The Light Parade winds its way through Silver Dollar City's Town Square.

BRANSON, Mo., December 5, 2013 – “Silver Dollar City’s Old Time Christmas has long been acknowledged both locally and nationally as one of the center pieces of Ozark Mountain Christmas,” said Tammy Johnson, the Director of Operations for the Branson Tourism Center, “but it was a joy to see it recognized as one of the 10 great theme parks for the holidays in a recent special written by Larry Bleiberg for USA TODAY. The source of the information for the piece was comments made by Robert Niles, editor of ThemeParkInsider.com who pointed out that theme parks “do Christmas on a scale you won’t find anywhere else” and shared 10 of the best at doing just that.

In his comments on why Silver Dollar City made his list Niles said, “This heartland park embraces Christmas traditions with a living Nativity scene, shows and holiday meals” and points out that the park also “features scores of themed trees, including one that towers five stories in the middle of the park.” Johnson points out that the award winning 1880s styled theme park turns into a glittering winter wonderland amid no less than 5 million sparkling lights and 1,000 decorated Christmas trees throughout the park.”

Of the five million lights, 1 million decorate the streets and cover the 40-foot-tall trees on the Town Square as part of the spectacular light & sound show, Christmas on Main Street featuring a five story Special Effects Christmas Tree. It has 350,000 energy-saving lights that are synchronized with music and to the lights decorating buildings around the square, down to one-hundredth of a second. This can result in over 6,000 light changes per minute. The twice nightly 100,000 light Gifts of Christmas Holiday Light Parade with 18 costumed characters and eight lighted musical floats is another unique and beautiful part of the parks Old Time Christmas celebration.

The parks unique live shows, including an original Silver Dollar musical production of It’s a Wonderful Life, adapted from the inspirational Frank Capra Christmas classic and the “acclaimed Broadway-style production A Dickens’ Christmas Carol, an original musical adaptation of the famous classic by Charles Dickens, with elaborate sets and visual effects, flying spirits, vanishing ghosts, revolving scenery and pyrotechnic special effects and others add to the overall spirit and experience of the Old Time Christmas celebration. When combined with everything else the award winning theme park offers, including craft demonstrations; some of the most unique shopping available anywhere in Branson; a full selection of holiday food and, weather permitting, some of the parks dozens of rides, it’s easy to see why Silver Dollar City’s Old Time Christmas would be listed as one of the “10 great theme parks for the holidays.”

For additional information on Silver Dollar City or tickets for any of Branson’s shows and attractions or for lodging arrangements please contact the Branson Tourism Center, one of Branson’s largest and most respected vacation planning services by calling 1-800-785-1550.

The iconic City Square with its five story Christmas Tree and the "Gifts of Christmas Holiday of Lights" parade passing through.

BRANSON, Mo., November 1, 2013 – “It’s certainly no understatement to point out that Silver Dollar City’s spectacular An Old Time Christmas Festival is the centerpiece of the Branson area wide celebration of Ozark Mountain Christmas,” said Tammy Johnson, the Director of Operations for the Branson Tourism Center. “Running from November 2 through December 30, it has been recognized nationally as one of the Nation’s best Christmas celebrations by The Travel Channel, Good Morning America, USA Today and many others.”

The award winning 1880s styled theme park turns into a glittering winter wonderland amid no less than 5 million sparkling lights and 1,000 decorated Christmas trees throughout the park. Of those, 1 million decorate the streets and cover the “40-foot-tall trees on the Town Square as part of the spectacular light & sound show, Christmas on Main Street.” This show features the 5 -Story Special Effects Christmas Tree, with 350,000 energy-saving lights synchronized with music and to the lights decorating buildings around the square, down to one-hundredth of a second which can result in a phenomenal 6,000 light changes per minute. When the twice nightly 100,000 light Gifts of Christmas Holiday Light Parade with 18 costumed characters and eight lighted musical floats is added the result is a unique and beautiful experience that will provide Christmas memories for a lifetime.

Scene from Dickens "Christmas Carol."

