The Ultimate Guide to a Fun Christmas in Branson
If you’re looking for the ultimate Christmas location, you need to put Branson on the top of your list. I have heard about the holiday magic in Branson, but didn’t understand just how incredible it was until we went for a long weekend. Let me tell you, Branson knows how to do Christmas right.
We spent four full days going to shows, seeing lights, going on adventures, and completely immersing ourselves in Christmas activities. This Christmas in Branson guide will help you have a magical holiday in Branson, whether you are going with your family, significant other, or a group of friends.
Be sure to read to the end for restaurant recommendations and places to stay as well. Here’s everything you need to know to plan your Christmas getaway to Branson!
Christmas in Branson:
Best Activities for Christmas in Branson:
Silver Dollar City’s an Old Time Christmas
Usually, it’s hard for me to choose a definite highlight on a trip, but Silver Dollar City at Christmas is so breathtakingly beautiful that it honestly might be my favorite Christmas destination of all time. It was definitely the top choice for Christmas in Branson. Their Olde Time Christmas Festival is absolutely magical. There are over 6.5 million lights. (Yes, you read that correctly.) They have been working to put them up since June! The buildings are covered in lights from head to toe and the Christmas light displays might make you swoon. I hope to go to Christmas in Branson every year to see the lights.
If lights aren’t enough, every night there is a Christmas light parade at Silver Dollar City for Christmas in Branson. There are dancers, lit up floats, and Santa himself! The eight-story-tall Christmas tree in the main square is covered in moving lights that dance to Christmas music. My kids loved watching the tree and I loved seeing their faces light up as they watched.
You can arrive earlier in the day to enjoy the rides and festive foods and shows throughout the park. We saw Dickens’ Christmas Carol, which was really well done and is a Christmas in Branson classic. My 7-year-old twins enjoyed it. At the end it snows on the audience, which was a magical touch.
My kids loved the Frisco Sing-Along Steam Train. This 20-minute ride takes you on a lit-up train through the park. Everyone sings carols together until you arrive at a clearing and stop to listen to an old man (who looks suspiciously like Santa) tell the Christmas story.
We also did some shopping. Silver Dollar City has handmade crafts and homemade foods. My twins and I picked out some birthday and Christmas gifts for my mom. There are lots of themed foods like gingerbread funnel cakes and hot cocoa as well as plenty of places to get meal options.
Before we went to Silver Dollar City, I had heard a lot about it, but I was skeptical that it would live up to the hype. Now I can say with certainty that it is worth it! We will be going back every year. No Christmas in Branson would be complete without a visit. Book tickets to Silver Dollar City HERE.
The Polar Express Train Ride
Of all the amazing Christmas in Branson fun, I was most excited to take my kids on the Polar Express. This is such an adorable experience for kiddos, especially the ones who still believe in Santa. We boarded the decorated train car and sat at a table. The chefs and conductors greeted us. They stayed in character and were very sweet with my kids.
Once the train started moving, they read the Polar Express books. Other families brought their own copies so they could follow along. Next time we will do that too. Afterwards the chefs danced and brought out a cookie and cocoa for everyone. We got to enjoy that while we rode and looked for Santa out of the window.
Santa Claus boarded the train and talked to each of the children. He gave everyone a jingle bell for the first gift of Christmas and posed for photos. Then we went past the Branson’s Lights of Joy display, so you could watch lights from the train. My kids had such a great time, and I loved seeing the joy on their faces as one of their favorite storybooks was brought to life. It’s a great tradition to add to your Christmas in Branson list.
Drive-Thru Christmas Light Displays
Drive through lights are a great addition to any Christmas in Branson trip. Branson offers several dazzling drive-through light displays that will have your whole family oohing and ahhing. We went to the Shepherd of the Hills Trail of Lights. It was a rainy night, so it was so nice to be able to see the lights from inside of our warm car.
If you are looking for additional drive-thru light displays, I have also heard wonderful things about Branson’s Lights of Joy (we saw part of it from the Polar Express and it looked beautiful) and Let There Be Lights! at The Promised Land Zoo. This Christmas season don’t miss these beautiful Ozark Mountain Christmas lights.
Christmas Shows
Branson is famous for its live shows, but during the holidays the city takes them to another level. We went to Christmas Wonderland at King’s Castle Theater and Miracle of Christmas at Sight and Sound. Both shows were very different, but they were well done and kept us curious the whole time.
Christmas Wonderland at King’s Castle Theater was a fun collection of dances and holiday music. It was really well done with tons of outfit changes and great singing and dancing. Book ticket HERE.
The Miracle of Christmas at Sight and Sound theater tells the story of Jesus’ birth. The production might have been one of the best I have seen from a technical point of view. There were live animals, and the props and stage were huge and elaborate. This theater is larger, so if you want to see the details of the costumes, I recommend getting tickets closer to the stage. Both of these are perfect choices Christmas in Branson trips.
There are lots of Branson Christmas shows we didn’t have time to see, including:
- Dolly Parton’s Stampede Christmas Show: A dinner show with a holiday twist, featuring horses, stunts, and a Christmas theme.
- The Hughes Brothers Christmas Show: Branson’s largest performing family delivers music, comedy, and holiday traditions.
- Presleys’ Country Jubilee Christmas Show: A blend of country music and Christmas classics with comedy skits.
- Brett Family Christmas Show: A heartwarming mix of holiday favorites performed by the Brett family.
- Clay Cooper’s Country Express Christmas Show: High-energy entertainment with a mix of Christmas songs and comedy.
