City Lights....

One of the highlights of our trip to Branson each Thanksgiving is Silver Dollar City, a theme park that hosts An Old Time Christmas each year that Good Morning America called one of the top 5 holiday events in the country.

We went 2 different afternoons and I only took my camera with me the second day.   I've taken so many photos of this beautiful place already!  I did have to snap a few to see if I could improve on my night-time shooting.  Some are okay, others not so much, so I need to keep practicing!  That means we'll just have to keep going back another year until I get it right!  Right? 

Here is a closer look at the same area as in the photo above.  You can see by the sky that it wasn't quite dark yet.  If you haven't been to this park and plan to go, wear comfortable shoes and expect to walk a lot.  This park covers 61 acres, of course that includes the space for the 30 rides and attractions, 60 shops and restaurants, etc.  Yes, there are lots of shops to entice you to spend money...lots of money.  Some have been known to call it Steal Yer Dollar City...ha!

There are so many food stands/restaurants that sell yummy, good-smelling food that it's certainly not too hard for me to part with my money!   There are funnel cakes, apple dumplings with cinnamon ice cream, potato twists, cheese-filled Italian bread sticks, hot chocolate with various toppings...just to name a few!
I always like the Family Feud bowl and my daughter ate a potato twister on a dog.  The Family Feud is so called, I believe, because the family tries to help you eat it and I don't like to share!  Ha!  This yummy dish is made in a really huge iron skillet over a fire.  Have you ever tried fried pork rinds?  Kettle corn?  

 

  

There are beautiful trees and displays everywhere.  And, Christmas music!!  If you aren't in the Christmas spirit when you came in, you will be when you leave.  Unless you are a real Scrooge!  

 
The old Wilderness Church is small but often used for weddings.  It is close to the old cabin where we enjoy listening to the Homestead Pickers.

I shot this photo just as we were boarding the bus that took us to the parking lot where we parked.  The colors of all the lights are just fabulous in the park and my camera just doesn't do them justice.  

I hope you've enjoyed this short tour of Silver Dollar City.  We had a fabulous and fun time!!  It's a beautiful experience and I wish everyone could visit this place.  The first time you see it, it really is overwhelming and just takes your breath away.   I must warn you that there are lots of people there!  But we easily found places to sit down to rest a bit.  There are picnic tables by some of the food stands and also benches all around the park.  Besides gazing at the beautiful lights, it's almost as fun to just people watch!  We had a wonderful 5 days in Branson, I'll post another day about another favorite place we visited. 

Until next time...