Plan to celebrate Christmas in Branson this year! There are a lot of fun festive things to do in Branson during the holiday seasons and beautifully festive places to stay.
I live in Oklahoma and since I was a kid I have taken many vacations to Branson Missouri. My family had a timeshare there for years and my grandparents did as well. It’s a fun vacation spot with a lot to do.
For several years my husband and I would take an annual trip to Branson shortly before Christmas. It’s been a few years since we’ve been able to make it back but we hope to again in the future. All of the photos in this post are from our past trips.
Branson is one of those places that goes all out for Christmas. Everywhere is decorated and it feels like you are inside of a Christmas movie. It’s also family friendly and more affordable than many tourist destinations.
The one thing to be sure to consider is the weather. Branson is very hilly and a little ice can make it dangerous. As long as you keep that in mind you can have a wonderful Christmas vacation.
Celebrating Christmas in Branson Missouri
There are many elements to a great Christmas vacation. Making sure you have planned well can help make sure you have the best trip possible.
Where to Stay in Branson Missouri
There are many great hotels and time shares in Branson but three of my top picks for the holiday season are Big Cedar Lodge, the Hilton Promenade at Branson Landing and the Hilton Branson Convention Center.
Big Cedar Lodge
I’ve not personally stayed at Big Cedar Lodge but have explored the property many times. My grandparents stayed there a few times including one time they rented one of the private cabins. I got to spend some time there and it is the perfect spot for a Christmas vacation but it is a splurge. It’s on my bucket list though to stay there during the holiday season.
Big Cedar Lodge has a lot to do and is a fun visit even if you aren’t staying on property. The last time my husband and I were in Branson we ate at one of their great restaurants, Osage Restaurant. It is beautiful, the food was good, and the view is amazing, even at night.
While there we also explored the Ancient Ozarks Natural History Museum which is very affordable and a really nice museum. We enjoyed our visit and will be back.
Other things available to do at Big Cedar include multiple golf courses, pools, a marina, Fun Mountain which is packed with family fun activities, a lake cruise and so much more. Some activities are seasonal so be sure to check before booking your stay.
Hilton Promenade at Branson Landing
The Hilton Promenade is the hotel my husband and I have stayed at the most while visiting Branson at Christmas time. It’s located on Branson Landing which is a shopping, dining, and entertainment area in Branson. It’s walkable and during the holidays is decorated for Christmas and they play Christmas music all day. There is also a beautiful, state of the art fountain that does shows throughout the day. It’s a magical area that we love.
They have both regular style rooms as well as condos. My husband and I always get a condo. We like being able to make some of our meals in the room and always get a balcony so we can enjoy people watching and watch the fountain show from our room.
They have a casual restaurant in the hotel that has nice food and other good amenities. It’s a beautiful hotel and the lobby is always very festive.
Hilton Branson Convention Center
The last time we visited Branson we stayed at the Hilton Branson Convention Center hotel. It’s across the stress from the Hilton Promenade which puts it in historic downtown Branson.
It is also a beautiful hotel with more of a upscale vibe than the Promenade. They also have regular rooms or condo style rooms. We again stayed at a condo style room. It was very nice and comfortable.
There is a very nice steak restaurant in this hotel that is perfect for a romantic dinner. Even when we stay at the Promenade we always get at least one dinner at this restaurant during our stay.
The restaurant also has a nice cocktail bar which features a fun Christmas tree made out of wine bottles and always has friendly staff. It’s a nice place to relax in the evening.
The Christmas tree photo at the top of this article is the tree in the lobby of the Hilton Branson Convention Center hotel.
What to Do While Visiting Branson at Christmas Time
You can visit Branson several years in a row and still not catch all the fun activities to do there around the holidays. The Explore Branson website has a whole Christmas section that is another place to check for ideas for your Christmas vacation. I’m going to share some of the places I’ve been personally and my experience.
Winter Wonderlanding at Branson Landing
I talked some about Branson Landing with my review of the Hilton Promenade but even if you aren’t staying there it’s a fun place to visit. It features a 63-foot state-of-the-art LED animated Christmas tree, a fountain show that runs at the top of every hour weather permitting, and it has several restaurants, shops, and fun activities. The photo above was taken on Branson Landing.