- The Haygoods Christmas Show: A unique and modern twist on holiday entertainment with high-tech production. This is the most popular show in Branson. Get your tickets HERE.
Shopping in Branson
Personally, I am not a big shopper, but even I had to admit that Branson Landing was really cool. Near downtown Branson, this is a beautiful open outdoor shopping center. For Christmas in Branson, there are giant fountains that dance to Christmas music and are lit up at nighttime. The Christmas tree is made of lights that move to music. Large silver reindeer adorn the area and Christmas lights line the streets.
Branson is known as the Christmas Tree City because many of the shops and businesses have unique Christmas trees made from unique items, such as the Titanic Museum has one made from life vests. As you shop, keep an eye out for the different trees decorating the city.
We did not make it to Tanger Outlets this time, but I have heard a lot of good things about it, so I plan to go there the next time we’re in town for Christmas in Branson.
Tubing (or Zip Lining) at Wolfe Mountain
Although this might not be a Christmas activity, it’s hard to think of something more appropriate for the holidays than tubing! While it might not be on snow, that actually adds to the adventure because you can do it in any weather!
The Snowflex at Wolfe Mountain was my kids’ favorite adventure of the trip. It felt like a real thrill, but also it felt safe and was manageable for my little kids. The people working there were very friendly, and they would ask you if you wanted to be spun or just go straight down the hill as they launched you. You reserve a time slot for one hour and I thought that was the perfect amount of time.
My kids are too small to go zip lining, but when they are bigger, we will definitely go back and do both the tubing and zip lining together. If you want to book this adventure, be sure to use the code #EveryDayOutdoor24 for 10% off your order! This will be a new Christmas in Branson tradition for our family.
Big Cedar Lodge and Lost Cave Canyon
Everyone from the lower Midwest knows Big Cedar’s reputation of being a beautiful resort. While I haven’t had the chance to go there yet myself, I have heard that it is one of the best places to celebrate Christmas in Branson. I have been to the Lost Cave Canyon which is on the same property.
Lost Cave Canyon is one of the coolest experiences you can have in the whole state of Missouri in my opinion. Lost Cave Canyon is an experience where you get to drive a golf cart along a beautiful nature trail, complete with waterfalls, a cave (with a bar and more waterfalls inside), and bridges with epic vistas. During the holiday season you can drive the trail at night too! Only this time it is decorated with beautiful Christmas lights everywhere. I have still only been during the day, but I am hoping that next year we will be able to make it for their Christmas celebration.
Big Cedar Lodge is a resort in the Ozarks near Branson. The lodge offers a ton of activities for guests year around, but during the holiday season they include things like a gingerbread build off, breakfast with Santa, and stocking decorating. One day I would love to go here at Christmas time, enjoy nature and activities, and then warm up by the fire. It is a classic destination for Christmas in Branson.
Attractions with Holiday Themes
Even if places in Branson do not completely change what they do for the holiday season, many of them offer holiday activities and decorations to add to the experience. For instance, when we went to Fritz’s Adventure they had Christmas decor, a snow machine, letters for Santa, and Olaf dressed up and walked around. All of that was in addition to all the fun they usually have year-round.
If there is somewhere in particular, you’d like to go, be sure to check their calendar to see if they have any holiday happenings when you’re there. The whole city embraces Christmas, so I am sure you will find a ton to do for Christmas in Branson!
Where to Stay for Christmas in Branson
We were absolutely spoiled on our last trip to Branson because we got to stay at Westgate Branson Woods Resort. I was so impressed with everything about this property. It is a great place to spend Christmas in Branson. For starters, my room had a two-person jetted tub, a king-size bed, balcony, and a fireplace! It had a kitchen with a full fridge, stove, microwave, and dishwasher. If that wasn’t deluxe enough, they gave us two connecting rooms, so my twins got their own room too. It was nice knowing they could reach me if they needed to, but also, I had my own space to relax and enjoy after they went to bed.
Westgate Branson Woods Resort has 145-acres with cabins, family-friendly amenities, and it was only 5-15 minutes from everything we did in Branson. There was a coffee shop, daily activities, and a heated pool. If you’re looking to make your trip, feel like a true vacation, then Westgate is where you want to stay. Book HERE.
Or if you’re looking for somewhere closer to downtown, the Downtown Hilton is right next to the Polar Express and a short walk to Branson Landing, making it a great place to stay for Christmas in Branson. Book HERE.
Where to Eat for Christmas in Branson
Branson has a ton of great restaurants. We loved these places, and they all had gluten free options for me! You’ll love these on your Christmas in Branson trip:
- Billy Gail’s: Famous for giant pancakes and home-style breakfast. My kids loved the giant chocolate chip pancakes, and I had a delicious omelet.
- Cantina Laredo at Branson Landing: A modern Mexican dishes right next to the incredible lit fountains at Branson Landing.
- Local Flavor: A cozy spot offering scratch-made Southern favorites like fried green tomatoes and chicken fried steak. I got the gluten free fried shrimp. The gluten free fryer was exciting for me!
Book a Trip to Branson for Christmas
Christmas in Branson is the perfect way to embrace the magic of the holiday season. Whether you’re exploring Silver Dollar City, watching a festive show, or relaxing by the fire after a day of shopping, Branson is the perfect destination for Christmas.
If you’re planning a trip to Branson, don’t forget to explore nearby Things to do in Springfield, MO, and check out my guide to the 7 Best Weekend Trips from Kansas City for even more inspiration. Make your next Christmas vacation a trip to the Ozarks!
