Christmas Light Displays in Branson

Neil Sawford • November 30, 2022


Roaming around the city to see all the homes and establishments decorated with thousands of colorful twinkling lights is a favorite holiday activity during Christmas time in Branson.

This year, you will see many drive-through light displays that welcome guests from dusk until late night — perfect for evening movie-goers. After seeing the many colorful Christmas light displays listed below, you may find it interesting to try a thrilling ride with the roller coasters in Branson, MO, where you can enjoy great rides, entertainment, and tasty treats.


Branson's Lights of Joy

Branson's Lights of Joy (formerly known as Gift of Lights) drive-through display debuted in 2015, but its location off Shepherd of the Hills Expressway is the same as the former Festival of Lights, which was held there for almost 25 years. Branson's Lights of Joy contained more than 300 displays with over one million twinkling LED lights throughout the 1.25-mile drive and was completely overhauled with all-new shows in 2021. Every weekend from November 5 through December 18, you can have the chance to visit Santa.


The Trail of Lights at Shepherd of the Hill

The 160-acre Shepherd of the Hills Homestead, which houses the renowned outdoor theater, has been transformed into a vacation haven. The Trail of Lights at Shepherd of the Hills Trail of Lights is a drive-through where you may find magnificent light displays unlike any other Christmas lights show elsewhere.

It is situated east of Silver Dollar City on Highway 76 and the Branson Strip. The drive-through has been exquisitely decked with millions of festive lights. The Trail of Lights also features hundreds of stunning exhibits, the majority in their themed region, many of which have breathtaking lighting displays and animated scenes.


Let There Be Lights at Promised Land Zoo

The longest drive-through light show in the region is located at Branson's Promised Land Zoo. Beginning November 1, the two-mile exhibit is accessible every evening. The Zoo also has the only herd of live reindeer in the area, so visitors can use the VIP "Yeti Express" option to pet, feed, and take pictures with Sven, Rudolph, Prancer, and other reindeer.

The light show, "Candyland Courtyard" with dancing trees timed to your favorite Christmas carols, "Animal Adventures" building with dozens of animals on display, Elves' Secret Gift Shop, and more are all included with every admission.


Deck The Trails at Big Cedar Lodge

Big Cedar Lodge has always had beautiful holiday decorations, but in 2022 the hotel and resort will open a ticketed drive-through show that features a record number of lights. You'll journey through the Christmas narrative as you go from Top of the Rock to Big Cedar.

In addition to this self-guided drive-through, you may reserve a $20 per person, 25-minute holiday tram tour of the lights. Once there, enter the main lobby to view the elaborate Christmas trees, gingerbread train display, and other decorations. Additionally, there is a synthetic ice skating rink with a sizable tree programmed to "dance" to several well-known Christmas tunes.


Silver Dollar City

Silver Dollar City is covered with more than 6.5 MILLION lights during the annual An Old Time Christmas event, despite not being a drive-through show. The 1880s-inspired theme park features 1,000 decorated trees, two Broadway-style Christmas shows, an eight-story LED special effect Christmas tree, Rudolph's Holly Jolly Christmas light parade, exhilarating amusement rides, festival fare, and more.

It is frequently recognized for its impressive illuminated displays. This is where many ride enthusiasts visit to experience a thrilling ride on the roller coasters in Branson, MO.


Downtown Branson

Downtown Branson is heavily decked out for the holiday season with many shops. New illuminated snowflakes on lampposts have been added to the street decorations. The outside of Chick-Fil-A (607 W Main St, Branson, MO 65616) has been covered in tens of thousands of lights, and the drive-through features a light tunnel. The restaurant at Steak' N Shake (503 W Main St, Branson, MO 65616) is also lit up, and a gigantic illuminated snowman welcomes customers from the street.


