Archive for the ‘Festivals’ Category

The Ozark hills surrounding Branson, Missouri have long resonated with beautiful Southern gospel music. The vibrant music can be heard from county fairs and country churches to grand stages and family backyards. Yet the biggest stage of all features the spectacular Southern Gospel Picnic at Silver Dollar City theme park.

The Southern Gospel Picnic is actually an annual festival at Silver Dollar City running from August 25 through Sept. 5, 2011. This year’s festival features hundreds of performances from the most famous names in southern gospel music.

Of course, as the name implies, the Picnic is also a delicious feast, with savory southern cooking at The House of Chicken & Fixin’s on the City’s square! You’ll find a variety of styles of chicken, all the extras. Choose from Apple-Glazed Chicken, Hickory-Smoked Chicken or Southern Fried Chicken.

You can also learn new recipes at Silver Dollar City’s Culinary & Craft School where a Master Craftsman of Culinary Arts demonstrates favorite recipes and cooking tips and tricks in a state-of-the-art kitchen. A small fee applies for all classes.

A Full Lineup of Southern Gospel Greats!  

The Southern Gospel Picnic features a daily musical celebration filled with great gospel harmonies and soul-stirring melodies from a variety of artists:

HisSong - August 25

The Pfeifers - August 25

Blackwood Brothers Quartet - August 25 - 26

Chuck Wagon Gang - August 25 - 26

Soul’d Out Quartet - August 25 - 26

Tribute Quartet - August 25 - 27

The Harper Family - August 25 - 28

Booth Brothers - August 26

Albert E Brumley Jr. - August 26 - 27

The Browders - August 27

Legacy Five - August 27

The Freemans - August 27 - 28

Gold City - August 27 - 28

Hosea Bilyeu & Family - August 28

Brian Free & Assurance - August 28 - 29

Tim Lovelace - August 28 - 29

The Whisnants - August 28 - 29

Bowling Family - August 29 - 30

The Perrys - August 29 - 30

2nd Generation - August 29 - September 1

The Downing Family - August 29 - September 1

Dixie Echoes - August 29 - September 2

The Hoppers - August 30 - 31

New Horizons - August 31

The Lesters - August 30 - September 1

Mark Trammell Quartet - August 31 - September 1

Reggie & Bridgette Saddler - August 31 - September 1

Down East Boys - September 1 - 2

Karen Peck & New River - September 1 - 2

The Williamsons - September 1 - 3

The Collingsworth Family - September 2 - 3

The Morace Family - September 2 - 3

Cody Shuler & Pine Mountain RR - September 2 - 5

Spoken 4 Quartet - September 2 - 5

Dr. Dennis Swanberg - September 3 - 4

Triumphant Quartet - September 3 - 4

The Diplomats - September 3 - 5

Jeff & Sheri Easter - September 4

Ninth Hour - September 4 - 5

The Isaacs - September 5

The Petersen Family - September 5

Southern Sound - September 5

The Taylors - September 5

Southern Gospel Nights

Let your spirit sing during the Southern Gospel Nights concert series each evening at park closing. Hear your favorite artists as they perform an unforgettable concert at Silver Dollar City’s 4,000-seat Echo Hollow Amphitheater. The show begins at 6 pm each evening during the festival, 7 pm on September 4 & 5. Seating in Echo Hollow Amphitheatre® will begin two hours prior to show time, weather permitting.

Blackwood Brothers Quartet and Chuck Wagon Gang - August 25

Booth Brothers - August 26

Gold City - August 27

Brian Free & Assurance and The Whisnants - August 28

The Bowling Family and The Perrys - August 29

The Hoppers - August 30

Mark Trammell Quartet and Reggie & Bridgette Saddler - August 31

Down East Boys and Karen Peck & New River - September 1

The Collingsworth Family - September 2

Triumphant Quartet - September 3

Jeff & Sheri Easter - September 4

The Isaacs - September 5

mouth watering BBQ.

