water themed show, will debut at VidantaWorld’s...

Breaking Bread In The Skies: Turkish Airlines And Their Oldest Onboard Tradition

When it comes to in-flight dining, few airlines can...

Newsletter

Don't miss

Exploring Hagia Sophia: A Journey Through Time in Istanbul’s Iconic Landmark

During our latest trip to Istanbul, Turkiye, we had...

Cirque Du Soleil and Grupo Vidanta Announce LUDÕ

LUDÕ, a water themed show, will debut at VidantaWorld’s...

Breaking Bread In The Skies: Turkish Airlines And Their Oldest Onboard Tradition

When it comes to in-flight dining, few airlines can...

Tales of the Cocktail 2025 Returns to Ritz-Carlton New Orleans

Tales of the Cocktail 2025, the foundation's 23rd iteration,...
Amy Harris
Amy Harris is a writer and photographer who has been traveling for 20 years and flown over 2 million miles to visit over 80 countries on 6 continents. She is a freelance photographer for Invision by Associated Press, AP Images and Rex/Shutterstock. Her work can be seen in various publications and websites including: Rolling Stone, AP Images, National Geographic Books, Fodor’s Travel Guides, Forbes.com, Lonely Planet Travel Guides, JetStar magazine, and Delta Sky Magazine.

Exploring Hagia Sophia: A Journey Through Time in Istanbul’s Iconic Landmark

During our latest trip to Istanbul, Turkiye, we had the once in a lifetime opportunity to see the famed and beautiful Hagia Sophia. The...

Cirque Du Soleil and Grupo Vidanta Announce LUDÕ

LUDÕ, a water themed show, will debut at VidantaWorld’s BON Luxury Theme Park in Nuevo Vallarta, Mexico in November 2025. The show is Cirque...

As The Eras Tour Wraps In Vancouver: Take A Photographic Journey of Taylor Swift Through Every Iconic Era

As Taylor Swift wraps up her Eras Tour tonight in Vancouver after a two year journey around the world, lets take a look through...