Tag: @HughesMusicShow

Must See Branson Christmas Shows

Must See Christmas Shows in Branson, Missouri

November 29, 2018

When I received my itinerary for the #BloggingBranson trip I couldn’t believe how many Christmas shows we were going to see!  I had seen more shows on that trip than I have seen my entire life.  Which makes me want to take my kids to more shows!

I was invited by Stone Castle Hotel and Conference Center as part of a media FAM to explore Branson, Missouri. All opinions are 100% my own.

Three of My Must See Christmas Shows in Branson

While on this trip I saw seven live Christmas Shows.  The three of them that I am sharing today were performed by (in no particular order).

  • The Clay Cooper Theater
  • The Hughes Brothers Christmas Show
  • Branson’s Famous Baldknobbers

After seeing my first ever Broadway-style Christmas show in Branson, I was blown away by the quality of the performance, the friendliness of the staff, and the hospitality from the star of each show!  These theaters were run by families, and each family was very proud of their theaters.  Each show had a special uniqueness to them which makes it possible to see several shows in one trip.

I would love to see a show from each theater during the non holiday season.  If you would like a chance to see two of these performers I have a giveaway at the end of this blog post.  You will have a chance to win tickets to Clay Cooper Theatre or The Baldknobbers.

Clay Cooper Theatre

Must See BranSon Christmas Shows

The first thing that I noticed when arrived was our greeting.  One of the actual performers was our welcome guide who would direct us into the lobby for our group photograph and then to our seats.  While there he talked with us a little bit about his role in the show and when to look out for him.  Little did I know he was in the most of the show!

Must See Branson Christmas Shows

Then we had a hysterical pre-show.  My face hurt from laughing so much.  I was so entertained.

The hospitality was felt again when Clay Cooper came out and sang and then welcomed us and walked out to the audience to greet people.  It was amazing!  He remembered everyone’s names too!  He even walked over to us and I got to speak to him!

Must See Branson Christmas Shows

The performance was amazing.  I also really enjoyed their nod to the classics with the Grinch and the antics with the Batman versus Robin style mischief.  Having not been familiar with variety shows, I loved it.  The first half of the show was part of Clay’s Country Express show and then the holiday show after intermission.

Must See Branson Christmas Shows

When the show was over and the audience left we had the opportunity to interview a member of the show.  I had the great pleasure to interview Tina Cooper. Clay’s wife creates the Christmas show and the choreography for it among other things like being a mom, and wife and a business owner!  I loved hearing that even performers have lives just like ours.  Their “office hours” may be different from ours are, but at the end of the day, they are packing lunches and getting their families ready for their next day, too.

After the interviews were over Clay was so gracious to do individual and then group photographs with all of us. What a fun night! And the bar was now set high for the expectations of the Must See Branson Christmas Shows!

Must See BranSon Christmas Shows

Must See Branson Christmas Shows

The Hughes Brothers Christmas Show

I was so touched by the Hughes Brothers Christmas Show.  This show was different from the Clay Cooper Show and the Branson Baldknobbers show because it was a Christmas Show from start to finish.

The Hughes Brother Show was so beautiful.  The entire show’s performers were all family members whether they were brother, sister, cousin, husband, wife, niece or nephew.  Somehow they are all related.

Must See Branson Christmas Shows

The theme of the show was to explain the meaning of Christmas and the symbolism of Santa Clause, candy canes, Christmas trees, and the colors of holiday to the story of the birth of Jesus and the real reason for the season.

Must See Branson Christmas Shows

The harmony of their voices, and the sounds of their violins were so beautiful. The show was filled with beautiful dances, beautiful dresses, eloquent dancing, solos and also lots of children!  This show moved me.

Must See Branson Christmas Shows

I had the pleasure of interviewing Joseph Hughes.  I was goofing around with several of the children right after the show and so when it was time for me to interview Joseph, all of the kids wanted to see what we were doing!  So I had to squeeze us all in the shot!  Hope you enjoy their curiosity and playfulness during this interview!

If  you are ever in Branson you have to visit the Hughes Brothers Theater.  They have been awarded the Best Christmas Show from BransonShowAwards.com.  I don’t want to give too much away, but one of my favorite parts of the show is the Carol of the Bells.

The Branson Baldknobbers

Like the Clay Cooper Show, The Branson Baldknobbers are a variety show that mixes comedy in with their musical performances.  They had us in stitches with their comedians Hargus and Droopy.

The Mabe Family perform at the new Branson Famous Theatre and began this entertainment phenomenon 58 years ago.  Their style of music is a blend of country music, gospel and some bluegrass.  The Mabe family intends to take their legacy into the future as well.

After the show I had the chance to interview one of the band members, Grant Moody who also happens to perform in several other theaters in Branson.  This young musician has a lot going on!

Must See Branson Christmas Shows Giveaway

If you would like to win tickets to a Clay Cooper Theatre or The Branson Baldknobbers show, follow the steps below to enter the giveaway.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Now that you have heard about the three different shows I had the pleasure to see, which one would you like to see first?

Christmas In The Ozarks

Have Yourself An Ozark Mountain Christmas #BloggingBranson

November 15, 2018

I was invited by Stone Castle Hotel and Conference Center as part of a media FAM to explore Branson, Missouri. All opinions are 100% my own.

Where Are the Ozark Mountains?

