Memorial Day is the official kickoff for Branson’s summer season. The entire region is packed with great shopping, live shows, special events, activities and lake fun for the whole family!
Remembering Our Heroes
First, we remember that Monday is a solemn remembrance of our fallen military servicemen and servicewomen. In keeping with Branson’s unwavering respect and honor for our military veterans, the Vietnam Veterans of America – Chapter 913 is organizing the community’s Memorial Day Service on Monday at 11 a.m. at Ozarks Memorial Park Cemetery, 1638 E. Highway 76.
Downtown Fun
Historic Downtown Branson and the Branson Landing are the place to be with more than 200 unique stores, antique markets and craft shops. You’ll find everything from locally handmade crafts to vintage items to jewelry, clothing, toys, edibles and more!
The free Downtown Trolley, which is running all weekend from 9 a.m. until 6 p.m., offers a great way to get around downtown without having to move the car. More information about the 13 trolley stops and a real-time trolley tracker can be found at RideSparky.com
Saturday night is also the kickoff to the 2017 Branson Landing Summer Concert Series, a summer full of free concerts held in front of the Landing Fountains. Starting at 7 p.m., the concert features Eastern Heights, which is made up of three young men with high energy, tight harmonies, and amazing musicianship. The group takes attendees on a journey through songs from artists like Rascal Flatts, Tim McGraw, Luke Bryan and many more! Bring a chair or a blanket and come early to grab dinner or stake out the best spot to watch the concert.
Music and Dancing
It’s hard to talk about Memorial Day Weekend in Branson without talking about the countless options for live entertainment. In addition to the more than 100 shows in Branson’s Entertainment District, Downtown also is home to two theatres with unique shows.
Music fans can see downtown shows The Phil Thomas Show, Doo Wop & The Drifters, Motown & Temptations Tribute at the Hot Hits Theatre. Appearing nearby at the Historic Owen Theatre are A Neil Diamond Tribute and Carpenters Once More.
Saturday night also will be the 4th Annual Shindig Shuffle Line Dance, where Branson’s entertainers, locals and visitors will come together at 10:30 p.m. to dance up and down the Highway 76 “Strip.” The event spans the sidewalks of several miles from Dick Clark’s American Bandstand Theatre to the intersection of 76 and Shepherd of the Hills Expressway. Participants can tune their radios to FM 100.1 to hear the song that will play three times at 10:30 p.m., 10:35 p.m. and 10:40 p.m.
Summer Sports
Memorial Day Weekend also will see a number of youth athletes coming to town for tournaments. Most events like this also allow athletes and their families opportunities to explore Branson and enjoy other fun activities.
The HoopPlayUSA Youth Basketball “Border Wars” Tournament is being held Saturday and Sunday at the Branson RecPlex and will feature teams from Missouri and Arkansas facing off.
The weekend also features the Ballparks of America’s Memorial Day Classic, which sees baseball teams and players in the 10-13 age brackets competing on the facility’s replica big-league ball fields in Branson.