Silver Dollar City
Silver Dollar City can be pretty busy during the holiday season but it is a very place to visit. For November and December they celebrate an Old Time Christmas which features live Christmas shows, 1,000 decorated Christmas trees including an eight-story Christmas tree, a Christmas light parade, and more.
Christmas Shows
There are many live shows to visit during Christmas. This is not something my husband and I have done but as a kid I went to some. Most have changed since I’ve visited so I can’t give a personal experience but it is something to check out while visiting. Explore Branson has a list of the top shows and their schedules.
Christmas Tree Trail
Area businesses and residents in Branson create “America’s Christmas Tree City” which features a Christmas tree tour with over 100 Christmas tree displays. Learn more and download the app to find all the trees.
Christmas Light Drive Through Displays
There are several Christmas light displays for you to visit while at Branson. The last time we were there we did the Lights of Joy trail and it was a fun display but I do recommend looking for discounts because it’s pricey when full price.
You can find all of the Christmas light displays to check out on Explore Branson.
Christmas on the Showboat Branson Belle
This unique show takes place on a boat on Table Rock Lake. You get a three-course meal, live entertainment and a beautiful look at the lake. During the holidays they offer Christmas shows including Santa’s Pancakes and PJs. I’ve not gone to the Christmas shows but have gone on the boat once and it was a fun experience. You can get tickets and show times on the Showboat Branson Belle website.
Christmas at Big Cedar Lodge
I talked about Big Cedar Lodge in the where to stay section some as well. We’ve not done everything they have to offer on site but it is such a beautiful place to visit. It’s all beautifully decorated and there are activities like wreath and ornament making, gingerbread house decorating, holiday wagon light tours and carriage rides, snowman ice cream socials, elf tuck-ins, breakfast with Santa, and more. There is also an ice skating rink.
Titanic Museum
The two-story Titanic Museum is a must-see. I’ve been multiple times including once during the holiday season when they decorate both the interior and exterior for Christmas.
The museum features 400 artifacts in 20 galleries and is a very immersive experience. You get a card of a person from the Titanic and get to learn what it would have been like for them as well as if that person survived.
Kringle’s Christmas Shop
Located in my favorite shopping center the Grand Village Shops Kringle’s Christmas Shop is open year-round. It’s my favorite Christmas shop and usually our first visit when we get to Branson.
It’s the largest Christmas shop in Missouri and features 125 designer-decorated Christmas trees and is 8,000 square feet filled with Christmas decor.
I recommend also checking out the other shops at Grand Village for some unique gifts. The Sugar Leaf Bakery is also a great stop for treats including delicious hot chocolate which is a must for me each visit.
Mel’s Hard Luck Diner while not really Christmas related is also a fun place. I love their old-fashioned milkshakes.
Other Christmas Activities
There are endless options for entertainment while staying in Branson. These are some fun activities that are available that I have not gone to and can’t share personal experience for.
- Snow Tubing at Wolfe Mountain
- The Polar Express Train Ride: This is located right by the Hilton hotels.
- Gingerbread Houses at Chateau on the Lake: This is on my list to visit. They have gingerbread village as well as the nativity scene that is featured in Home Alone
- Branson Ferris Wheel: They have an Electrify Christmas light display during the holiday season.
- North Pole Adventure at Shepherd of the Hills: There are many things to enjoy here including a light display and the tallest Christmas tree in the area.
- Helicopter Christmas Light Tours
- The Polar Express FlyRide: This is a new experience I haven’t see yet. It’s 4D experience that looks like a lot of fun for the whole family.
These are just some highlights of all that you can do in Branson Missouri for the holiday season. It’s a trip you need to have on your Christmas bucket list.
You can find more Christmas vacation spots on my list of the 8 Best Christmas Vacations in the US. And don’t forget to check out my list of tips for reducing holiday travel stress.
Pin this Post for Later
If you are still working on planning your Christmas trip to Branson Missouri, be sure to pin this post to your Pinterest account so you can find it later.
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