Author: ridesparky

Visions of Orange, Red, Yellow. Add a dash of fall festivals, Halloween and pumpkin spice everything! Who's ready for autumn? The Ozark Mountains have some of the best fall colors to be found anywhere, and Downtown Branson is the leaf-watching capital in the region. The cool mornings and mild fall days are great times to enjoy scenic walking, jogging and hiking around! One of our favorites is the Downtown Branson Fall Foliage Walking Tour, available on ExploreBranson.com Fall Foliage Walking Tour Directions Estimated distance: 1.5 milesTime: 50 minutes walking, 25 minutes jogging Park in the north Branson Landing parking lot (same side as Belk Department Store). Walk toward Lake Taneycomo to find the concrete boardwalk path. Turn right toward the Branson Landing.Continue on the boardwalk about ¼ mile along the…

Jim and Kathy Cox have been well known among auto collectors in the Midwest for the past three decades, and Downtown Branson's twice-a-year Branson Auction has become the region's top event for seeing (and buying) unique vehicles. If you love cars, you'll want to be sure to join the enthusiasts, collectors, and restoration fans October 18th and 19th for this popular event at the Branson Convention Center. And be sure to ride throughout Downtown on the Sparky Trolley, which stops on Sycamore Street directly outside the Convention Center. Among the more than 150 cars on the auction block are: 1910 Buick Roadster 1966 Chevrolet Corvette Coupe 1928 Ford Model A Pickup 1946 Hudson Series 51 Club Coupe General Admission $15 daily  |  $25  2-day pass$10 daily  Military w/ ID  |…

After more than a year of construction on the north end of Branson Landing, the new Paula Deen's Family Kitchen opened on Labor Day 2019. The 15,696-SF restaurant and store is one of the largest in Downtown Branson and directly adjacent to Sparky Trolley Stop #O6. Paula Deen's is open for lunch and dinner and the menu focuses on traditional Southern dishes, each showcasing some of the celebrity chef's favorite recipes. Diners pick from among several main course and side dish options, and then the entire table shares a meal "family style" with plates of refills waiting in the kitchen. The restaurant is located at 545 Branson Landing Blvd. in Branson, on the north end of Branson Landing across from the Belk department store. More information is available by calling…

With so many cool places in Downtown, how do you decide where to stop for a chilly treat? Well Sparky can help you pick (and also help get you there)! Stop O5 - Main & Veterans Blvd. Mr. B’s Ice Cream Parlor at the corner of Main and Commercial Streets for the classic milkshake or banana split, paired with the perfect sammie. Be sure to check out Dreamsicles on Main Street for handcrafted, gourmet popsicles. Don't forget that Clocker's Cafe, The Farmhouse and The Branson Cafe also have amazing home-style treats, including a la mode cobblers and ice cream. Stop O2 & Stop O6 - Branson Landing There are so many spots at Branson Landing for a frozen treat, including full-service restaurants as well as a number of desert-only shops.…

The Bulldogs are back! Get ready. As the Missouri Bully Classic returns, so will hundreds of the states finest dogs. All of them preparing to enter the ring and strut for the title of Best In Show. The whole showdown happens at the Convention Center, Saturday August 31st. The Convention Center is located downtown right by Sparky Stop #O3. Sparky Stop #O3 is one of the many trolley stops located near convenient parking lots. So, if you’re downtown grabbing a bite or shopping and want to see some awesome dogs before you go home, hop on Sparky and come to the Convention Center. You can find more information about the competition and the American Bully Kennel Club here http://theabkcdogs.org/events/ When you’re done you can hop back on Sparky and grab…

School has started and the only summer holiday left is Labor Day! Bring the kids to Downtown Branson for one last summer weekend, and be sure to ride the free (air conditioned) Sparky trolleys! Monday, September 2nd : You can catch DooWop and the Drifters at Bransons Hot Hits Theatre around 7:30 pm, with their famous mix of 50's and 60's sock hop classics. They were voted 2018's Singing Group of the Year. They'll be a Branson Classic for many many years. At 8:30 am, join 37 North Expeditions as they venture out from the Branson Landing and head to Alum Cove Natural Bridge Recreational Area. A 1.5 mile hike includes a cross to the Arkansas side of the state border for a hand dipped cone before heading back to…

Every summer, the kids get out of school and you make a tenative schedule of things to do with them. Silver Dollar City, sports and swimming (of course)! But what can you do when you run out of things to do that will keep them entertained and away from a screen? Go to Downtown Branson of course! Start by letting Sparky The Trolley take you wherever you need to go. As soon as you climb aboard the classic trolleys, you'll realize they are worth the trip just for the fun ride through downtown! And kids love trolley selfies! Here’s a compiled quick list of great things to do with the kids this summer in Downtown. Parks! There are more than a dozen parks and outdoor spaces in downtown. Much like…

It's that time again ... time for school supplies and new clothes. Time for backpacks and new sneakers. And thankfully it's also time for the Missouri State Tax-Free Weekend! In 2019, the Sales Tax Holiday begins at 12:01 a.m. on Friday, August 2, and runs through Sunday, August 4. Before we go any further, we need to jump into the fine print. The Missouri Back To School Tax Free Weekend only applies to "certain back-to-school purchases, such as clothing, school supplies, computers" and other related school necessities. You'll still pay certain local taxes, but the Missouri portion of the sales tax that you'd normally pay (about 4.2%) is waived. If you have school age kids in the house, chances are you wait each year for Missouri's Tax Free Weekend to load up on…

There's a lot of unique artwork and historic spots you can explore in Downtown Branson, but a few of our favorites are the three large murals that you can view in downtown. Each has a unique story. So next time you're in downtown, be sure to take a few moments to admire these large works of art. The ExploreBranson Postcard Mural The newest mural and already the most recognizable selfie spot in downtown is the "Greetings from Branson" mural. Located on the east side of Cadwell's Flea Market at the corner of Main and Sycamore Streets (facing the Hilton Convention Center Hotel), this mural was completed in October 2016. The artwork was designed to look like a vintage postcard by artist John Bell and painted by Raine Clotfelter, known as…

Downtown Branson is a great place to celebrate Independence Day and the days and weekends surrounding our patriotic holiday. If you’re looking for a great place to hang out, see great entertainment, watch fireworks and celebrate America, this is your spot! Branson Landing's Liberty Light Up (Wednesday, July 3rd) This huge Branson Landing celebration is back again this year and bigger than last years' fun! Nashville Top 40 recording artist Jason Pritchett and The Steel Horses will be headlining the free, live entertainment. There will even be an encore performance after the fireworks! Keep an eye out for other Branson entertainers there as well just to add to the excitement. Another popular new addition to the festivities is the Beer Garden: Four drink tents will be open with a selection…