The prettiest time of year is fast approaching, and Branson offers its own special presentation of autumn. Of course, every season in Branson brings its own kind of beauty, and we ought to know, cause there are five of them! That’s right, only here will you find one holiday celebrated to such an extent that it’s become its own season, and that’s Christmas - in Branson, it begins on November 1 and runs through December 31...but more on that glorious time of year in another post! Our next big season is fall, bringing with it nice weather, changing leaves, festival fun, shopping, fall flavors in food offered at events and attractions, and so much more.
We’re offering five easy ways to get the best out of the beauty of Branson in the fall, but don’t forget to schedule plenty of time in your itinerary to take in a show, live entertainment is what put Branson on the map after all! Need a few ideas? Look here: "See The Beatles in Branson, Courtesy of Liverpool Legends!“ -- "Amazing Acrobats of Shanghai - Branson’s Most Electrifying Show Experience!” -- “Branson’s C.J. Newsom - Music and Laughs Delivered with Country Class!” -- “George Dyer in Branson MO - Bringing You Everything from Broadway to Bublé!” -- “The Branson Spotlight Shines Brightly on The Johnson Strings!” -- “Branson’s Gettin’ Down with the Motown Sound in Historic Downtown!” -- “The Haygoods in Branson - “Hey,” They’re Not Just “Good,” They’re Fantastic! (see what we did there…)” And there are still plenty of concerts ahead for 2019: “Big Names in Branson for 2019 - 22 Concerts Coming Up!”
1. New Harvest Festival at Silver Dollar City: Fall at Branson’s famous, multi-award-winning theme park is gorgeous and festive, and Silver Dollar City ushers it in with the all new Harvest Festival! Featuring “Craft Days” and “Pumpkin Nights,” this colorful festival offers Cirque Eloize Lumberjacks Show, scores of artisans demonstrating their work, thousands of enchanting pumpkins illuminated throughout the park, lots of fun fall activities, loads of treats and tasty eats, and new characters, like Peter & Penelope Pumpkin. With night-time roller coaster thrills and other exciting rides, and a seasonal celebration with pumpkins carved without anything scary in mind, kids of all ages are sure to have a blast at the new Harvest Festival!
Schedule: Harvest Festival runs from September 25 through October 26
Location: Silver Dollar City is located just a quick hop, skip, and a jump up Highway 76 on Indian Point - 399 Silver Dollar City Parkway - you’ll discover easy-to-follow signs along the way.
Nice to Know: The park is closed on Monday and Tuesday throughout the Festival.
2. Country Music Days at Silver Dollar City: This new 13-day event features live country music, a barn dance, and more! A Saturday night celebrity concert series features: Steve Wariner, the country star who gave us 14 hits that topped the charts, including “All Roads Lead to You,” “I Got Dreams,” and “Life’s Highway” -- Shenandoah, the unforgettable group that scored more than two dozen hits, including #1 songs like “Two Dozen Roses,” “The Church on Cumberland Road,” and “Next to You, Next to Me” -- Sawyer Brown, the multi-awarded group-of-the-year that scored dozens of hits, including chart-toppers “Some Girls Do,” “Thank God for You,” and “Step That Step.” And don’t miss Grammy-nominated and Branson favorite, Billy Yates!
Schedule: Country Music Days runs from September 2 through 22
September 6 - 22: Billy Yates’ Hit Songwriters in the Round on the Gazebo Stage -- Barn Dance in the Red Gold Heritage Hall
September 6 - 8: Splinter Middleton & the Missouri Plowboys at the Dockside Theater -- Next of Kin in the Boatworks Theater
September 7: Steve Wariner -- Echo Hollow Amphitheatre -- 6:00 p.m.
September 11 - 15: Eastern Heights in the Dockside Theater -- Renata in the Boatworks Theater
September 14: Shenandoah -- Echo Hollow Amphitheatre -- 6:00 p.m.
September 18 - 20: Makenna & Brock in the Dockside Theater -- Justin Terry in the Boatworks Theater
September 21: Sawyer Brown -- Echo Hollow Amphitheatre -- 6:00 p.m.
September 21 - 22: Matt Gumm in the Dockside Theater
Location: Silver Dollar City is located just a quick hop, skip, and a jump up Highway 76 on Indian Point - 399 Silver Dollar City Parkway - you’ll discover easy-to-follow signs along the way.
Nice to Know: The park is closed on Monday and Tuesday throughout the Festival.
3. Ozarks’ Scenery: Changing leaves, rolling hills, stunning valleys, and sparkling lakes can be found throughout the Branson area. Favorite drives include heading toward the eastern part of Taney County, and cruising along the Ozark Mountain Highroad - take Highway 65 south and exit at F Highway toward Forsyth to enjoy the scenery out in the eastern Taney County neck of the woods, or turn left and take the seven mile journey that features sweeping curves, hills, and a view that’s pretty much free of billboards and other roadside advertising. And then there’s neighboring Arkansas, just minutes south of Branson and one of the country’s most beautiful states, offering even more beautiful views of the Ozark Mountain landscape along Highway 65.
Schedule: The scenery is worth viewing year-round, but colorful fall leaves are best during October.
Location: As mentioned above: Highway 65 - Ozark Mountain Highroad - F Highway
Nice to Know: Pictures are always important, but please leave that task to passengers in the car - there are many stretches of roadway with curves and hills. You can also leave the driving to a professional and take the VIP Tours’ Discover Branson Tour!
4. More of the Great Branson Outdoors: Branson is brimming with outdoor attractions, made even more fun in the cooler autumn weather, including multiple things to see and do at Shepherd of the Hills Homestead & Adventure Park, scores of thrill rides that include mountain coasters, ziplines, and more, Branson’s Promised Land Zoo, and Main Street Lake Cruises at Branson Landing on the lovely Lake Taneycomo, just downhill from Historic Downtown Branson. Lake Taneycomo, Table Rock Lake, and Bull Shoals Lake all offer excellent fishing year-round, and golf in Branson is especially fabulous in the fall!
Schedule: Many of Branson’s outdoor activities can be enjoyed year-round - follow links to more information and operating schedules.
Location: Ditto just above!
Nice to Know: Again, the links will prove more information, but remember to make reservations in advance for popular attractions, like the Cruises and activities at Shepherd of the Hills.
5. Inspiration Tower: We’ve already included Shepherd of the Hills, the landmark Branson destination within a destination, in our Great Branson Outdoors segment above, but the view from the iconic Inspiration Tower deserves its own special mention. This 230-foot tower brings guests to the top observation deck via glass-enclosed elevators where the 360-degree views stretch as far as the eye can see - clear days, which are common during Branson’s fall season, can provide visibility as far as 90 miles away! There’s a gift shop on the ground level, and the Tower is home to the Vigilante Extreme ZipRider.
Schedule: Daily from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Location: 5586 West Highway 76 at the Shepherd of the Hills Homestead & Adventure Park
Nice to Know: Inspiration Tower is one very sturdy structure - it’s constructed of steel, glass, stone, and concrete that can withstand a constant wind of 172 miles per hour, and wind gusts at an incredible 224 miles per hour.
If you haven’t yet been to Branson in 2019, or even if you have, the fall season is always an ideal time to visit, especially for young couples and empty-nesters out there who enjoy visiting after all the kiddoes have headed back to school! See you soon!