Christmas In The OzarksIf you are a Netflix subscriber, then you are familiar with the reference to the Ozarks. But have you ever been to the Ozarks yourself?  I have not, so when I landed in Springfield, Missouri, I did not know what I was going to expect.  When I arrived in Branson, Missouri, it was already dark out.  So I really didn’t know what the landscape looked like.  But I did get a sense for the “hills” in Branson as I was traveling along the Interstate with long winding hills and no street lights.

The next morning as I met the members of the #BloggingBranson group I would soon learn about the beauty, hospitality, loyalty, and patriotism that this little city can offer on top of its entertainment, lodging, attractions, and restaurants!

What Is There To Do In The Ozark Mountains?

Over the next several weeks I will share with you what I have experienced from my visit to the locations listed below.  But that’s not all that Branson, Missouri has to offer.

  • The Showboat Branson Belle and Silver Dollar City
  • Clay Cooper Theatre, The Hughes Brothers Christmas Show, and the Baldknobbers
  • Branson’s IMAX Entertainment Complex, Montana Mikes, and McFarlains Restaurant
  • The Titanic Museum Attraction and the Branson Ferris Wheel
  • Stone Castle Hotel & Conference Center
  • Pasghetti’s
  • Dolly Parton’s Stampede Dinner Attraction

In addition to the several locations that I was able to enjoy during my three-day tour of Branson, the bloggers also had the opportunity to find an adventure of their liking.  I selected zip lining and snow tubing (without snow) at Branson Zipline at Wolfe Mountain.

My family and I love adventures so I knew I wanted to try something that I think we all would enjoy.  There’s no doubt that my family won’t love zip lining.  We took one ride down the mountain and ended our journey with a 100-foot free fall.  And-I-Loved-Every-Minute-of-It!

How To Get Into The Christmas Spirit In Branson

That’s not hard to do!  Once I exited the main highway and drove towards Branson, I saw the twinkling of some Christmas lights.  Then I slowed down as I went around the corner and started to take in the signs and lights everywhere, the theaters and mini golf parks, the shops, the entertainment complexes, and the hotels.  They were all decorated for the Christmas holiday!

So I’ve been told, on November 1, a switch it clicked and Halloween is only a distant memory as the holiday lights flood your view along the streets, hotels and theaters.  And it sure does look beautiful!

Visit the Live Christmas Shows

Even if you just see one holiday show, it will be enough to put you in the mood for the holidays.

Christmas In The OzarksThere’s more than one to choose from and the Branson partners that we had the opportunity to visit were:

  • Clay Cooper
  • The Hughes Family
  • The BaldKnobbers
  • The Showboat Branson Belle
  • Dolly Parton’s Stampede Dinner Attraction

I’ll be sharing in more detail my experience at each of the shows listed above in future blog posts.  They all have a unique story to tell and I want to be sure I give you the true essence of what each show offers. But I can guarantee you that there is not one bad show.

See The Holiday Lights

There are several places where you can see the holiday lights, but no other place has over 6.5 million!  Silver Dollar City’s An Old Time Christmas features the Christmas in Midtown Light Spectacular once again.

Rudolph’s Holly Jolly™ Christmas Light Parade winds through the streets of the City twice each evening. A 5-story special effects Christmas Tree with a light and sound show also “performs” throughout the evening.

You can also catch two Broadway-style original musicals, A Dickens’ Christmas Carol, and It’s a Wonderful Life during your visit to Silver Dollar City.

Dining in Branson, Missouri

There is no shortage of places to eat in Branson.  And it wasn’t hard to find a great place to eat as well!  I enjoyed every meal I had while touring Branson.  We ate our first group meal at Montana Mikes, famous for their great steaks and burgers!  We had the pleasure of meeting the Sales Manager Tom who told us the story of how the current owners are 90 years old but still enjoy running the business.

Ninety percent of people who are on vacation want a great experience.  You will get that when you visit Montana Mikes.  Montana Mike’s is also owned by Branson’s IMAX Entertainment Complex.

Lunch on Monday was at McFarlains Restaurant inside Branson’s IMAX Entertainment Complex, where I had my first experience trying fried green tomatoes!  I liked them and would consider making them at home since many times my tomatoes stay green for quite a long time!  You can add to your experience at the restaurant by asking for a round table in the dining area.  I’ll share what makes that seating arrangement so special in my recap of the restaurant.

The Perfect Ozark Christmas Itinerary

From booking your room at the Stone Castle Hotel & Conference Center, to finding the right entertainment and activities for your family.  You can do as much or as little as you want when you prepare your trip to Branson.  With so much to do there, you have to leave options open for future visits.

Don’t forget, when you stay at the Stone Castle Hotel & Conference Center, you can enjoy a full hot breakfast every day, the convenience of a location in an area where you can avoid the traffic, themed rooms, two indoor pools, and an amazing staff!

How to Have an Ozark Mountain Christmas

Veteran’s Appreciation Week

I had no idea how supportive Branson is to the veterans.  During the week prior to Veteran’s Day Branson supports the veterans with various events, special shows and a parade.  I had several opportunities to talk with veterans, be an outlet for them to share their story and to just listen.

Include Branson As A Must Do For Your Upcoming Vacation

Everything in Branson is family or privately owned.  So when you are coming into town to see the shows and eat your meals out at restaurants.  You are helping the families and owners support their business and keep their doors open for another season.

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