This year’s Bluegrass festival features a variety of top Bluegrass artists including Rhonda Vincent, a seven time winner of IBMA’s Female Vocalist of the Year; The Grascals, two time winner of IBMA’s Entertainer of the Year and Russell Moore, 2010 IBMA Male Vocalist of the Year, and IIIrd Tyme Out, seven time IBMA Vocal Group of the Year.

While the music fills the air, so too will the scent of delicious BBQ. Tempt your taste buds with everything from Memphis dry rubs and Carolina vinegars to Texas-style BBQ all slow cooked to perfection in a massive wood fired smoker filled with 40,000 pounds of brisket, chicken, ribs and pulled pork.

The Bluegrass entertainment is included with Silver Dollar City admission. The 1880’s themed park offers 30 fun-filled rides and attractions designed to thrill the entire family. You’ll also find dozens of period craftsmen demonstrating their work.

For additional details, go to http://www.silverdollarcity.com/. Or visit http://www.westgatereservations.com/ for information on discount Branson vacation packages and accommodations such as Westgate Branson Woods Resort.

It wouldn’t be Silver Dollar City without a great festival. So let the fun begin.

With a total of six world-class festivals throughout the year, Silver Dollar City offers fun for everyone. You can take a trip around the world without ever leaving the Ozarks during World-Fest. You can celebrate BBQ, Bluegrass and Gospel music. You can experience America’s largest Kidsfest. You can see hundreds of America’s finest craftsmen create amazing works of art. Or you can be dazzled by the Christmas spirit during an Old Time Christmas celebration. It’s all part of Silver Dollar City’s annual run of exceptional festivals.

Of course, every day is a fun-filled adventure at the 1880′s style, award-winning theme park. Silver Dollar City offers 30 rides and attractions for adventure seekers of all ages. You can hop aboard the thrilling “Wildfire,” a multi-looping roller coaster that reaches speeds up to 66 miles per hour. Or check out the new $1 million “Half Dollar Holler,” a ride designed for kids through age 7.

Silver Dollar City also offers some of the best live shows and entertainment available in an area known for its exceptional live entertainment.

Festival season kicks off with World-Fest, April 7 to May 8. 2011. This international event is a colorful and musical celebration of entertainment, food, culture, music and fun that has become a must-see tradition every spring in the Ozarks.

World-Fest features world-class performers and musical artists from around the globe including folk singers, an Irish tenor, steel drum corps from Trinidad and Tobago, stilt dancers, champion fiddlers from Canada, amazing acrobats and more.

World-Fest also features the “Tastes of the World,” a delicious food pavilion providing a taste-tempting selection of international food specialties such as Irish Stew, Chicken Fajitas and Italian Calzone and desserts like Baklava, Tiramisu Torte and Apfel Dumplings served with Cinnamon Ice Cream.

For additional information or tickets to Silver Dollar City or any of Branson’s other shows and attractions or for lodging arrangements, visit www.westgatereservations.com or www.ticket2branson.com.

As part of its annual National Harvest Festival celebration, Silver Dollar City theme park in Branson, MO is hosting a special new exhibit - PBS Craft in America.

The exhibit, developed exclusively for the park, is taken directly from the Peabody-award winning PBS documentary series featuring unique American artists. A total of 50 of America’s top artists will choose their most stunning and unique works of art to be displayed at Silver Dollar City.

Another exciting exhibit is the new Caricature Carvers of America Showcase featuring Silver Dollar City artisans like Peter Engler, Ted Blaylock, Peter Kramer, Lee Robertson, Tom Crain, Gary Dierking and Jesse Barnes. You’ll also find hundreds of visiting Craftsmen demonstrating throughout the park, including Best of Missouri Hands juried artists.

Winner of the “Big-E” award for Best Overall Production in 2009 by the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions, Headin’ West returns to the Silver Dollar City Opera House stage. Headin’ West is a special 45-minute live musical production that tells the timeless tale of American westward expansion during the 1860s.