Branson Theatre District

Many of Branson's attractions and music venues are decorated both inside and out. Drive down Highway 76, popularly referred to as "The Strip," and take in all the city offers. One example is the outside of Presley's Country Jubilee (2920 W 76 Country Blvd, Branson, MO 65616), which is illuminated and has enormous toy soldiers that were previously part of the Grand Palace Theatre's decor.

Branson Mountain Adventure Park


Another thrilling Branson attraction, the gorgeously lit Branson Mountain Adventure Park, is home to the Runaway Mountain Coaster. You may have an exciting adventure ride on the lit Runaway Mountain Coaster at night. You can take in beautiful vistas of Branson lit up in brilliant Christmas lights as you ride downward on a Runaway Mountain Coaster.

This holiday season, many locals and tourists want to have a fantastic time in this popular vacation destination in the Midwest, not only to view Christmas light displays but also to take a thrilling ride on the roller coasters in Branson MO.

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Understanding the history of a place is one of the best ways to enjoy its flavor. There are many different types of museums in Branson, MO, that will appeal to people of all ages. It's just one of the many things you can do with your family while on vacation in Branson. You will enjoy the exciting attractions in this popular Midwest vacation destination, including the mountain roller coaster in Branson . So, while in Branson, MO, why not add some museums to your itinerary? Titanic Museum is one of the most popular attractions in Branson, offering a historical tour throughout the year. This world's largest museum attraction will allow visitors to become passengers on this grand ocean liner and experience the tragic maiden voyage through over 400 artifacts and countless exhibits. As you get through the exhibits in the Memorial Room, you will learn about the passengers who died or survived the disaster. This historic Branson attraction is a wonderful place to visit after you have enjoyed an exciting ride with the mountain roller coaster in Branson because the area houses historical treasures as well as numerous priceless artifacts. The sensational tour at the museum takes all visitors through the Grand Staircase, beautiful hallways, first-class staterooms, and 20 different public rooms. This one-of-a-kind museum in Branson has many interesting exhibits that reflect the Titanic's historical background. World's Largest Toy Museum Because it houses millions of toys of various shapes and sizes, the fantastic museum in Branson lives up to its name as the world's largest toy museum. This tremendous museum houses nearly every type of toy imaginable. Everything from collectible Legos to a full-size Rolls-Royce is on display at the museum, which can be a lot of fun for everyone. Toys of all kinds, from dollhouses to Star Wars, can be found in this fantastic museum, where ladies grew up with things for the boys like General Lee items, John Deere memorabilia, and much more. The exhibits inside the museum display over 100 antique toy trains where many of the visitors remember growing up with. This one-of-a-kind museum features a diverse collection of toys dating from the 1800s to today. Beautiful toys from the past and present can be found here. The museum has extensive collections of the vintage ship, plane, and train designs, classic cars and motorcycles, cap guns, BB guns, pedal cars, bicycles, tin wind-ups, dolls, Star Wars, Disney characters, G.I.Joes, trucks, and toy soldiers. The museum's entire collection of toys from the 1700s to the present is a must-see in Branson. Branson Auto & Farm Museum The Branson Auto & Farm Museum is one of Branson's most well-known museum attractions. It was built in May 2009 as a purpose-built museum dedicated to preserving and appreciating historic automobiles. The museum is beautifully nestled in the former "Engler Block" crafts mall, which you can easily access after enjoying a thrilling ride with the mountain roller coaster in Branson. This famous museum for both children and adults is 78,000 square feet and houses approximately 220 automobiles and farm equipment. The museum is divided into sections that wind their way through the building, making it an ideal setting for a museum. Over 100 vintage cars and tractors are on display at the Branson Auto & Farm Museum, many of which are for sale. The museum's car and farm inventories change regularly, so if you're not satisfied with the current displays, just come back another time. The museum houses a two-row wooden corn planter made by Brown Company in 1853 and an early 1900s wooden steam engine. The museum also features a favorite piece, a 1950s Chevy Nomad, a station wagon with a distinct shape. Branson Dinosaur Museum If your children enjoy seeing