9 minute read
Publisher’s Note
It’s the most wonderful time of the year!
I love the Christmas season and all the fun, joy, and giving that comes with it. I love all the lights, decorating Christmas trees, holiday parties and giving gifts. However, it’s the time of year that we adore the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords. Let’s not miss out on the reason for the season.
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Our team had a lot of fun putting together our Holiday Issue and we hope you enjoy it. Our Holiday Issue is filled full of Holiday recipes, Winter Fashion, 20 Tips to Avoid Weight Gain During the Holidays, How to manage stress over the Holidays and so much more.
Our featured cover Silver Dollar City in Branson, Missouri, has already opened its yearly holiday event ‘An Old Time Christmas.’ 6.5 million. The big reason to visit this year is to experience Midtown, adding an additional 1.5 million lights to the parks already impressive display. It is the single largest expansion to the event in the past two decades. It’s a beautiful experience for all ages.
I wish you all the happiest of holidays. Let’s take time to remember what matters most spending time with family and making memories. Most of all Oh Come Let Us Adore Him… Jesus is the reason for the season.
Merry Christmas to your family fr om ours!
MISSOURI Magazine
Cheri Bullard, Publisher
Angie Decker, Creative Director
CJ Thomas, Contributing Writer
Jazmin Decker, Contributing Writer
Kelsie Ferguson, Contributing Writer Morgan Champion, Contributing Writer Aaron J. Bass, Sports Writer Crystal French, Photographer
Missouri Magazine is published monthly by CDM Media Group The opinions expressed by contributing writers are not necessarily those of the publisher or of Missouri Magazine. No part of this magazine may be reproduced without prior consent of the publisher.
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Silver Dollar City’s An Old Time Christmas is bigger and brighter than ever this year, presenting the NEW Christmas In Midtown Light Spectacular. Christmas In Midtown presents a towering new experience with new light displays soaring 9 stories high, adding 1.5 million more lights and bringing the park’s total to 6.5 million lights. The festival also features an evening light parade, two Broadway-style original musical productions, a 5-Story Special Effects Christmas Tree with a sound and light show and holiday dining, November 4 – December 30. The largest single lighting expansion in the past 2 decades of the festival, Christmas In Midtown takes holiday lighting to a new level, filling over an acre -- 70,000 square feet -- with 145 miles of LED lights. Huge light tunnels and wreath portals lead into the area, which includes flying angels, running reindeer, moving trains, a tree 90 feet high, musical trees with moving lights, dozens of stars and snowflakes, and a giant turning globe, all created at Silver Dollar City. The light experience begins on the Square with the 5-Story Special Effects Christmas Tree, a massive tree with over 350,000 colorful LED lights. Beginning at dusk each evening, the tree blazes to the movements of Christmas songs, with up to 100 light changes per second, while lights around the Square flash along. A parade of lights, Rudolph’s Holly Jolly™ Christmas Light Parade, winds through the streets of the City twice each evening. As Grand Marshal, Rudolph leads the evening parade of nine musical, lighted floats, illuminated with 200,000 LED lights. The parade is accompanied by 45 colorful costumed characters, including Bumble the Abominable Snow Monster, 14-foot moose characters, 12-foot tall elves, 10-foot candy canes, penguins, elves and marching wooden soldiers. The festival also features two original musical productions, A Dickens’ Christmas Carol and It’s a Wonderful Life. A Dickens’ Christmas Carol is an adaptation of the famous Dickens classic, with revolving sets, flying spirits, pyrotechnic special effects and a cast of 15, accompanied by a live band. It’s a Wonderful Life
presents a musical interpretation of the classic film, with unique special effects and a cast of 14 singers/ actors.