Complete with colorful characters, harrowing adventures, a moving musical score, surprising special effects, vivid scenery and talented performers - Headin’ West is Silver Dollar City’s biggest production show ever.  The show, which is free with park admission, runs September 11 - October 24, 2010.

For information about Silver Dollar City tickets and discount Branson vacation packages, visit www.ticket2branson.com or www.westgatereservations.com.

The Branson/Lakes Area offers vacationers an all-encompassing opportunity to experience the finest in family entertainment. From neon to nature, there’s something for everyone. You can hike or bike around sparkling Table Rock Lake, fish a secluded cove in search of trophy bass, tee off at a championship golf course, scream with delight on an exhilarating roller coaster, splash around at the area’s largest water park, or simply sing along with one of the many stars who make live entertainment a fixture in Branson.

Wherever you go in Branson, you can expect good, clean fun.  Branson’s unique commitment to family values ensures that every member of the family can enjoy virtually every activity in town. Branson offers a special opportunity for kids, parents and grandparents to all vacation together.

For information on Branson discount vacation packages and Branson hotel and resort lodging such as Westgate Branson Woods Resort, please visit www.Ticket2Branson.com today.

When it comes to a Branson vacation, remember that summer time is kids’ time at Branson’s popular Silver Dollar City theme park! Children of all ages will find plenty of fun and excitement nestled in the hills of the Ozarks during America’s largest KidsFest celebration! From exhilarating roller coasters to a wide variety of adventures, KidsFest offers something for everyone. What better way to kick off your next Branson vacation adventure.

While at Silver Dollar City, don’t miss the first U.S. appearance of the Swedish super group, JEERK! These five spectacular performers storm the stage with skillful percussion, rhythmic dance moves and an array of novelty props. You won’t want to miss this new show held in Red Gold Heritage Hall, every day except Tuesdays.

Also back by popular demand, Peter Gossamer returns to Silver Dollar City. One of the world’s greatest illusionists, Gossamer’s magic mixes original concepts with comedic vignettes for a truly amazing performance that takes place in the Opera House, every day except Wednesdays.

You can get VIP seating for both The Magic of Peter Gossamer and JEERK with a Show Lover’s Pass – available online for only $11 per person, per show. Look for these and other discount Branson tickets and discount Branson vacation packages online at www.Ticket2Branson.com.

Silver Dollar City’s National Harvest Festival is the largest gathering of demonstrating craftsmen, award-winning musicians and harvest foods in America’s Heartland.  Special events are A Salute to the Cowgirl in September, with the All-American Cowgirl Chicks trick riders, and the Salute to the Best of Missouri in October, with the Wings Over Missouri birds-of-flight show.  The festival, also featuring the original musical production Headin’ West, runs September 12- Ocotber 31, 2009 at Silver Dollar City, Branson, Missouri.  Book your Branson Vacation Packages and find your Discount Branson Tickets here.

Bluegrass and BBQ, America’s premier bluegrass festival, presents a feast for the senses from the stages to the grills, with hundreds of award-winning bluegrass performances along with the House of BBQ and hundreds of sauces. Performers include IBMA award winners Rhonda Vincent, The Grascals, Dailey & Vincent and Steep Canyon Rangers. Silver Dollar City’s Bluegrass & BBQ runs from May 13-31st, 2009. Book your Branson Vacation Packages starting from $99 for 4 Days & 3 Nights!

Silver Dollar City presents America’s largest international festival, World-Fest, featuring new shows including the awe inspiring acrobatics of the Zhejiang Balancing Monks of China in a show never before seen in the United States, the 28 member Peruvian music and dance troupe Jallmay, and the African percussion group Dzenbii.  Returning favorites include the Irish production show Feet of Fire with dramatic fire dancing, steel drummers from Trinidad and more.   The World Fest runs from April 4th - May 3, at Silver Dollar City located near Branson, Missouri.  Click here for discount Branson vacation packages.