An Old Time Christmas also features a number of unique, exciting and entertaining shows. These include an original Silver Dollar musical production of It’s a Wonderful Life, adapted from the inspirational Frank Capra Christmas classic; the “acclaimed Broadway-style production A Dickens’ Christmas Carol, an original musical adaptation of the famous classic by Charles Dickens, with elaborate sets and visual effects, flying spirits, vanishing ghosts, revolving scenery and pyrotechnic special effects; the interactive musical show Frosty where kids help bring the legendary snowman to life, a musical Living Nativity, and the comedy Frontier Fa-la-la Follies’ in the Silver Dollar Saloon.”

Branson Tourism Center’s Johnson points out that, as is the case with all of Silver Dollar City’s world class festivals, the special events, shows and activities associated with An Old Time Christmas are in addition to everything else the award winning theme park offers. This includes craft demonstrations; some of the most unique shopping available anywhere in Branson; a full selection of “holiday food from a Prime Rib Buffet to a traditional turkey & dressing feast and making your own S’Mores, Apple Dumplings and Hot Wassail” and, weather permitting, rides including its new world class wood coaster Outlaw Run, named Best New Ride of 2013. Always thrilling, riding them after dark provides a special unique experience especially with millions of lights sparkling below.

Johnson reminds potential Branson visitors that Christmas is the busiest time of the year in Branson and suggests advance reservations for shows and lodging. She also points out that when you purchase your Silver Dollar City Ticket through Branson Tourism Center you get two days admission to the park for the price of one day. For additional information on either Ozark Mountain Christmas or Silver Dollar City’s An Ole Time Christmas. Please feel free to contact the Branson Tourism Center (BTC), through their toll free number, 1-800-785-1500 from 7 AM to 9 PM every day of the year, except Christmas Day, to talk with one of their trained, Branson Based, Vacation Travel Planners.

Shoji Tabuchi viewing the Titanic Violin while it was on display in Branson.

BRANSON, Mo., October 21, 2013 – The “Titanic Violin,” which was on display at the Branson Titanic Museum Attraction during the month of August and believed to the long lost violin that Titanic’s bandmaster, Wallace Hartley played as the R.M.S. Titanic sank during the early morning hours of April 15, 1912 after hitting an iceberg, was sold at auction on Oct. 19 for $1.45 million. The amount is a record setting price for a piece of Titanic memorabilia, easily eclipsing its nearest “competitor,” an actual plan of the Titanic used at the admiralty hearings on the sinking in 1912, by a multiple of more than four.

Although there were many skeptics as to the authenticity when its discovery was originally made public in 2006 years of testing and authenticating seems to have carried the day. While the violin was on display at the Titanic Museum Attraction in Branson, Craig Sopin, one of the largest private collectors of Titanic artifacts and memorabilia, who was initially one of the violins biggest skeptics was asked if he believed the violin was authentic. He replied, “I am absolutely convinced.” He said that he changed his mind based on his own investigation, the extensive physical testing that has been done on the violin and case and provenance evidence tracing the violin back to the Titanic.

The auction was held at Henry Aldridge and Son in Wiltshire, England who are specialists in auctioning Titanic memorabilia. Prior to the auction it was estimated that the violin would sell in the $322,000 to $488,000 range, but according to reports, after starting out at about $80,000 the bidding quickly rose to the point where, at the end, there were only two telephone bidders going head to head. The name of the victorious bidder was not announced.

In announcing the exclusive United States hosting of the Titanic Violin earlier this year Mary Kellogg, the co-owner of the Titanic Museum Attractions, said “We are so honored that, out of all the places in the United States, our Titanic Museum Attractions in Pigeon Forge and Branson were picked to host this violin and the opportunity to share this historic icon with our guests.” “How fortunate is Branson to have an attraction like the Titanic Museum Attraction with the reputation and ability to provide Branson visitors with the opportunity to get to see such an historic, iconic and valuable piece of history,” said Tammy Johnson, the Director of Operations for the Branson Tourism Center.