dinosaurs, bring them to the Branson Dinosaur Museum, which is the only place in Branson, MO, where they can see and learn about the exciting and towering creatures. Lifelike replicas of many dinosaurs allow visitors to get up close and personal with these creatures that roamed the earth millions of years ago. This museum, which is beautifully located on Highway 76 on the Strip next to Wal-Mart, features evidence and facts about some of the most powerful animals that ever lived on Earth. See the life-sized dinosaurs and other prehistoric animals sculpted by artists. This museum houses one of the world's largest collections of prehistoric animals, ranging from a two-story-high Tyrannosaurus Rex to a tiny 12-inch-tall Microraptor. The fantastic dinosaur recreations will provide you with hours of entertainment and excitement. At the Branson Dinosaur Museum, you can watch educational films in a high-definition movie theater. After a day of exploring museums, a large dinner, a leisurely hike, and a thrilling ride on the mountain coaster in Branson , you'll want to do nothing but relax at home.
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The Science Behind Roller Coasters Because of technological advancements, roller coasters are becoming more prominent, faster, and scarier. The gravity-propelled Branson mountain coaster , for example, provides a modern sort of entertainment. Unlike the first roller coasters, which were built in the mid-1880s, they were used to transport coal from the mountains to the town of Pennsylvania. Those coasters were rented out on weekends by fare-paying riders who rode just for amusement. Theme parks are thriving nowadays. But, with waits as long as eight hours for an average ride of lesser than two minutes – not to mention accounts of riders suffering strokes, brain deformity, and catastrophic injury as a result of crashes — how can we put up with it? What is it about roller coasters that some people adore, and is it an experience we get tired of as we get older? The desire to enjoy various innovative and intense physical experiences such as rock climbing and parachute jumping is linked to roller coaster enjoyment. But what is it about roller coasters that make them so appealing? At first look, it may appear to be due to speed experience. However, the evidence for a relationship between sensation seeking and speed is weak. For example, driving at speeds beyond the legal limit is something many individuals do, not only thrill-seekers. Perhaps the attraction of the Branson roller coaster is the visceral experience of terror itself, similar to viewing a horror movie. The "fight or flight reaction" refers to physical indications of fear such as a racing heart, quicker breathing, and an energy surge generated by the release of glucose. Researchers who recorded riders' pulse rates on the double-corkscrew Coca Cola Roller in 1980s Glasgow discovered that a roller coaster ride is likely to elicit this response. Heartbeats per minute more than doubled from an average of 70 before the ride to 153 shortly after it began. Some senior motorcyclists came dangerously near to what would be considered medically risky given their age. In another adrenaline-pumping activity, beginner bungee jumpers not only reported heightened sensations of well-being, wakefulness, and happiness immediately after completing a jump. They also had higher amounts of endorphins in their blood, which are widely known to cause emotions of tremendous pleasure. Surprisingly, the higher the endorphin levels, the more blissful the jumper reported feeling. In this case, there is clear evidence that people appreciate the sensations associated with the fight or flight response in a non-threatening situation. Pleasure vs stress Bungee jumpers also had higher amounts of cortisol, which is known to rise when people are stressed. So, how can a person feel both worry and pleasure simultaneously? The answer is that not all stress is detrimental. Eustress – derived from the Greek "eu," which means "good," as in euphoria – is a type of stress that people intentionally seek out. Thanks to a fascinating study conducted by two Dutch psychologists, we now know that a roller coaster ride can be described as "eustressful." They were curious about asthma, specifically its relationship with stress. After noting prior research findings that stress causes people with asthma to view their asthma symptoms as more severe, they wondered if administering eustress could reverse. As a result, several asthmatic student volunteers were transported to a theme park and rode a roller coaster while their respiratory function was tested in the name of science. The research findings were astounding. While the yelling and general turmoil diminished lung function, it also reduced the sensation of shortness of breath. 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