It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas in Silver Dollar City

Kansas Citians who want a spectacular holiday getaway that will please the whole family don’t have to drive far. From November 6 through December 30, Silver Dollar City is ringing in the Christmas season with a grand finale to its 50th Anniversary Celebration.

If you’re already dreading a houseful of kids who are all complaining of “nothing to do” during their Christmas vacation days from school, then make note of this special Branson holiday attraction.

“Take Time to Celebrate” has been the theme of the park’s 50th birthday, and Christmas time is the best time of all to gather the family together and be of good cheer.

“With one last hurrah of the celebration, we present the brightest festival of all—and the one most steeped in family traditions,” Peter Herschend, co-founder of Silver Dollar City, says.

An Old Time Christmas transforms the 1880s-style theme park into a winter wonderland, featuring the Christmas on Main Street light and sound show, one thousand decorated Christmas trees, a Holiday Light parade, the Broadway-style production A Dickens’ Christmas Carol, festive holiday food and over four million lights—plus rides! In temperatures down to 42 degrees, guests can soar into the night on The Giant Swing while viewing the awesome lights from above.

The five-story Christmas Tree, loaded with special effects, is the park's centerpiece, a towering visual icon that comes to life at dusk each evening.

Fine craftsmanship is showcased as the park’s one hundred artisans demonstrate their crafts and create one-of-a-kind handmade holiday items. The Culinary & Craft School celebrates with classes on Christmas specialties, while tastes of the season are abundance throughout the 100-acre park, including a prime rib buffet and traditional favorites, such as turkey with all the fixings.

USA Today, CNN Travel, The Travel Channel, and Good Morning America have recognized An Old Time Christmas as one of the nation’s top holiday celebrations.

Silver Dollar City’s Christmas celebration runs Thursdays through Sundays through December 19, plus Wednesday, November 24 and December 22-23, closed Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, and open daily December 26-30. Hours are 1 p.m.-9 p.m. most days. Check www.silverdollarcity.com for exact schedules or call 800-831-4FUN (386)

For more information about Christmas in Branson, go to An Ozark Mountain Christmas in Branson is a blast from the past.