The 58th Annual Adoration Parade will take place Sunday, December 3 at 5:30 pm and will incorporate both Historic Downtown Branson and Branson Landing. First Place prize money has been increased to $1,000 in all four categories: Non-Profit Religious Theme, Non-Profit Non-Religious Theme, For Profit Religious Theme, For Profit Non-Religious Theme. The deadline for Walking Unit and Float entries for the parade is October 27, 2006 (Deadline has been extended). For more information please contact Deidre McCormick at 417- 334-4084 ext. 307. Applications may be found online at http://www.explorebranson.com/docs/2006_Float%20Application.pdf
In an attempt to get more Branson Landing customers to shop “up the hill” in Historic Downtown Branson, the Downtown Branson Main Street Association announced on October 16 that it will begin providing trolley service between the downtown area and Branson Landing on October 20. The service will be on a temporary basis with two trolleys running a regular route throughout the downtown area. It is anticipated that two of the drop off and pickup area at Branson Landing will be Bass Pro Shops at the south end of the landing and Belks at the north end. The trolley system will be free, operated by “Ride the Ducks,” and make five stops in the downtown area.
One of the most asked questions about this time of the year, is when do the drive through “Christmas Lighting displays” that Branson is famous for come on? There are three major drive through Christmas lighting display, one in the City of Branson, one about 30 minutes away in Kimberling City, and one in between. They, along with their opening date and a link to their web site are the “Branson Area Festival of Lights,” in the City of Branson which opens November 1; the “Port of Lights,” in Kimberling City opening November 2, and the “Trail of Lights,” located between Branson the other two on Highway 76 which opens November 1.
Running from now until Thanksgiving weekend “Branson’s Ultimate Elvis Contest” will be held each Saturday at 8 p.m. in the Owens Theatre in historic downtown Branson. According to information provided by the press release for the event, the “winner” of each weekly event will be awarded $ 100.00 cash plus, a free recording session to produce a free 10-12 song CD master in our recording studio, and be invited back for finals to be held on Thanksgiving Weekend 2006. Winners will be judged by “comparative audience response at the end of each weekly event” as measured by a decibel meter.
The “Grand Prize Winner” will receive “their own Branson Show” in the form of a free time slot for the entire season, March through October 2007, at the Owens Theatre. According to the press release for the event, “This represents a minimum value of $25,000.00 and a potential proven value of up to $ 150,000.00!”
There is one strange rule. It states “Each contestant must be pre-qualified to receive free hotel rooms, dinner certificate and free show tickets awarded to participant. This prequalification is connected to participants agreeing to attend a 90 min presentation of Travel Club Discount Programs. There are no registration fees!”
Is the City of Branson backing off its assertion that it owns the term “Branson” as reported in the in the Oct. 4 entry entitled “Is the use of the word “Branson” only legal within the city limits of the City of Branson?” The basis for the City of Branson dropping its action against the Branson Sports Club, Inc, on the issue of timeliness alone, as reported NBC’s ky3 news yesterday, doesn’t provide much comfort in that regard.
“Dressed To Kill,” a KISS Tribute Band, will make a special guest appearance on the “Road to Rock” show at the House of Rock Theatre on Halloween Night, Tuesday, October 31, at 8 p.m. as part of Rocktober Fest. In addition, “Dressed to Kill” will be performing a separate show at the Shake It Up Show Club just south of the junction of Green Mountain Drive and Highway 165 at 11 p.m. that same night. For ticket information and to make Reservations call The House of Rock Theater Box Office 417-334-9330.
Of course the best place to experience Branson Landing is in the Landing itself. However, the best place to view Branson Landing would be from across Lake Taneycomo from the bluffs of Mount Branson from Candlestick Road. The height of Mount Branson provides and excellent overview of the entire Branson Landing, as well as the convention center, and historic downtown Branson. It is especially beautiful at night. One of the best viewing spot is from one of Branson’s premiere gourmet restaurants, the Candlestick Inn, located atop Mount Branson on Candlestick Road. To get to Candlestick Road take Highway 76 east out of downtown Branson across the Taneycomo Bridge, turn east and follow it to the second left hand turn. The first is Lakeshore Drive and the second, at the top of the hill via a sharp left, is a Candlestick Road.
Those wanting to see Pam Tillis and Larry Gatlin and the Gatlin Brothers Together Again at the Welk Resort Theatre in Branson only have until Oct. 20 to do so. A CMA Female Vocalist of the Year, Pam Tillis has topped the charts with songs such as Mi Vida Loca, Maybe It was Memphis, Queen of Denial and more. In between Branson appearances with the Gatlins in 2006 Pam did her own show which received excellent reviews.
Grammy Award-winning Larry Gatlin & The Gatlin Brothers have entertained audiences around the world. They constantly topped the music charts with hit-after-hit such as All The Gold In California, Houston (Means I’m One Day Closer To You), Broken Lady and more. In addition, there are many “You can only see this in Branson!” where Larry, Steve, Rudy and Pam combine their special talents.
Shows are Tuesday through Fridays until October 20. The Lennon Sisters and Larry Gatlin & The Gatlin Brothers will start their Christmas Show at the Welk Theatre on October 31. For online information and ticket purchase for either show click here or for further information or tickets call 800-590-0155.
Joe’s Crab Shack at Branson Landing has recently opened and had a chance to settle in. The latest batch of comments including reviews can be found on 1Branson.Com under a thread entitled “Dining at Joe’s Crab Shack” in the Shopping and Dining Forum. The very first item in the thread is a step by step review of their dining experience.
The Grand Opening of Branson’s P Graham Dunn Gallery, located at 3500 North Gretna Road, next to Branson Mill, will take place on October 13, 2006. Peter Dunn, the founder of P Graham Dunn inspirational wood carvings, will be present on Friday through Sunday to “meet and greet” and autography their products. For more information on P Graham Dunn Gallery and their inspiration and unique products click here.