This Midwest Destination Is America's 'Christmas Tree City' — How to Visit

Branson, Missouri, has more than 700 decorated trees.

Branson, Missouri, has been known as an entertainment destination for decades, but it has another claim to fame that draws tourists in the winter: the Ozark town is called America’s Christmas Tree City.

While Branson’s holiday festivities saw an uptick in the late 1980s when it added Christmas shows to boost winter tourism, it wasn’t until 2015 that the city earned its Christmas tree rep. That’s when the Branson Christmas Coalition set a goal to make Branson the American city with the most decorated Christmas trees. “With all of the businesses and creativity in this town, we thought this would be the perfect place to do Christmas trees like no one else does,” Ann McDowell, the executive director for the Branson Christmas Coalition, told Travel + Leisure.

Now, the city has over 700 decorated trees during the holidays at both indoor and outdoor locations. There’s even a “Christmas Tree Trail” from Nov. 1, 2023, through Jan. 1, 2024 — visitors can download the guide with an interactive map at bransonchristmas.info.

More travelers are visiting during the holidays and making Branson a part of their Christmas tradition. "What brings people here is the genuine hospitality of the people,” McDowell said. “We love entertaining visitors and the Christmas season is perfect for that."

For a truly festive experience in Branson, here are some notable experiences you can’t miss.

Silver Dollar City

Silver Dollar City, an 1880s theme park, debuted an 80-foot Christmas tree last year with more than one million lights that created animated imagery. It’s back this year with a nightly music and light show, and a can’t-miss “Old Time Christmas Festival.”

Dolly Parton’s Stampede

Dolly Parton is known for loving Christmas so it’s no surprise that Dolly Parton’s Stampede — a dinner experience with 32 horses and thrilling stunts — celebrates the season in a big way. It’s got elves, iconic holiday songs, a live Nativity, and 15 trees on the property — the most notable one is the ribbon tree formed by Stampede performing during the dinner show.

“Stampede arena is magically transformed into a true fantasy land, complete with twinkling holiday lights, evergreens, poinsettias, old-fashioned holiday costumes, and familiar holiday music,” says the website. “The entire Stampede cast of performers, including our 32 magnificent horses, will take you on a nostalgic holiday adventure.”

Titanic Museum

Branson is home to the Titanic Museum, which houses more than 400 historical artifacts from the ill-fated luxury liner and a replica of the Grand Staircase. During the holidays, the museum puts up a 25-foot red tree outside to honor the 135 children on the ship. The color red is symbolic of the RMS Titanic's hull, which was red below the water line, and because it represents “love, joy, and celebration.” Inside the museum, there are 10 decorated trees and hundreds of red teddy bears.

Light Shows

Local restaurants and attractions get in on the holiday cheer by putting up lighting displays, but one of the coolest experiences is going to a drive-thru light show. The city’s oldest show is The Trail of Lights at Shepherd of the Hills, which boasts “millions of multi-colored animated and themed Christmas lights and historic displays” on a 160-acre farm. There’s also the “Lights of Joy”, which takes visitors through a Christmas Safari and Santa's Village, and “Let There Be Lights,” which is a two-mile journey through the Promised Land Zoo. (The zoo even has real reindeer!)

Christmas Shows

There’s no shortage of live entertainment in Branson and during the holidays, most theaters have a special Christmas-themed show. Presleys’ Christmas Jubilee, Haygood’s  Christmas Show, and the Duttons’ Christmas are some local musical family shows.

Sight & Sound Theatre’s Miracle of Christmas is a perennial holiday favorite, featuring a cast of 50 actors, live animals, and world-class special effects. Their 2,000-seat auditorium features a 300-foot stage in front of an LED screen made of 1,200 individual panels — the largest of its kind in the world. And don't forget to pose for a photo-op with the 52-foot evergreen tree in front of the theater.

How to Plan Your Stay

Branson is served by two airports: the Branson Airport (BKG), which is the closest, and Springfield-Branson National Airport (SGF), which offers more direct flights into the area. For guests flying in, renting a car makes it convenient to get around town. During the day, Sparky the free Downtown Trolly is available.

Those who want to stay in the middle of Branson's historic downtown can consider Hilton Promenade at Branson Landing — the popular shopping and dining center overlooks Lake Taneycomo and the synchronized Christmas tree. There's also the Chateau on the Lake. Here, guests should allow plenty of time for the Home for the Holiday events, including baking with Mrs. Claus, holiday crafts and scavenger hunt, the ice skating rink, and its village of gingerbread houses.

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