Memorial Day Weekend marks beginning of Branson’s summer outdoor season

Silver Dollar City's world class coaster, "Wildfire" and its spectacular view of the Ozark Hills and Table Rock Lake.

“Labor Day Weekend in Branson is the “unofficial” beginning of Branson’s summer outdoor season,” said Tammy Johnson, the Director of Operations for the Branson Tourism Center (BTC), one of Branson’s largest and most respected vacation planning services. “Branson’s unique blend of natural beauty, live entertainment, lakes, attractions, shopping, Ozarks heritage, and other exciting activities make it the ideal place for families to relax, have fun and make memories that will last for a lifetime not only over the long Labor Day weekend, but anytime.”

What’s a long holiday weekend for most, is the opportunity for Branson to show why it was listed in the Top 25 of the 2012 Travelers’ Choice® Destinations Awards. From its newest and biggest shopping attraction, Branson Landing on its eastern border, to its oldest and most popular paid attraction, the award winning 1880s styled theme park Silver Dollar City to the west, and everything in between, Branson will be bursting with fun filled activities, shows, attractions, water sports, fishing, golfing, hiking and dozens of other activities that makes  it such the premier travel destination.

Branson’s biggest water park, the Polynesian themed “White Water,” with its 13 acres, 7,000 feet of water slides and 2 million gallons of cool wet fun opens for its 2012 season over the Memorial Day Weekend on May 26. From its iconic seven story multiple slide “Kalani Towers” to its “Aloha River at Hula Bay, with over 800 feet of “unexpected twists and turns, fountains, misters, bubblers, geysers, a 30-foot tall tiki water tower and more” it’s easy to see why White Water is called “Mid-America’s Nearby Island Adventure.” And that’s just one of Branson’s many attractions.

All of the attractions that make Branson so much fun, from butterflies to tigers, world class coasters to cruises, championship golf courses to mini golf, zip lines to hiking and so much more will be open. These include the 1880’s styled award winning theme park, Silver Dollar City, with its dozens of rides, shows, and craftsmen which will be celebrating its Bluegrass and BBQ Festival during the Labor Day weekend; the Titanic Museum Attraction, remembering the 100th anniversary of the sinking of the Titanic; the National Tiger Sanctuary, the Butterfly Palace and Rainforest Adventure and many more.

Main Street Cruise's Landing Princess and Lake Queen viewing Branson Landing's spectacular Water and Fire Show.

For many, Memorial Day Weekend is a time to be out at the Lake. Branson has thousands of miles of shoreline on its three lakes, Table Rock Lake, Bull Shoals Lake and Lake Taneycomo available for boating, swimming and a wide range of other aquatic activities along with some of the finest bass and trout fishing in the nation. Whether one experiences Branson’s lakes in their own boat, a rental boat or aboard one of the cruise boats such Main Street Cruise’s Lake Queen or Landing Princess on Lake Taneycomo or the Showboat Branson Belle on Table Rock Lake, the opportunity to experience the unique and beautiful view of the Ozarks from “out on the lake” should not be missed.

Dog Days at Dogwood Canyon, on Saturday, May 26, is another Memorial Day Weekend outdoor activity that was created “especially for all the great dogs out there!” Throughout the day, various demonstrations will be held “including bird dog demonstrations, Frisbee demonstrations and cattle dog demonstrations” with “dogs ” receiving half price admission and “getting a complimentary logo’d bandana to sport.”

Memorial Day Weekend Fireworks displays will blast off Sunday evening, May 27, at dusk. One display will be at Big Cedar Lodge as part of its Patriotic Picnic and Fireworks event and the other at the Chateau on the Lake as part of its Memorial Day Celebration. The public is invited to both with the best views from Table Rock Lake, the property’s grounds, or in the case of the Chateau on the Lake, the peninsula area located just north of the Table Rock Dam.

“One of the exciting and unique things about Branson is that all of Branson’s outdoor activities are just minutes away from Branson’s great shows, shopping, and everything else Branson has to offer,” said Branson Tourism Center’s Johnson. “Where else could someone be dropped off to go trout fishing and be shopping at a fabulous shopping venue like Branson Landing two minutes later?” she continued.

Johnson said that Memorial Day Weekend is one of Branson’s busiest weekends and suggests advance reservations for shows and lodging to ensure availability and the best seating and accommodations. For additional information on Branson’s Memorial Day Weekend activities or information or tickets for any of Branson’s shows and attractions or for lodging arrangements please contact the Branson Tourism Center by either calling their toll free number 1-800-785-1550 or through their website www.BransonTourismCenter.com.

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