Popular festival features include shows such as Tinker Junior’s Toy Shop, with a 12-foot talking Christmas tree; a dramatic musical Living Nativity; strolling carolers; and holiday foods from a prime rib buffet to fresh-made fruitcakes, ginger cookies and hot wassail. Fine craftsmanship is also showcased, as the park’s 100 demonstrating craftsmen create oneof-a-kind handmade holiday items. Since its debut more than two decades ago, Silver Dollar City’s An Old Time Christmas has become one of the country’s most recognized events for spectacular lighting and entertainment, and has been profiled as one of the top holiday celebrations by USA Today, CNN Travel, The Travel Channel and Good Morning America. During An Old Time Christmas, Silver Dollar City is open Thursdays - Sundays November 4 – December 23, plus Wednesdays Nov. 22 and Dec. 20; closed Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, and open daily December 26-30. Hours are 1 to 9 p.m. most days, with extended hours on Saturdays and Thanksgiving weekend. Silver Dollar City is also open New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day this year, for a new event, a “New Year’s Celebration.” The 6.5 million holiday lights are still on and special entertainment is: • A dance party with Members Only, a tribute band performing the hits of the ‘80s • Christian Rock with the Dove Award-winning band Disciple • The group AYO, seen on America’s Got Talent • World-renowned juggler, artist and comedian Albert Lucas Hours are 11 am to 7 pm December 31, and noon to 8 pm on Jan. 1, 2018.
Celebrate Christmas features an all-star cast of entertainers performing your favorite classic Christmas standards along with contemporary holiday hits. Pitch-perfect vocals are provided by Cassandré Faimon-Haygood, while 5-member male vocal group The ShowMen supplies rich harmonies, creating an unforgettable musical experience. Four-man dance troupe, Rhythm, will leave you speechless with their lightning-fast footwork and percussive choreography. Your host, Christopher James, will keep you laughing with his delightful brand of humor and astonishing sleight of hand.
Bring the whole family aboard the Showboat Branson Belle this holiday season for a 2-hour cruise on beautiful Table Rock Lake complete with festive entertainment, delicious dining and much more! Plus, your Christmas celebration begins the moment you arrive at White River Landing as you stroll among the spectacularly decorated grounds. Find the perfect gift as you shop apparel, souvenirs and more in Layton’s Mercantile and McAdoo’s Boatworks. You can even enjoy a steaming cup of hot chocolate, cider or gourmet coffee along with a freshly toasted marshmallow s’more around the firepit! Start a new tradition with your family this holiday season on Santa’s Pancakes & Pjs Cruise aboard the Showboat Branson Belle! Join Santa & His Helpers, The North Pole Toy Soldier & the Holiday Sugar Plum Fairies for an adventure complete with kid’s activities, entertainment, breakfast and a cruise on Table Rock Lake. Best of all little ones are encouraged to experience the fun in their favorite Christmas Jammies! Prior to cruising, follow your map throughout the Showboat as you search for the Sugar Plum Fairy Sweet Stops, visit the Captain in the Wheelhouse and receive a special gift, stop by and see Santa’s Helpers for face painting and complete your Christmas Wish List and place it in the Toy Soldiers Mail Box for immediate delivery to the big man himself. Next, set sail on Table Rock Lake and enjoy a great breakfast that includes Story Time, a Sing-A-Long and a festive stage show featuring music, dance, comedy and more! For information call, 800.775.2628 or visit www.silverdollarcity.com
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A Christmas cookie exchange is a wonderful way to enjoy friends, family, and a big assortment of cookies! Christmas
COOKIE EXCHANGE
Melted Snowman Cookies
INGREDIENTS
1 dozen baked sugar cookies 6 marshmallows, halved at an angle White cookie icing, for decorating Black cookie icing or melted chocolate, for decorating 12 orange jimmies, for noses 24 mini M&M's, for buttons Chocolate jimmies, for arms
DIRECTIONS
1. Spread white cookie icing on sugar cookies to create melted blobs. 2. Decorate marshmallows with black cookie icing to make dots for eyes and a smile (or smirk). 3. Insert an orange jimmy into the marshmallow for a nose. 4. Place marshmallow on cookie icing and add more cookie icing around the neck to secure it. 5. Decorate buttons and arms: Place mini M&M's on cookie icing for buttons and add chocolate jimmies for arms.
